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GROUNDHOGS ''THANK CHRIST FOR THE BOMB''

ORIGINAL 1st UK PRESSING 1970 CAT NO.LBG 83295 ON THE ORIGINAL 1st ISSUE BLUE LIBERTY LABELS!

BARELY PLAYED VINYL PLAYING SURFACE IN NEAR PRISTINE CONDITION!  EARLIEST  A#1G AND B#1 MATRIX AWESOME TEXTURED 1ST PRESS E.DAY & CO GATEFOLD COVER! TOP! TOP! NEAR MINT AUDIO ON ALL FREQUENCIES!  UNBELEIVABLE FOR 41 YEARS OLD! SUPERBE PROG ROCK BLUES ALBUM!

 Another from my personal collection. This is the earliest possible 1st UK pressing, on the two ton blue Liberty labels. Featureing the earliest possible #1#1 matrix endings! The audio is near as mint through out in my opinion as good as it gets! Cristal clear and very vibrant exceptional audio through out! This is complete with the original record sleeve and the original E.Day & co. Gate fold cover! Rare to find in this exceptional condition very minimal play only!

For MyYoutube Video of this album, Actual Recording From The Vinyl (Please Click Below) Music Track ''Strange Town''

CLICK HERE

The Groundhogs were a British blues band band founded in late 1963, which toured extensively in the 1960s and continued in existence sporadically to the present day founded in late 1963,

The band's blues credentials were recognised when they backed John Lee Hooker and Champion Jack Dupree on their 1960s tours of Britain. The line-up for their first album, Scratchin' the Surface, released in 1968, consisted of Tony McPhee as singer and guitarist, bassist Peter Cruickshank (born 2 July 1945, Calcutta, West Bengal, India), Ken Pustelnik on drums (born 13 March 1946, on a farm near Blairgowry, Angus, Scotland) and Steve Rye on harmonica!

They remain one of the lesser known yet critically regarded bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s blues rock groups.

Later album releases such as Thank Christ For The Bomb (May 1970); Split (March 1971); and Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs (March 1972) are powerful rock albums which share a common achievement of all reaching the top 10 of the British album charts. "Split" reached number 5 , spent 27 weeks in the album chart and achieved gold record status.

A further pinnacle in their career was supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1971 British tour at the personal request of Mick Jagger. They released an album of their live set on the Stones tour which was recorded at Leeds University and called "Live at Leeds". All these albums and live shows were performed by the classic power trio of Cruickshank, McPhee and Pustelnik!

Originally breaking up in 1976, they came back as a largely live act less than a decade later with a different line-up. At times in the 1990s, McPhee alternated two line-ups, one with a second guitarist. After years of performing, and recording for a loyal cult audience, McPhee left the band in 2004 in order to perform acoustically leaving fellow original members Cruickshank and Pustelnik to continue as The Groundhogs Rhythm Section. This line up has recently been augmented by a new frontman, Eddie Martin, the internationally known British blues artist, who will now be playing in the psychedelic / blues / rock style Groundhogs fans are familiar with!

McPhee has put together a new band in 2007 to be known as Tony McPhee's Groundhogs, with long-time Groundhogs bassist Dave Anderson (ex-Hawkwind) and Marco Anderson on drums!.

The vinyl

On initial visual inspection THIS LOOKS SUPERBE , still retains its original sheen as it did from new.   This lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free from any warping! This is the original THICKER and deeper grooved type of vinyl only found on original early pressings later pressings were much more flimsier and less robust. Any marks that could ever possibly be seen under strong light could only be sleeve removal marks only NO AUDIO SOUNDING MARKS OR SCRATCHES AT ALL! THIS IS AWESOME!

 The Audio Quality

I have played this vinyl as usual track for track at very loud volume on a top system prior to this listing.,, and the audio is awesome, cristal clear and vibrant all of the way through, One of the best that I have heard!, as near as perfect through out a real pleasure to listen to! Please note! (no) background noise\crackle, clicks or pops through out! Unbeleivably rare to find!  ! This is so rare to find like this and in this condition. There is of course (no) skips or jumps and no signs of any grooveware or signs that this has been overplayed at all! I would grade the Audio as near mint through out!

Please note!,, I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for light static  (not) consistant throughout the audio) This would benefit from a constant clean before each play as it has been stored in a case for at least 40 years! from my experiance subsequent cleaning would reduce the chance of any static! NOTE! I NEVER HEARD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL THIS PLAYED AS GOOD AS IT GETS IN MY OPINION!

NEVER NEED TO UPGRADE FROM THIS VINYL!! THE AUDIO WILL BE HARD TO SURPASS!!ABSOLUTELY AWESOME SEPERATION!! TOP ON ALL FREQUENCIES!

The Labels,

These are the original and very early 1st issue ''Two Tone Blue'' 'LIBERTY labels.  In absolutely superbe condition with (no) nasty names written on them.  Minimal spidering can be seen around the spindle hole when angled to the light. This has had very minimal play only in my opinion. There is little if no spindle ware the hole is perfectly round.

The record sleeve

This is the original white poly lined sleeve no splits or tares just minimal creases/staining with age only!

The Matrix

Side 1. ''LBG 83295 A#1'' (Earlist for this pressing)

Side 2. ''LBG 83295 B#1'' (Earlist for this pressing)

The Cover

This is the original earliest UK press E.DAY & CO  textured unlaminated gatefold cover!  In absolutely superbe condition! with (no) splits or tares super square corners! Barely\minimal creases only worth to mention! slight very light creases rear bottom corner edge (hardly noticable unless you look for it)! superbe spine with very, very light rubbing only writing can clearly be seen!very minimal storageware!  I would grade this cover at least excellent in my opinion!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 800 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!!!

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement!!!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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