John Cale Terry Riley Church of Anthrax 1971 Promo Vinyl LP Columbia C 30131 VG+

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JOHN CALE & TERRY RILEY — CHURCH OF ANTHRAX (1971) Rare Original Columbia Records Radio Station Promo First Pressing

Up for sale is an original 1971 US first pressing of Church of Anthrax, the legendary collaborative masterpiece by John Cale and Terry Riley. This is an authentic Columbia Records Radio Station Service promotional copy. It features the original white promotional timing strip affixed to the bottom of the back cover, explicitly marked "NOT FOR RESALE." These copies were distributed exclusively to radio programmers prior to the album's commercial release and a real find for any avant-garde and Velvet Underground collectors.

Released in February 1971, Church of Anthrax is a monumental bridge between the New York underground rock scene and classic American minimalism. John Cale was fresh off his groundbreaking tenure as the multi-instrumentalist sonic architect of The Velvet Underground. Terry Riley was already a titan of the classical avant-garde, having revolutionized electronic music and minimalism with his landmark 1964 composition In C.

The album is a dizzying, hypnotic fusion of jazz, classical minimalism, and proto-punk textures. Driven by Cale’s relentless bass and organ work alongside Riley’s cascading soprano saxophone and keyboard improvisations, the record maps out early blueprints for ambient, drone, and space rock. The bulk of the material was captured during intensive, highly improvisational studio sessions held in New York City in 1969. Overdubs and final production were meticulously handled by John Cale to shape the massive, layered wall-of-sound heard on the final master.

Matrix / Pressing Details This copy boasts pristine, early-generation metalwork from Columbia's specialized facility, known for the producing audio fidelity pressings: Side A Matrix (Stamped): PAL-30131-1C (Indicates the 1st master lacquer generation, 3rd cut) Side A Mother/Stamper (Hand-Etched): A1 (Pressed from the very first mother plate and the absolute first stamper of this lacquer generation) Plating Mark (Stamped): o or () (The official hallmark stamp of Customatrix, confirming premium factory metal plating)

Vinyl Disc: Very Good Plus (VG+). The vinyl retains its brilliant original factory gloss. It has been well-preserved with only minimal signs of handling only minor, superficial paper scuffs/hairlines that do not affect playback. A highly clean, well-preserved play copy. Plays clean, with a dynamic presence that highlights the vocals and instruments beautifully. The labels are clean with crisp text and minimal spindle wear. Sounds like watching a hypnotic NYC sunrise from a smokey coffee house.
Album Jacket / Sleeve: VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+). The iconic dollhouse cross-section cover artwork is bright and vibrant. The critical white radio promo timing strip is fully intact, clean, and entirely legible. The seams are solid with minimal edge wear, and there are no seam splits, heavy ring wear, or intrusive radio station marker writing.

Please see photos for condition and runout markings.