KENSINGTON FOREST 'Bells' RARE SF Garage Psych Promo 45
  $   106

 


$ 106 Sold For
May 4, 2008 Sold Date
Apr 27, 2008 Start Date
$   6 Start price
10   Number Of Bids
  USA Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

Kensington Forest- Bells b/w Movin' On

1967 Bay Sound 6901 Promotional copy. Rare and hard to find SF Garage Psych 45.

The following is from GARAGEHANGOVER:

The Banshees were students at Mills High School in Millbrae, just south of San Francisco. They had started in 1962 as an instrumental group the Black Knights, changing their name to the Banshees when they added a vocalist in '64. Members were Jack Walters, Chris Guiver, Paul Studebaker and his brother Dennis Studebaker, and maybe Mike Hoogner.

They played around Burlingame, and released two records on the Solo label. The first was the crude and energetic They Prefer Blondes / Take a Ride with Me, recorded supposedly in a church rec room and released in July of 1965. They Prefer Blondes was written by Jack Walters, while Take a Ride with Me was by Paul Studebaker, and both songs were arranged by Paul Studebaker.

The second 45, Never Said I Loved You / So Hard to Bear was recorded at Scorpio and released in December of '65. These show the band developing their melodic side which they would improve upon their next incarnation. Both songs were written by Jack Walters and arranged by Paul Studebaker.

In 1966 they changed their name to Ariel, and that fall they released the very beautiful It Feels Like I'm Crying / I Love You on the Brent label. In sound these songs are a world away from They Prefer Blondes, with excellent harmonies, introspective lyrics and a delicate melodic sense.

In early 1967 the band had changed its name again to Kensington Forest. I don't know if there were any personnel changes along the way, but at least Jack Walters and Chris Guiver were still in the group. In May of '67 they released their only 45, Bells / Movin' On on Bay Sounds Records. It was produced by Lou Dorren, who was also recording Butch Engle and the Styx and other groups around that time at Bay Sounds studio.

Bells has a rougher sound than the polish of the Ariel 45, but the harmonies and melodic talent are still there, along with some fine guitar work. Movin' On shows the influence of the early San Francisco ballroom groups like the Charlatans and Dead. Interestingly Bells is in stereo, while Movin' On is mono. I don't own the 45 so I can't tell if that's accurate - if anyone has an better quality transfer of Bells, please get in touch.

For now the story ends here, as I don't know what the members did afterwards.

Record:VG- (Side 1 plays VG+ with minimal noise . Side 2 plays with some noise and pops @ beginning but gets better as it goes along.)

Cover:N/A

Take a look at my current auctions and in my EBAY store for more great records.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. THIS SECTION CONTAINS ALL SHIPPING COSTS AND INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO PAY FOR YOUR ITEM.

SHIPPING-

USA-   First Class Mail - $3.00 & add .50 each additional 45

INSURANCE: (Optional) is $1.65 for up to 50.00/ $2.05 for 50.01-100.00/ $2.45 for 100.01-200.00/ $4.60 for 200.01-300.00/ $5.50 for 300.01-400.00/ $6.40 for 400.01-500.00. Please write for ins. quote for items over $500.00. (Insurance is for packages sent within the U.S. only)

INTERNATIONAL AIRMAIL- Europe $7.00 for each 45. Everywhere else $8.00 for each 45 (except for Canada which is $5.00 for each 45)

(Additional records are $1.00 extra each record to Europe and $2.00 each additional record everywhere else. ($.50 each additional record to Canada)

NO Surface/Economy shipping. Sorry.

PAYMENT-

US: Paypal, Money Orders, Cashiers Check, Personal Check (must clear my bank first)

INTERNATIONAL: Paypal only

Payment must be received within 14 days after close of auction

PLEASE REFER TO THIS ITEM DESCRIPTION AFTER CLOSE OF AUCTION FOR ALL SHIPPING RATES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

Strict grading. Near mint is my highest grade. NM, VG++ records should all play fine. VG+ should records should play well with only minimal problems if any. Please contact me if there are any problems and I will do what I can to correct it. Buyers with less than 90% feedback or an excessive amount of negative feedback please contact me before bidding. Due to amount of orders received and mailed each week I can not send confirmation when an item has been shipped, but I will contact you if there is any delay in getting your item out. See my feedback and bid with confidence.

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