STEFAN ZAUNER Prism & Views RARE '78 PROG PSYCH LP HEAR

$

40

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

STEFAN ZAUNER "Prism & Views"

Original 1978 LP on the Canadian VINYL label, STEREO LV1003

Cover:  VG++, some wear on back, small cutout hole

Vinyl:  CLEAN, plays EXCELLENT

ONLY OTHER COPY ON HERE SELLING FOR $140!

From what I'm reading on the Interwebs, this is one RARE little prog psych puppy.  From Stefan Zauner, who they tell me used to play in Amon Duul 2, but certainly not the one that had delectable German dish Uschi Obermaier in it.  And that's Stefan's loss.  He was also keyboardist in Freiheit too.  And there on the cover is some sort of Keith Emerson-lite electronic portable synthesizer thingie that also appears to be bleeding.  Stefan himself looks like the second coming of Stevie Winwood on the backcover, although anyone expecting to find something as poppy as "Back In The High Life" on PRISM & VIEWS is gonna be as disappointed as I was when I finally sat down one night to watch PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.  This is a weird record, actually.  Weird because Stefan sets out right off the bat to give us a groovy little 60s popsike throwback with synth in "Mr. Loveday's Good Evening Store" which harkens back to the days of those old Rubble comps.  Kinda sounds like late 70's Yes if Rick Wakeman had been brought up on old Kinks records.  But lest you think this is gonna be a synth pop Dukes of Stratosphear, he quickly changes gears, and the rest of the record sounds uncannily like outtakes from Genesis' "...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE."  Very much so.  Which, coincidentally, came out the same year, just sayin'.  Don't believe me?  Just listen to "Billy Miller," and tell me that bassline doesn't sound EXACTLY like Mike Rutherford, and those vocals sound like Phil Collins falsettos.  And that keyboard solo is SO over-the-top flashy, Rick Wakeman called and said "Hey Stefan, could you tone it down a little bit?"  But just when you're starting to say, "You know, I actually PREFER this to "Deep In The Motherlode," at the very VERY end of Side 2, Stefan once again returns to the days of Swinging London and acid casualties with the snakey Eastern hookah chants of "Magic Carpet."  Strange thing, this.  It's ...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE bookended by an Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera single.  No wonder the keyboard's bleeding. 

 HEAR IT!

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.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  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. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  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.