NEKTAR "Down To Earth" UK 1st PRESS, TEXTURED GF, NM

	£		54
	$		71

 
NEKTAR "Down To Earth" UK 1st PRESS, TEXTURED GF, NM 'PROGRESSIVE CIRCUS'-ROBERT CALVERT RINGMASTER,TOP COPY

NEKTAR
Down To Earth

FIRST UK PRESSING (November 1974) ON UNITED ARTISTS RECORDS (UAG 29680) OF NEKTAR'S "PROGRESSIVE CIRCUS" CONCEPT LP, "Down To Earth" WITH HAWKWIND'S ROBERT CALVERT AS THE RINGMASTER - AN ALBUM WHICH SPLIT THEIR FANS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH SOME REGARDING IT AS THEIR UNQUALIFIED MASTERPIECE AND OTHERS SEEING IT AS A MISGUIDED FAILURE - PERSONALLY I THINK IT'S A SENSATIONAL PIECE OF WORK AND NOWHERE NEAR AS STUPID AS IT MAY SOUND
THIS COPY IS IN WONDERFUL CONDITION ONLY EVER HAVING BEEN PLAYED A COULE OF TIMES AT MOST AND THE AUDIO DELIVERY IS NEAR MINT THROUGHOUT

PRESSED ON QUALITY MID-WEIGHT VINYL
THE RECORD HAS THE FIRST ISSUE UA BEIGE LABELS
FIRST UK CORRECTED MATRIX:
SIDE ONE: BLPS - 19190 0 A-3 ( stamped and crossed out), UAG 29680 A-3U
SIDE TWO: BLPS - 19190 ? B-3 ( etched and crossed out), UAG 29680 B-3U
EARLY MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 1/A and 1/M (in the batch of the first 1200 pressed)
AND IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL, FULLY TEXTURED MATTE GATEFOLD SLEEVE WITH FACTORY SEALED LEFT SIDE EDGE (DATE CODED DA/DA/74) "Made in England"

Depending on who you ask, this is either Nektar's greatest or worst album.
As Albrighton explained later, it was the band's attempt to re-invent itself as someone else -- like the Magical Mystery Tour.
Old fans were appalled; but as the first album to get much airplay, it brought in new fans who found it by far their most accessible work.
Its progressive and funk elements are set around a demented circus theme, with the songs introduced by a crazy Teutonic ringmaster (Hawkwind's Robert Calvert).
Highlights include "That's Life," powered by chattering drums and a positively orgasmic Rickenbacker bass sound, which is a standout of progressive rock showmanship.
Delicate pieces like "Little Boy" and "Early Morning Clown" -- where Albrighton uses rotating Leslie speakers to great effect -- alternate with rockers like "Fidgety Queen" and superb instrumental workout of "Nelly the Elephant."
For new fans, this album is the place to start; and if they're willing to take it on its own terms, old fans might find a place in their heart for it too

Track Listing: (the play is continuous)
Side 1: Astral Man / Nelly The Elephant / Early Morning Clown / That's Life
Side 2: Fidgety Queen / Oh Willy / Little Boy / Show Me The Way / Finale

LABELS: The labels are CLEAN and BRIGHT with NO wear, NO writing and just a couple of the faintest spindle marks
VINYL Visual: The vinyl surfaces still retain their DEEP, LIKE-NEW GLOSSY SHEEN and are practically UNMARKED
VINYL Audio: The audio is CRYSTAL CLEAR, VERY STRONG, RICH and VIBRANT. TREMENDOUS CUT. There are NO scratches, NO sticks/jumps, NO clicks or pops and barely any surface noise (really, hardly any). The album plays BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT with SUPERB CLARITY, NO distortion and NO groove-wear (it's hardly been played) and is graded NEAR MINT for audio - SOUNDS SENSATIONAL
SLEEVE: The original FULLY TEXTURED gatefold cover is in EXCELLENT condition - GOOD and SOLID with a nice CLEAN, CLEAR spine. There is a touch of 'ring' on the back but otherwise, an excellent example

PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT MY PICTURES - I USUALLY TAKE QUITE A FEW SO YOU CAN GET A CLEAR INDICATION OF EVERY DETAIL OF THE ITEM
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SUPERB UK FIRST PRESSING WHICH PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT - GREAT STUFF - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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 306 (GS 5.3.5 (306))