DAMNATION Which Is The Justice 1971 HEAVY PSYCH LP HEAR

$

26

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

DAMNATION "Which Is The Justice, Which Is The Thief"

Original 1971 LP on the UA label, STEREO UAS-5533

COVER:  VG++, light edge fraying, cut corner

VINYL:  Handling marks, nothing deep, plays solid VG++

Last time I was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - in Cleveland Ohio of course because what says “rock and roll” more than Cleveland Ohio? – I noticed a small exhibit dedicated to famous bands from, well, Cleveland Ohio.  A little hometown hero corner, if you will.  The shrine included names like Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson (I imagine Hot Topic was pretty big in Cleveland) and Chrissie Hynde, who, if I remember, went back to Ohio, but her city was gone.  But if you squinted hard enough, there in the furthest recesses of the Cleveland glass case, tucked in behind the Gilby Clarke tour shirt, was a little shrine devoted to the Damnation of Adam Blessing, a late 60’s/eary 70’s heavy psych rock band from Cleveland who put out four albums in their lifetime.  Being the heads-up kinda well-read hardcore record collector I am (see also: ubernerd), I knew who they were immediately.  But as I looked around at the other tourists in the Hall that day, I wondered how many of the kids in Linkin Park shirts and tweenies made up in the Katy Perry mold actually even heard the name Damnation of Adam Blessing before.  I’m gonna go ahead and guess none. 

It’s a shame, really, because the kids who think Green Day represents the pinnacle of heavy rock really oughta take a listen to the Damnation some time, although they probably never will.  Here on the band’s third album, 1971’s Which Is the Justice, Which Is the Thief?, the band’s had time to develop their chops, and they’ve never sounded more confident.  “We Don’t Need It” roars out of the gate with some of the most incredible string-bending guitar solos you’ve ever heard, given added trippiness from the very Floydian left/right speaker pans.  It’s classic Cleveland rock, with raw raspy biker outlaw vocals and cool funky wah wah.  It’s probably what a young Trent Reznor was listening to while playing in his room with his Rockem’ Sockem’ Robots. 

“Running Away” is another killer heavy acid riff rocker with a barnstorming twin guitar assault.  This one’s got a bit of a West Coast outlaw vibe, like a heavier and more destructive Jefferson Airplane.  “Turned To Stone” is one of the more overtly psychedelic offerings here – it starts out with an Irish jig full of furious mandolin playing, but then pulls a quick Monty Python and turns into something completely different.  About two dozen monks enter the studio and start chanting the backing vocals to the Yardbirds “Turn To Earth” while someone on a bad acid trip plays backward tape loops in the background.  Then we get some eerie out-of-tune horror movie soundtrack music, followed by a punishing heavy guitar riff.  Then a glass breaks, and it’s all over.  Wild wacky stuff, as Johnny Carson used to say.  And I ask you, did any of Cleveland’s more fortunate sons – Marilyn Manson, Chrissie Hynde, Gilby Clarke say – ever have the cajones to put Irish jig music, Gregorian monk chants and Black Sabbath guitar riffs in the same song?  I didn’t think so.  Next time, Hall of Fame caretakers, keep in mind who came first and who did it best when you’re fixin’ up your little hometown tributes.  Because the real undisputed kings of Cleveland rock and roll, to us ubernerds in the know, will always be the Damnation of Adam Blessing.  Damnation straight.

HEAR IT!

UPDATE:  SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.