Mighty Baby Jug of Love UK LP Blue Horizon 1st Press

	£		362
	$		480

Mighty Baby – A Jug Of Love was issued in the UK in 1971 on Blue Horizon 2931 001. This was the band’s second album and is a UK first pressing. The album has been repressed only once in the intervening years. Although this repressing is collectable in its own right, it lacks the cachet of this mega rare UK first pressing. To add to the desirability of this item, it comes complete with the original lyric insert and the vinyl is in absolutely superb condition. 

The band started life as the Action, but changed their name to Azoth and then to Mighty Baby at the behest of their label head, John Curd. They made their self-titled debut for his short-lived Head Records in November 1969. A dense collection of psychdelic jams, it is distinguished by mellow vocals, Martin Stone's fluid guitar work and the superhuman intuition of the rhythm section. It didn't sell either here or in the US (where it appeared on Chess), and they spent 1970 gigging heavily on the festival circuit both here and on the continent, as well as playing a multitude of sessions (for Gary Farr, Shelagh McDonald, Keith Christmas, Robin Scott, Sandy Denny and innumerable others). At the same time they developed a strong Muslim (Sufi) faith which saw them moving away from their acid-influenced early work and towards something much more reflective.

Stone knew Mike Vernon from his early days both in Stone's Masonry (whose sole single, Flapjacks, had appeared on his Purdah label in 1966) and Savoy Brown, whose lead guitarist he had been when Vernon produced their August 1967 debut, Shake Down. So it was that in 1971 Vernon invited the Babe (as they called themselves, apparently) to make an album for his Blue Horizon label. The result is the beautifully mellow and uplifting A Jug Of Love. Almost entirely acoustic, but played by a full band, it is superficially reminiscent of the Grateful Dead's work of the same era, but shot through with a wistfulness of its own.

I also have the first Mighty Baby album on Head as a UK first pressing currently on auction.

Tracks:

Side 1

1. Jug Of Love
2. The Happiest Man In The Carnival
3. Keep On Juggin'

Side 2

4. Virgin Spring
5. Tasting The Life
6. Slipstreams

Personnel:

Michael Evans: Electric Bass
Alan King: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Rhythm Guitars
Roger Powell: Drums & Congas
Ian Whiteman: Piano, Harmonium, Electric Organ, Sax, Flute, Vocals

Martin Stone: Acoustic & Electric Lead Guitars, Mandolin

with:

Zahara: Flute

Abd’al Kabir: Baby’s rattle

Produced by Mike Vernon and Mighty Baby

Engineer: Jerry Boys

Recorded at Sound Techniques, London – July / August 1971

Very delicate unlaminated single sleeve is in Very Good + condition with general mild edge and cornerwear and light scuffing. Spine text mostly rubbed away but opening edge fine and straight. No sticker tears and no unwanted writing. Still in very decent presentable condition.

The lyric insert is in Near Mint condition.

The vinyl is in Excellent ++ condition. Plays beautifully from start to finish with no audible issues.

I am not a dealer but a serious collector. All my records come from my private collection. Please read my ME page for details of my philosophy on descriptions and gradings. I absolutely guarantee my gradings as played through my system. All my records are cleaned on a Moth Mk II RCM and play-graded on a Rega Planar 3 turntable (MC cartridge) through an azur 840a amp into Matrix MX-1200 Reference speakers. Inferior component-type turntables without proper tracking are more prone to sticking and jumping than high-grade turntables. If you love vinyl, do yourself a favour and invest in a decent system if you don't already own one. You don't have to pay thousands. Excellent quality 2nd hand turntables are available on eBay for under £100 (about the price of 1 rare LP). Your investment will be more than rewarded by the additional listening pleasure you derive. BUT if, unexpectedly, you are unhappy for any reason, please get in touch.

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Grading :

M = Mint - as new

NM = Near Mint - very few, light signs of usage that don’t affect play - the cover has only minor signs of wear.

EX = Excellent - some signs of usage, but very little lessening in sound quality – the cover might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VG = Very Good - no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch - normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

G = Good - the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches - the cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

+ and - are used as appropriate.

Payment

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The records are taken out of the sleeve to avoid splitting - if not still sealed. They are sent in professional mailers with proper stiffeners for extra protection. A polythene sleeve is included in every case. 

Postage / Shipping Charges

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Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.

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2 LPs                              =  £9.25

3 LPs                              = £12.00

Add £3.00 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.