POWER OF ZEUS - THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ZEUS DETROIT HVY ROCK REMAST SLD UK LP

$

30

POWER OF ZEUS – The Gospel According To Zeus. Mr Bongo MRBLP 187. UK release. FACTORY SEALED NEW VINYL RECORD ALBUM. Originally issued in 1970 on the Rare Earth label. This edition issued in 2019 for Record Store Day; 30th anniversary issue. Replicates the original cover artwork. Remastered from the original analog tapes. Half-speed mastering done at Abby Road. MEMBERS:  Bill Jones (bass), Bob Michalski (drums), Joe Periano (guitar), and Dennis Webber (organ, harpsichord, piano). TRACKS:  It Couldn’t Be Me, In The Night, Green Grass And Clover, I Lost My Love, The Death Trip, No Time, Uncertain Destination, Realization, Hard Working Man, and The Sorcerer Of Isis (The Ritual Of The Mole). DESCRIPTION:  When one thinks of Motown Records, heavy guitar riffs and psychedelic rock are not the first thing that come to mind. Arguably the first hard rock album released by the Motown-owned Rare Earth imprint, The Gospel According To Zeus was also the first and last recording by Detroit heavy rockers Power of Zeus. Needless to say, these two facts were inextricably linked, as the producers and engineers responsible for fueling the Motown hit factory had little understanding of what it took to capture in their studios the new decade's Earth-shaking hard rock sounds. This wound up pushing Power of Zeus' psychedelic elements to the fore, more so than the band’s meaty hard rock foundation. But all in all, The Gospel According To Zeus is an inspired amalgam of rock histrionics, oddball psychedelic strangeness, and some of the most intuitively funky yet blisteringly heavy music ever committed to tape. The band that would become Power of Zeus was formed in 1968 by vocalist/guitarist Joe Periano, shortly after his release from the Marine Corps and while working at a Chrysler plant outside Detroit. A newspaper ad brought him together with bassist/vocalist Bill Jones, drummer Bob Michalski, and, through a moneymaking side gig with a local country band, Hammond organist Dennie Webber. Drawing most of their inspiration from British hard rock and heavy metal titans like Cream, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin, as well as the era's pervasive psychedelic stereotypes, the quartet then going by the name of Gangrene became the unofficial house band at the Wooden Nickel club, where they were eventually spotted by a local manager. Motown soon signed the band on the condition they find a new name, so both parties came up with Power of Zeus shortly before starting work on The Gospel According to Zeus album. Over the years the album has become highly sought after by breakbeat collectors, hip hop producers, and other such connoisseurs of aged vinyl because of the lengthy "open" (ie solo) drum break in the final track, The Sorcerer Of Isis (The Ritual Of The Mole). And unlike many of the era's incredibly bloated, jam-happy behemoths, Power of Zeus hits you with tough, punchy songs like It Couldn't Be Me, No Time, and Realization. Trippy acoustic guitars and harpsichords give Baroque folk ballads like Green Grass And Clover and Uncertain Destination greater depth; and the ominous-sounding The Death Trip is actually a rather sleepy, almost Pink Floyd-esque swirl of a song. OK, it’s an odd album for a band professing to love the hard psych-rock of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the proto-metal of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to lay out there as their debut. And yet, ironically, what at the time doomed the band’s chances of success has since transformed  The Gospel According To Zeus into a true original, well outside any identifiable genre. A lone, great effort from a band later torn apart by drug abuse and in-fighting. After the band split Periano moved on to briefly work for Motown, producing a Luther Allison album, and spent a few years performing live with ex-Temptation David Ruffin before retiring from the road. Sadly, Webber died from a drug overdose in the mid-80s and Michalski followed him a decade later because of a brain tumor. A heavy rocker that deserves more attention.   

THIS ITEM IS NEW AND UNPLAYED. Used items will include condition details for the cover, disc, inserts, etc.

NOTE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS:  If the jacket or disc (unless sealed) is punched, marked, or cut in any manner, denoting a promotional/review copy, I will state that as part of the item description. Also if an issue is a "music club" edition, that will be noted in the item description.

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me. I particularly enjoy when an artist, band member, or someone who has personal background knowledge of a particular album/artist and offers their insight/information of that recording, which I will include with the description for future listings of that release. As a collector of many years, part of the hobby side for me is to learn about the background of the artists and music that I collect. Hopefully, sharing some of this information in my descriptions will help educate and enhance your listening experience.     

All LPs are removed from their jackets and placed outside of the jacket for shipping. If an album comes sealed (and will be noted as such in the above description), it will be shipped whole unless you request that I open it up to place the disc outside of the jacket for shipping. Both jacket and disc are placed inside of an outer plastic sleeve before packing for shipping. I use professional corrugated record mailers.

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TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS:

SS or SLD:  Still Sealed or Sealed (or some variation of sealed depending on how many characters I have left in the title line). This item is new and unplayed. Also appears in the listing description as Sealed LP or Factory Sealed LP.

