MOTIONS Impressions of Wonderful 1967 ORIG DUTCH FREAKBEAT POT PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

60

MOTIONS "IMPRESSIONS OF WONDERFUL" LP

ORIGINAL 1967 LP ON THE DUTCH NEGRAM LABEL, STEREO CD 1103

COVER IN EXCELLENT SHAPE

VINYL HAS LIGHT HANDLING SCUFFS ONLY, PLAYS VG+

If the Dutch Outsiders were the tulip-twirling equivalent of the British Pretty Things, and Group 1850 were the Netherlands’ own herring-eating Hendrix worshippers, then the Motions were clearly the blonde-haired, blue-eyed cousins to the Hollies.  Their careers run nearly identical too – after a few years of cranking out straightforward, squeaky-clean beat pop, both bands discovered the joys of psychedelia around 1967, and started spiking their harmony-rich pop with some truly trippy tricks.  This is the Motions’ psych pop magnum opus, “Impressions of Wonderful” from November 1967 – the northern equivalent of the Hollies majestic “Butterfly” from the same year.  Even the resplendent exploding color wheel covers are nearly identical.

Of course, with their long colorful robes and kaftans, the Motions really looked the part of flower power hippie kids, but “Impressions of Wonderful” showed that they could be an equally explosive psych rock force too, when they weren’t showcasing their impeccable Brothers Gibb soaring harmonies.  “You’re My Adee” is a perfect example of the Motions’ popsike craft – okay, the title got lost in translation – but as it kicks in, you can’t help think this is the Hollies circa 1965, a pretty but sad acoustic ballad.  Then, out of nowhere, the descending minor keys that jumpstart the chorus come in, and you’re off into Wonderland, accompanied by four beautiful Dutch hippie chicks trilling softly in the background, tossing out tulips and free invites to the nearest “coffee shop.”  By the time the singer gets to the final yodeling falsetto notes of “Adee”, you’ve fully escaped the confines of your corporeal body, thanks to a bunch of long-haired Dutch boys who probably live a few blocks away from the Red Light District.  Beautiful, simply transcendent stuff. 

The equally pretty “Memories of Fair Haired Mary” bounces along on a nice Zombies-like harpsichord melody, breaking off into a little psychedelic waltz when the chorus hits.  But the Motions aren’t all sweetness and light – they’ve been “experimenting” of late, a fact they can’t hide when they decided to call one of their new songs “Green Chewing Gum Machine.”  Even more obvious – “Make it Legal” – which finds our windmill-loving quartet going FULLY psychedelic – with echoed-out twangy garage guitar and sound effects of a dripping faucet inside an underground cave.  “If you want to fly like an eagle, make it legal, make it legal” they sing, predating the Steve Miller Band by the good part of a decade, while the repeating title is gradually sucked under by a slew of psychedelic effects and echoes down into the cold, black abyss (Amsterdam, for those who’ve been there).  And besides, isn’t it ALREADY legal there anyway? 

Elsewhere, the murky, heavy sonic crunch of “Red Balloons” sounds like vintage English freakbeat, with its chunky rhythm section and megaphone vocals.  This one could’ve elbowed its way onto a volume of the Rubble series and no one would’ve questioned its heritage.  All in all, then, a super strong popsike album from the Motions – the Waterpipes and Dykes version of the Hollies “Butterfly” with a little extra…er, something.  A bit of a lost treasure, really, and so SO much better than the Shocking Blue. 

SOUND CLIP COMING SOON, PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER!

PLEASE NOTE I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).  BUYERS FROM ITALY AGREE TO PAY FOR GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL INSURED ONLY!

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.  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. 

 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!