MOON Without Earth 1968 FADING YELLOW SUNSHINE PSYCH LP

$

48

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

THE MOON "Without Earth"

Original 1968 LP on the IMPERIAL label, STEREO LP-12381

Cover:  VG+, moderate ringwear on front

Vinyl:  CLEAN N' SHINY, looks great, plays EXCELLENT!

Somewhere in the Capitol recording studios, 1968:

Al Jardine:  Brian?  You still with us, Brian?

Brian Wilson:  Not now, Al – this new album’s I’m working on – it’s gotta be better than Sergeant Pepper.  Bigger than Magical Mystery Tour.  And more explosive than Ringo’s Rotogravure. 

Al:  Well, Brian, that’s what I’m here about.  You know how we’re always competing with the Beatles?  Y’know, you come out with Pet Sounds, Paul tops it with Sergeant Pepper, and now the ball’s in our corner again?  Well dude, don’t worry about it anymore.  One of us has already gone and done it.

Brian:  One of us?  Who?  It’s not me, and it’s not Dennis or Carl, and it CAN’T be you.  Aw man, if it’s Mike, I’m gonna lose my MIND.

Al:  No, it’s David Marks, man.  He just released an album with Moon.

Brian:  Who the f** is David Marks, man?

Al:  You don’t remember?  He was our rhythm guitarist on the first four albums.  Y’know, back when we were a surf band.

Brian:  Oh yeah.  Didn’t we airbrush him out of the photos?

Al:  We might’ve, I don’t remember.  But listen, check out his debut album with the Moon, called Without Earth.  I mean, LISTEN to how close he gets the whole Beatles thing, man.  This one’s called “I Must Be Dreaming” – you can hear a little bit of “Strawberry Fields” there, some “Tomorrow Never Knows”…listen, he’s even got those noodly synthesizers from “Flying” in there too.

Brian:  Hmm, interesting, maybe I oughta dig out those tapes again…

Al:  This one’s called “Brother Lou’s Love Colony.”  It’s catchy as s**t, man, but listen to all that sitar – if he steals any more from George, I’m gonna have to call him Eric Clapton, know what I mean?

Brian:  Yeah, dude, that Patti Boyd was hot, wasn’t she?  Do you think I ever had a shot with her?

Al:  What are you, CRAZY?  Don’t answer that.  But listen, check out those jungle bird rainforest sounds – I mean, this David Marks guy must have one hell of a budget here.  It’s like “All You Need is Love” crossed with “Within You Without You” mixed with the soundtrack to Bridge on the River Kwai.  How come he never did anything like this when he was with us, Brian?

Brian:  Who knows, Al?  Hey, do you think people will know who Mrs. O’Leary’s cow is?

Al:  I’m wondering if David Marks knows who Paul McCartney’s lawyer is, man, because when Paul hears “She’s On My Mind,” he’s gonna be all “Right then, this guy just nicked me Penny Lane, he did.  Even put me little piccolos in too.”  I wonder if the Moon’s next album is gonna come out in a plain white cover.  You gotta wonder about these things, Brian.

Brian:  Hey, Al?

Al:  Yes?

Brian:  Do you like worms?

Al:  Nah, but I do like the Monkees, and if there’s one track on Without Earth that sounds a little like those guys, it’s gotta be “Walking Around” – at least it’s using those newfangled Star Trek synthesizer thingies like the Monkees did on “Star Collector.”  But it’s a lot heavier than the Monkees, though.  More like English freakbeat. 

Brian:  Who you calling a freak, Al?

Al:  No no, Brian – freakBEAT, English music.  Like the Beatles, you know?  So look, you take my copy of the Moon’s Without Earth.  Listen to it a few times.  And then wonder why the one Beach Boy who responded quickly to the one-two punch of Sergeant Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour turned out to be the ex-friggin’-rhythm guitarist, forgodsake!  With that, I’ll leave you alone with your “masterpiece.”

Brian:  Thanks, man.  Hey, Al?

Al:  Yes, Brian?

Brian:  Is it hot in here, or am I crazy?

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Apple studios, late 1968:

John:  There are no more matches left Podgy, said Jasper.  They buy some, Jasper, my old…

Paul:  Hey John, sorry to interrupt, but check out this new album that came out today in the States.

John:  The Moon?  Without Earth?  Damn, mate, sounds like us!

Paul:  Yeah, and it’s the work of a Beach Boy!

John:  I knew it, those bleeding wankers got us again, didn’t they?  Where’s Brian’s phone number?

Paul:  No mate, it’s not Brian.

John:  Not Brian?  Then who?  It can’t be Al.  And not Mike Love, I hope.  I’ll lose my MIND if it’s him.

Paul:  Nope.  It’s David Marks.

John:  Who the bloody hell is David Marks?

Paul:  Original rhythm guitarist.  First four albums.  The guy they airbrushed out.  But listen, mate, this is great s**t, and it’s up to us now to top this.  And you know what we gotta do.

John:  Right then.  What’s Pete Best’s number again?

 HEAR IT! 

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.