CRUISIN’ 1955–1967 (Increase Records): v. rare complete original 14 LP series

	£		90
	$		119

Individual LPs in this series come up quite often, but when did you last see a complete original set offered for auction? This lot includes the 13 albums* issued in three batches between June 1970 and September 1973 by Increase Records, plus the subsequent sampler LP — recreating U.S. rock’n’roll and pop radio year by year from 1955 to 1967, each one programmed by a top disc jockey of that year, with links, chat, jingles and original advertisements (especially good are the automobile and cigarette ads), and an eclectic selection of chart hits. Each volume has sleeve notes on both the DJs and the records they play, plus iconic cover art depicting teen life as related to the social and political concerns of the times. All are in at least VG+ condition, with at worst minimal surface noise and a few clicks and pops (which might well be improved by a professional clean).

*Note: The Cruisin' series was the brainchild of KHJ (Los Angeles) Program Director Ron Jacobs, who co-founded Watermark Inc. (a division of Increase Records) and produced these first 13 titles. Four further volumes under the Cruisin’ name were issued subsequently (dated ’68, ’69, ’70 and a further undated one), but these were made without Jacobs’ involvement and are not part of the current offering. CD releases based on the series, released in 2002, are bastardised versions with re-recorded and substituted tracks and ham-fisted edits, panned by Jacobs. These vinyl originals are the only way to hear them as they were intended — not to mention the fabulous Mike Royer covers (styled after Roy Lichtenstein’s cartoon-based pop art), which would make a fantastic wall display.

Here are the individual LPs included in this lot, with presenting DJ and condition. (For full track listings and a wealth of further info, see the “Cruisin’: The Original History of Rock and Roll Radio” website.)

• Cruisin’ 1955. Jumpin’ George Oxford of KSAN, San Francisco. Cut-out sleeve (bottom corner) plus slight marking on back sleeve. Vinyl EX+.

• Cruisin’ 1956. Robin Seymour, WKMH, Detroit. EX+.

• Cruisin’ 1957. Joe Niagara, WIBG, Philadelphia. EX+/EX.

• Cruisin’ 1958. Jack Carney, WIL, St Louis. Small sticker on front cover. NM/EX. Includes advertising insert.

• Cruisin’ 1959. Hunter Hancock, KGFJ, Los Angeles. NM.

• Cruisin’ 1960. Dick Biondi, WKBW, Buffalo, NY. EX. Slight edge wear to cover.

• Cruisin’ 1961. Arnie Ginsburg, WMEX, Boston. EX+/EX.

• Cruisin’ 1962. Russ “Weird Beard” Knight, KLIF, Dallas. VG+/EX–. Stiff plastic sleeve has been sellotaped on all along the opening (protective, but the tape is now yellowing).

• Cruisin’ 1963. B. Mitchell Reed, WMCA, New York. A couple of quite large ‘bubbles’ in the pressing which may 'pop'. As for 1962, plastic sleeve is sellotaped on.

• Cruisin’ 1964. Johnny Holliday, WHK, Cleveland. Small bubbles in pressing; slight paper loss to front cover.

• Cruisin’ 1965. Robert W. Morgan, KHJ, Los Angeles. Near mint.

• Cruisin’ 1966. Pat O’Day, KJR, Seattle. Near mint.

• Cruisin’ 1967. Dr Don Rose, WQXI, Atlanta. Slight paper loss to front cover.

• Bonus disc is the later (1985) sampler disc, “Cruisin’ Years”, with tracks from the first two batches of releases (1955 to 1963). NM.

Feel free to ask any questions or request further photos, etc.

I want to sell this as a complete set, so please don’t ask for prices for individual LPs.

Postage within the UK will be £9.50 (via MyHermes, signed-for and insured). I’m also happy to allow personal pick-up (socially distanced!), but payment must be made in advance.

I can ship internationally but can do nothing about the high cost of this, for which I apologise in advance — it is arranged thru eBay’s Global Shipping Program, see under 'Postage and Payments' above.

Any questions, please feel free to ask.