NEW LP:  This item is new and unplayed, but was received from a supplier without being shrink wrapped or cellophane wrapped; more common on imports but also many of the smaller independent US labels do not seal their LPs. These items are placed inside of a clear poly outer sleeve upon their receipt by me

GFC:  Gate fold cover.

LTD EDT:  Limited, as in limited edition. If I know the press run number it will be included in the above description.

#'D:  Numbered edition. I will include the number of this item if it is visible to me.

CV:  Colored vinyl.

S/T:  Self-titled.

RE:  Reissue

OOP:  Out Of Print.

MIX:  This sometimes appears in my title line and refers to a group's/artist's music having a mix of styles such a rock track with jazz then followed by a straight rock track followed by a psych rock track, etc., as opposed to a blues album with the album's tracks having predominantly one style.

MULTIPLE ITEM PURCHASERS: 

My automatically generated invoices do not apply discounted shipping for multiple items purchased. I recommend that you wait until you receive my invoice with the proper discounted shipping total before making your payment. If you make your payment with full individual shipping/handling charges I will issue a refund for the overage to your account. If you are outside the US you can e-mail me prior to your purchase for a shipping total; as weight does vary, include the specific titles you are interested in purchasing. US customers whose purchases include CD(s) along with LP(s) will be shipped via media mail. All LPs are shipped via media mail in the US. Please e-mail me with any questions you may have.

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

Shipping rates are as of September 01, 2020; any subsequent rate increase will take precedence over the listed rates.

U.S. Shipping & Payment: 

$4.50 via USPS media mail for the first single LP or double disc LP set (excluding box sets); this also includes tracking. Add-on items ship for an additional $1 to $1.25, depending on weight. Request an invoice total on multiple item purchases and I will send an invoice with discounted shipping total. If you pay from the automatically generated invoice with full shipping charges per item I will refund the appropriate discount amount to your account. Check your Seller Hub for tracking and shipping information.

Payment for all customers is expected within 5 days of the close of auction bidding or date of set sale purchase and will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service (effective as of August 4, 2020). Make sure your payment preference meet eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping your purchase.

Priority mail or additional needs of your purchase are available. Please forward your request prior to making your purchase. All items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers.

INTERNATIONAL Shipping & Payment:  

I ship worldwide; all packages shipped via first-class package international service and include a tracking number. NOTE:  Check with your local post-office to see if your country participates in scanning US first-class package international tracking numbers upon arrival in your country. Because of the recent pandemic and labor shortages many country’s postal systems, as of July 1, 2020, no longer scan the arrival of first class international packages for tracking. The service is still available for all International Priority Mail and Global Express (at a much higher postal rate). Ebay is now offering Standard International Shipping Service, this is a joint service between eBay and the USPS to offer tracking for first class package international mail for a small additional fee to the regular shipping prices. The idea is to continue to make available tracking for international packages for eBay international shippers. This is a new service which I am learning about. I suggest those considering this shipping method to read further about the service on eBay. In any case, due to the recent pandemic the arrival of international packages via first class international is averaging 8-10 weeks from posting.

Shipping prices will vary slightly due to the weight of the disc(s), cover, and enclosures. The amount listed in the shipping details is for this item only. On multiple item purchases the shipping total will be based on the current rate, please request an invoice with the discounted shipping fee. If you pay the full shipping price total for each item on a multiple item purchase I will refund the discount amount to your account. I have been shipping records and CDs around the world for over 35 years, so purchase with confidence. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers with inside packing.

Payment for all customers will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service. Make sure your payment preference meets eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping. All international payments are due in US $ only. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of bidding or date of purchase.

If you would like to know the shipping total before you make your purchase please e-mail me with your request; be sure to include the specific title(s) that you wish to purchase.

NOTE:  First Class Package International Service has a 4 lb. weight limit, if your purchase exceeds that weight limit the next cheapest option is Priority Package International Service (usually up to 4 LPs will have a total weight less than 4 lbs.). If security is a major concern then please request Registered Mail, available upon request and at your expense (required on all bids/purchases totaling $100 or more unless shipped via priority or global express with tracking; this will be included with the invoiced shipping total). If you have any special needs of your purchase or you have any questions please e-mail me before you make your purchase; an additional charge may apply.. 

RETURN POLICY:

Please e-mail me with specific details and I will get back to you with your options. I ask that if there is a problem with the item that you contact me as soon as possible after receiving it. Any item that must be returned is done so at the buyer’s expense unless it is defective or not as described; you can initiate a return request and get a prepaid mailing label through your eBay account of the sale to post the return. Any refund, exchange, or substitution/credit will be at the buyer’s choice, but not made until the original item is received back by me; in the condition as stated in the item description if applicable. 

NON-ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES:

US Customers:  Please wait at least two weeks from my confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. All packages are shipped with confirmation/tracking via eBays shipping program, you will receive an automatically generated shipping notice via eBay with your tracking number or check your “My eBay”.

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