PRETTY THINGS Parachute 1970 UK HARVEST 1st PRESS *FACTORY SAMPLE* - NEAR MINT
£
86
$
113
£ 86
Sold For
Sep 14, 2015
Sold Date
Sep 4, 2015
Start Date
£ 48
Start price
5
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
PRETTY THINGS Parachute 1970 UK HARVEST 1st PRESS *FACTORY SAMPLE* - NEAR MINT
PRETTY THINGSParachute
UK HARVEST (SHVL 774) FIRST *FACTORY SAMPLE* PRESSING (June 1970)
AN OUTSTANDING *NEAR MINT* ORIGINAL COPY IN BARELY PLAYED CONDITION
PRESSED WITH THE FIRST ISSUE HARVEST LABELS WITH ”THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD...." RIM TEXT - NO EMI BOXED LOGO
MATRICES: SHVL 774 A-2 / SHVL 774 B-2 (corrected from 744 which is crossed out and re-stamped)
MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 1/GD and 1/H
THE RECORD IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL OUTER LAMINATED SLEEVE WITH INTERNAL LYRICS, "Printed in Great Britain"
COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL POLY-LINED INNER SLEEVE WITH UK PATENT NUMBERS AND “MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN” PRINTED IN BLACK (this release pre-dates the introduction of the Harvest advertising inner sleeve)
If S.F. Sorrow is the Pretty Things' Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, and Yellow Submarine wrapped in one, then Parachute is their more succinct White Album and Abbey Road.
It's not just a time line comparison. The Pretties made this fascinating LP in the same studio, London's Abbey Road, with Beatles engineer Norman Smith producing.
"The Good Mr. Square" replicates the three-part harmony the Beatles were so proud of on "Because." Two songs later, the group assembles a brief, interconnected three-song suite like the famous ones on side two of Abbey Road and bassist Wally Allen's vocals on tracks such as "Sickle Clowns" have the same throaty, mad anguish that John Lennon exhibited on "Yer Blues" and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun."
If S.F. Sorrow is hard rock grandeur, then Parachute is its more bitter twist, the dream dying and the witching hour upon us.
This time the topic is a generation caught between the conflicting calls of (rural) peace, love, and boredom, and (urban) sophistication, sex, and squalor in a harsh world.
Somehow the departure of the band's main creative force, Dick Taylor, didn't diminish the writing and inspired variety. Allen stepped up big time into the collaborator role with singer Phil May. The harmonies remain a strong point on an otherwise rock-inclined record, and the nasty edge of perfectly balanced bombast in the best songs have been a lost art ever since
Side 1:
Scene One: The Good Mr. Square - She Was Tall, She Was High
In The Square - The Letter - Rain
Miss Fay Regrets
Cries From The Midnight Circus
Side 2:
Grass
Sickle Clowns
She's A Lover
What's The Use
Parachute
LABELS: NEAR MINT
Clean, fresh and unmarked labels - one spindle trace per side - the *FACTORY SAMPLE* sticker shows no signs of attempted removal
VINYL Visual: NEAR MINT
Both surfaces are practically unmarked and shine like new
VINYL Audio: NEAR MINT
Play-checked at volume the record plays beautifully throughout - a coupe of one-off clicks were noted but I did not clean this copy as looks so immaculate so these will no doubt disappear after a clean/few spins - exceptionally clean, rich and warm sound - an outstanding, barely played copy
SLEEVE: VERY GOOD
But only given such a low rating as there are two repairs to splits top and bottom of the opening edges - these look like they may have been caused when the record was forced into the sleeve at the factory (and later repaired by the owner) as this copy is practically untouched - anyway they do not detract from the appearance of the cover which is otherwise in fine condition with a nick to the back opening edge the only other issue of note (please see close-up photographs)
POST & PACKING:
A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, NEW INNER SLEEVE WITH ANTI-STATIC INNER, QUALITY BOX (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND AMPLE STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY
UK: FREE (2nd class standard)
UK: £9.00 (Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day by 1pm)
EUROPE: Airmail: £14.00 (International Signed For delivery)
INTERNATIONAL: Airmail: £17.00 (International Signed For delivery)
I will combine postage for items purchased within any 10 day period.
However, at the end of each 10 day period, all outstanding items will need to be paid for in full and will be posted to you.
Any items purchased after payment will be included in the next 10 period.
I am continually adding new items which may be of interest to you and it is impractical for me to allow payment to be postponed indefinitely in the expectation that you might wish to bid on future items. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation
Guarantee: All records are unconditionally guaranteed (including sealed and/or unplayed) and I will offer a complete, no quibble refund upon return of the item should you not be pleased with it in any way I will email you when payment has been received to let you know when the item will be posted. Please leave feedback upon receipt of the item so that I know you have received it safely. Thanks 606 (GS 6.9.3 (606))
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