SCARCE 1969 ORIG = AORTA 1st LP = ORGAN FUZZ + EFFECTS UNDERGROUND PSYCH

$

36

1969 ORIGINAL "PSYCH" COLLECTIBLE ON 360 SOUND COLUMBIA             

                        AORTA

\                                     USA - 360 Sound Columbia - CS - 9785 - STEREO

RARE 1969 original first pressing collectible of the very first AORTA album from 1969 on the highly collected 360 Sound Columbia label of the sixties...

From the sophisticated production blending killer organ and guitar sounds, arrangements, etc to distinctive, great vocals and outstanding songwriting. There are no weak tracks here, and each one has some melodies or hooks or stinging, powerful instrumental ideas that suck the listener in. There are also at least two or three bona fide elite classic songs here, really memorable, catchy slices of genius that belong on any comprehensive "best of 60s psych" comp. In the flow of the album, there are a number of fascinating departures from conventional pop song format, notably the opening track and its unforgettable "main vein" chorus. Something of this albums general flavor is found in parts of the "Food" classic 'Forever is a Dream' too, and most fans of 'Food' would dig 'Aorta' and vice versa, just on an abstract sensibility, not on any especially strong similarities.

Probably the primary feeling of the music comes from the organ. Stripping away the brilliant compositional and production maneuvers, This is slightly heavy, trippy, psychedelic organ prog-psych-pop with an exaggerated, dramatic vocal style atypical of psych bands. (Not to the extremes of Arcadium or Vanilla Fudge though!)

During the mid-'60s, the members of Aorta -- originally hailing from Rockford, IL -- had previously been in a group called the Exceptions. Early members of this group included Kal David (later of Illinois Speed Press and H.P. Lovecraft), Marty Grebb (the Buckinghams), and Peter Cetera (Chicago). The Exceptions were a soulful, if unremarkable, Top 40s cover group who were nevertheless acclaimed for their "exceptional" musicianship. They were one of the more popular acts on the greater Chicago local scene, and released a handful of singles on numerous Midwest labels -- Tollie, Cameo, Quill -- and for L.A.-based Capitol. For the last of these releases, the band dropped the "s" from their name and began calling themselves the Exception (a compilation for the Collectables label, The Quill Records Story, collects two of their singles). They also recorded an EP called "A Rock & Roll Mass for the Flair label; it featured six different rock songs with words taken from various religious prayers. As each member of the group -- with the exception of bassist Peter Cetera -- already had an eye toward expanding their original material to include a more "psychedelic" sound, they soon reconfigured themselves as Aorta, and, in late 1968, recorded a single for Atlantic. Eventually, producer Bill Traut (American Breed) approached them on behalf of Dunwich Productions, Inc., and -- with Bobby Jones taking over on bass after Cetera's departure -- they accepted his offer to record their debut album for Columbia in 1969. They recorded two albums under the name Aorta. The first of these, the self-titled Aorta, is today highly acclaimed as a sought after lite-psych album.

Signed with Columbia Records, the label who issued this eponymous debut, in 1969, during the same month that debut albums by three other Chicago-area acts were issued by Columbia: Illinois Speed Press, the Flock, and Chicago Transit Authority (featuring Peter Cetera). Columbia marketed each of these albums together as a part of a so-called "Chicago Sound," and all four entered the Billboard Top 200. Using numerous sound effects (crying babies, ringing telephones, etc.) with songs on each side of the album that run together with no break in between, Aorta's first album is collectible "psychedelic" album, and much better than their second and last. They utilize profressional musicianship with complex rhythms on the art rock side and histrionic guitar/organ arrangements. Aorta's album ended up peaking at around number 168 and remained on Billboard's charts for a respectable six weeks.

Main Vein I
Heart Attack
What's In My Mind's Eye
Magic Bed
 Main Vein II
Sleep Tight
Catalyptic
 Main Vein III
 Sprinkle Road to Cork Street
 Ode to Missy Mxyzosptlk
Strange
 Thoughts and Feelings
 Main Vein IV

CONDITION: The Cover:The dark gatefold cover is hard to find clean from 40 years ago...here, a collection worthy copy, rated at: VG++ careful previous handling, a bit of light shelf wear, looks fine (see photo), back cover light wear, nothing bad...There are no split seams, no writing... strong orig colors ...

The Vinyl:is all glossy shiny both sides, VG++ vastly clean = couple of superficial scuffs are visible, play graded with excellent audio and both Columbia 360 Sound labels are clean

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

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EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record