KIM FOWLEY I'm Bad 1972 GARAGE PUNK PSYCH ORIG LP HEAR

$

30

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

KIM FOWLEY "I'm Bad"

Original 1972 LP on the CAPITOL label, STEREO ST-11075

COVER:  VG+ shape, sticker and some radio station writing on back, cutout hole

VINYL:  Plays VG++

“Kim Fowley will scare you to death and you’re going to love it, because Kim Fowley carries juke vibes.”  At least that what it says here among the copious back cover liner notes on Kim Fowley’s 1972 album I’m Bad, liner notes which describe Kim Fowley’s lengthy career, his personal life and how, “with the release of this LP, another page in rock history has been written.”  Pretty strong words there, considering here in 2011 the effect on rock music caused by the release of I’m Bad has been…well, I guess it just hasn’t been written about or discussed yet.  But it all makes more sense when you see who wrote those laudatory liner notes.  Hey, guess what?  Kim Fowley himself!  Which probably accounts for the 113 occurrences of the name “Kim Fowley” among them, the lengthy list of accomplishments that reads like a rock resume, and the appearance of the term “juke vibes,” which, at last count, registered a mere 116 results on Google.  In the spirit of Kim Fowley’s self-promotion, then, I’m going to drop more references to Kim Fowley here than Kim Fowley did on the back cover of Kim Fowley’s I’m Bad.  Or die trying.

Kim Fowley was able to round up some fine musicians for I’m Bad.  Mars Bonfire, late of Steppenwolf, plays guitar.  Pete Sears, late of Hot Tuna and not yet part of Jefferson Starship, plays bass.  And fellow Sunset Strip guru Rodney Bingenheimer co-authors “It’s Great To Be Alive,” which is probably the mantra of Kim Fowley who, according to those liner notes again, once taught a song to Eric Clapton and Cream.  Although “it’s a pity this song wasn’t recorded as Kim would have been richer than he is now.”  Sure is great to be alive when you’re Kim Fowley, and you can write your own liner notes. 

If you’re familiar with the work of Kim Fowley, you would have no doubt already noticed the man is more of an ADD-riddled chameleon than David Bowie in the late Seventies.  Every album is an exercise in a style vastly different from the last.  1967’s flower power debut Love Is Alive And Well was followed by 1968’s revolution-in-the-streets garage punk black leather Outrageous.  And that was followed by an album of instrumental cover songs on organ.  Here on 1972’s I’m Bad, it appears that Kim Fowley’s body has been invaded by the spirit of Captain Beefheart.  The songs are mostly compact bluesy guitar rockers, which Kim Fowley sings in a deeply grating raspy Beefheart voice.  “Man of God” sounds like an outtake from the Captain’s “Electricity” period.  “Human Being Blues” sounds like Dr. John fronting Jo Jo Gunne.  I could only imagine that, after years spent in the 60’s California counterculture, and a brief stint in Sweden producing some very strange progressive psych bands (Wigwam, Scorpion), it sounds like Kim Fowley is having a blast on I’m Bad getting back to some simple, repetitive blues-based rock ‘n’ roll.  Best exemplified by the raw, loose studio-jam-sounding final track, “Let It Loose,” which is the single best Exile on Main Street outtake you’ll ever hear that had nothing to do with the Rolling Stones.  Despite Kim Fowley’s stealing a title, a sound and a jam from them.  But after all Kim Fowley’s given rock music, isn’t it about time he did a little taking?

In the end, though, Kim Fowley didn’t care whether or not you dug I’m Bad.  “If you like (it), that doesn’t mean I’m nice or wonderful,” he writes.  “It means the record is.  If you dislike I’m Bad, then love something else and fill the void.  This LP is honest, pure and simple, just like its creator – Kim Fowley.  The Bad Boy of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”  Written by, you guessed it, Kim Fowley.  It takes a lot of cajones to tell your record buying public that you don’t care whether or not they dig your new album, and then anoint yourself “bad boy of rock ‘n’ roll,” but hey, it is rock and roll here.  You gotta give props to a man (Kim Fowley) who called himself “bad” a good 15 years before Michael Jackson did, and a good 7 years before ZZ Top claimed to be both bad and nationwide.  Like him or not, the man’s got some serious juke vibes.

SOUND CLIP COMING, PLEASE CHECK BACK!

UPDATE:  SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town. 

HEAR IT!