NEW MIX s/t 1968 GREAT BEATLISH BAROQUE PSYCH LP fuzz Left Banke MINT LISTEN

$

40

THE NEW MIX "THE NEW MIX" LP

ORIGINAL 1968 LP ON THE US UNITED ARTISTS LABEL, STEREO UAS 6678

COVER IN NEAR MINT shape

VINYL plays NEAR MINT (original UA inner sleeve too!)

Man, this thing’s more top-heavy than Dolly Parton riding a unicycle.  I’d put the first three songs on the New Mix’s 1968 album up against anything else released that year, and I know it’d do just fine thank you.  These kids sure know how to make a good first impression, banging out of the psychedelic gates with a 1-2-3 jab/hook/punch combo that leaves lesser bands staggering.  “While We Waited” kicks things off on a breakneck fuzz and organ gallop, a big wall o’ mind-bending psychedelic noise.  It’s Phil Spector on acid, Jim Morrison and the Doors on steroids.  Another hit of this and you’d be reeling, so the boys back off a bit on the second song, a groovy late night minor key tripper called “Ursula,” which sounds a lot like late 60’s faves Gandalf, or the Strawberry Alarm Clock, or the Ultimate Spinach’s headier moments.  Then “The Man” kicks in, rounding out our opening triumvirate of genius, and we’re dabbling in Doors territory again, thanks to a ton of that jazzy, meandering Ray Manzarek electric piano work.  There’s also some very cool, very strange “wobbly” bass work too, and you won’t find that on a Doors album.   The rest of the album is wonderful too, don’t get me wrong – “Nothing Matters More” will appeal to fans of the Hollies, and “Doorway to an Open Light” is just as trippy as you think it is – but that opening salvo, good Lord, it’s like a heavyweight champion’s staggering a lesser opponent in the first few minutes of Round One.  BIG EXCEPTION:  The absolutely stone-cold AMAZING popsike masterpiece “Ever Brighter,” which kicks off Side 2, is a stunningly perfect slice of soaring pop that’s worthy of the Left Banke and SHOULD have been a HUGE hit (you know it’s great because of all the caps and italics I’m using).  But hey, life’s funny that way, and what should be your favorite song of the decade remains hidden on the second side of an unknown, unreissued but blindingly great album.  Don’t quote me, but I think it might just be BETTER than Dolly Parton riding a unicycle. 

HEAR IT!

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.