GERALD HEARD Rebirth unreal '61 LSD trip -1st psych LP?

$

76

I am happy to be able to offer a copy of “Explorations”, a 3LP box set on World Pacific from 1961 by the legendary LSD researcher and philosopher Gerald Heard. If you’re a fan of psychedelia, please read this carefully as it has implications on the foundations of the whole genre!

The first 2 discs of this boxset contain lectures in Heard’s usual brilliant style and deal with human growth and evolution, but the third and last disc, titled “Rebirth” is an amazing revelation – the world’s first acid trip guide recording, several years before Timothy Leary’s “Psychedelic Experience”! It’s obvious that Leary & friends ripped the idea for their book off from this very obscure LP by Heard – the proof is right here in Heard’s liner notes, where the metaphysical rebirth trip is linked to the Tibetan Book Of Dead, which is exactly what Leary/Alpert/Metzner used for their 1964 work, three years later. Gerald Heard was aware of this theft, and used “Rebirth” as a heading when reviewing the book by Leary et al in the “Psychedelic Review” issue #3 from 1964 – a deliberate pointer, although few people caught it then. And since then this historically very significant “Rebirth” LP by Heard has been more or less forgotten, and all credit has been given to Leary/Alpert/Metzner for what was essentially a copycat job.

Unlike Gerald Heard’s other LPs this features music and singing, although it’s not rock’n’roll by a long shot. Over an eerie Korla Pandit-type organ classical vocalists incantate and chant advise to the tripper – such as “Remember that you are imperishable”. Between the musical interludes Heard delivers a terrific, passionate lecture on how to achieve the desired type of rebirth, as devised by the old Tibetan Masters. It’s spaced out and cosmic as hell, far from any Oxford lecture hall. As the trip reaches it peak at the end, Heard chants over the music in a half-sung style that is quite unreal. This recording is the last Heard ever made, put together during several months in Hawaii 1960-61. To anyone interested in the roots of psychedelia, or just freaky trip sounds, this is simply ESSENTIAL, as important as Alan Watts legendary “This Is IT” LP from 1962 although the vibe is very different.

I have to cut it short there – anyone interested in reading more about this amazing and little-known LP can do a Google search on “Gerald Heard” + “Explorations” for a fuller presentation, including commentary from a Gerald Heard scholar at Berkeley University. Background on Heard’s LSD work with Aldous Huxley can be found on the Net, or in books such as “Acid Dreams” and “Storming Heaven”. Short version is that he’s one of the 10 Founding Fathers of psychedelic culture. The “Explorations” box set is a lot rarer than Heard’s other World Pacific LPs from 1957-1960, which are offered on a regular basis. The copy up for auction here is only the second one I’ve seen in several years of looking for it. As with any 43 year old box set it’s not in perfect condition, but still quite enjoyable. The outer box has some seam and corner wear and repairs, but no writing or tearing. There are two creases in the lamination. I’m rating the cover VG++. The discs are VG++, the condition may be improved further through professional cleaning (I haven’t done one). Side 5 and side 6 are noisy at the beginning, then quickly improve. This is my old personal copy and the one that lead to the subsequent excitement and website articles etc, so it’s obviously a useful copy.

I have been collecting and dealing rare 1960s-70s records and items for 20 years. Records are graded M/M-/Ex/Vg++/Vg+/Vg/Vg-/G/F/P based on both aural and visual aspects. “M” corresponds to 10/10 on a 1-10 scale, while “P” equals 1/10. I rarely offer records below Vg. This is a grading system used by many LP dealers, and I use it for other types of items as well. Grading for LPs/45s is disc/sleeve. Defects or unusual properties of the item will be mentioned specifically. Feel free to inquire during the auction.

Note: for this particular item I’m offering a guaranteed maximum shipping cost of $15 anywhere in the world, no matter what the actual cost for shipping this 3LP set is.

I usually have several items up for sale – click on “See seller’s other items” to find more and save $$ on combined shipping!

I encourage use of eBay checkout, but will also send separate e-mails for verification. Shipping costs will be calculated after auction and added to winning bid. 45s and CDs never ship for more than $5 anywhere, single LPs never ship for more than $13. If you want to have the parcel sent registered or insured you must specifically require this. No ripoff "additional" fees for handling/eBay/Paypal/whatever added - what you see is what you get. Payment accepted via Paypal (recommended) or cash (US dollar/GB pounds/Euro/SE Kronor) in letter (at your risk). No money orders or cheques.

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