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THE AMERICAN METAPHYSICAL CIRCUS

by JOE BYRD AND THE FIELD HIPPIES

Columbia MS 7317

stereo

6-eye label, matrix numbers ending in 1H/1D

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satnrose record

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We purchased this item still sealed in the original shrinkwrap,
but we opened it up to see what the label looked like,
and to see what the matrix numbers were.

It is still in mint, unplayed condition,
and the cover is in near mint condition

We have not tested its quality by playing it.

If you are dissatisfied with it, we will refund your money.

In other words, you have nothing to lose by bidding!

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The following information was taken from the Wikipedia:

The album is most noted for "The Sub-Sylvian Litanies" which opened Side A. This three part-suite has been described as "an entire acid trip in 11 minutes". Other album highlights include the equally psychedelic "The Elephant At The Door", and the politically-charged "Invisible Man", written for and aimed squarely at President Lyndon B. Johnson. Two of the more unusual tracks on the record are "Mister Fourth Of July" - a ragtime tune complete with scratchy 78RPM-style effects, and "Leisure World", featuring narration from long-time ABC voice-over and "Ghoulardi" originator Ernie Anderson in an ode to California's first retirement mega-community.

Among the musicians featured on the record are prominent West Coast studio musicians Tom Scott and the late Ted Greene, who is credited with the album's stellar guitar work in one of his few recorded appearances. Meyer Hirsch was a member of the Buddy Rich Big Band and is an experimental composer. Vocalist Victoria Bond has gone on to a prominent career as a classical composer, conductor and vocalist. Fred Selden, a student of Byrd's at UCLA, joined the Don Ellis Orchestra (led by Byrd's partner in the UCLA New Music Workshop), received a Grammy nomination, and later returned to UCLA to receive his Ph.D.

The extensive use of effects, delays, echoes, backwards vocals and other recording tricks and techniques are reminiscent of some of the experiments and work carried out by George Martin as well as Pink Floyd. Byrd in fact referenced Martin in a 2004 interview

The album's cult status was confirmed by its presence in the Columbia Masterworks catalog for an estimated twenty years. Byrd reported in 2002 in an interview published on Salon.com and follow-up in regards to a letter filed in the infamous Napster music copyright case, that despite estimated sales of at least 100,000 units for The American Metaphysical Circus alone, he had never received a penny of royalties for either The United States Of America or The American Metaphysical Circus from Sony/Columbia/CBS.

Because "The American Metaphysical Circus" offered a markedly different sound in its intense horn and woodwind arrangements and even more novel content than on the earlier "The United States of America" release, many fans of the earlier record are not as enchanted with the latter, and vice-versa. In the UK, the first United States of America was more well-known and highly regarded, in part because of the inclusion of one track on a popular Columbia sampler album, The Rock Machine Turns You On, which was not released in the United States. In the U.S. the remarkable persistence of "The American Metaphysical Circus" kept it in print for nearly twenty years in the Columbia catalog, whilst "The United States of America" was relegated to cut-out bins shortly after its 1968 release.

It has become a popular and oft-repeated misconception, with the more recent revival of interest in The United States of America, that The American Metaphysical Circus was not as popular or a commercial success, whereas factual information discussed by Byrd surrounding the Napster case and the experience of American record enthusiasts confirms exactly the opposite.

Prior to its re-release, mint vinyl copies of The American Metaphysical Circus were sold by collectors for prices sometimes in excess of $100US, and the both the original 1969 issue and 1996 CD still command premium prices on collector Web sites. Atlantis Records described the 1999 re-release as "sought after 60's American Psych/Electronic rock classic from United States of American mainman Joseph Byrd". Gatefold Records offered "Welcome re-issue of the 1969 followup to the United States of America album (Joe Byrd was the leader of that group). Trippy Moog and electronics noodling mixed with stunning bursts of fuzzed out guitars and acid-damaged lyrics". The CD was reissued by the UK label Acadia in 2007

TRACKS:

The Sub-Sylvian Litanies

1. "Kalyani" – 3:52
2. "You Can't Ever Come Down" – 3:02
3. "Moonsong: Pelog" – 3:47

American Bedmusic - Four Dreams For A Departing President

1. "Patriot's Lullabye" – 2:49
2. "Nightmare Train" – 3:20
3. "Invisible Man" – 3:33
4. "Mister 4th of July" – 1:48

Gospel Music For Abraham Ruddell Byrd III

1. "Gospel Music" – 4:29

The Southwestern Geriatrics Arts and Crafts Festival

1. "Sing-Along Song" – 4:05
2. "Elephant at the Door" – 5:13
3. "Leisure World" – 2:36
4. "Sing-Along Song (Reprise)" – 0:48

Credits

• Pot - Piano, Conductor, Harpsichord
• Ed Sheftel - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Christie Thompson - Vocals
• Ernest "Ernie" Anderson - Voices
• Fred Selden - Clarinet, Saxophones, Flute
• Ted Greene - Guitar
• Joseph Hunter Byrd - Organ, Producer, Vocals, Keyboards, Conductor, Synthesizer
• Larry Kass - Tabla
• Michael Whitney - Guitar (Classical)
• Chuck Bennett - Bass Trombone
• Victoria Bond - Vocals
• Bob Breault - Engineer
• Ray Cappocchi - Tuba, Tenor Trombone
• Dana Chalberg - Flute, Piccolo
• John Clauder - Percussion, Drums
• Susan de Lange - Vocals, Electronic Voices
• Meyer Hirsch - Flute, Saxophones
• Don Kerian - Trumpet, Cornet
• Gregg Kovner - Drums, Percussion
• Tom Scott - Clarinet, Saxophones, Flute
• Harvey Newmark - Bass (uncredited on album)
• Harihar Rao - Percussion (uncredited on album)
• Paul Welborne - audio reproduction consultant
• Roger Phillip - assistant to Joseph Byrd

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Our response:
"Although we don't test records by playing them, I am very careful about buying only those records that appear to be in superb condition. That means I buy about one record for every 100 that I look at. We don't sell a lot of records, but our record buyers have been happy with their purchases 99%+ of the time. ..."

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Another Q & A:

Q:
Concerning the condition of this record - I am un-familiar with the term near fine!! In the record collector field the terms that are used for all except 78s are g Good Vg Very Good VG+ slight wear and signs of use M- Mint Midus - Played but looks almost like new M Mint Unused New Pristine no marks or signs of wear. Using the above kindly descibe the condition. thanks M___

A:
M___: Since I didn't play the record to judge its quality, then any statement I might make of condition is just a guess. So, I deliberately refuse to use Goldmine terminology, because I don't want to mislead people. It is my hope that, when seeing my descriptions, they will realize that my description is just a guess based on visual appearance. Besides, since I offer an unconditional guarantee, that should pose no problem. ... - Good luck! - Joel of satnrose ...

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To see other records that we currently have for sale, click here: records

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