SUNSHINE REIGNS Acelia Dulfin 1960s GREAT DOWNER TRIPPY POP PSYCH 45 LISTEN

$

30

SUNSHINE REIGNS "Acelia Dulfin" b/w "Laura (Is The Girl)"

Original 1960s 45 on the US mbm label

Vinyl:  Plays VG++

You’d think with a title like “Acelia Dulfin” and a band called Sunshine Reigns, this would be one of those happy little skip-along sunshine pop Bugaloo goodies with a Gary Zekley credit buried somewhere on the label.  And you couldn’t be further from the truth.  This little slice of teenage venom has seen less daylight than Ian Curtis and Peter Murphy combined, and the only reason the band publicizes Acelia’s full name in the song title is so all the generations of single men to follow know enough to stay away.  In the pantheon of “downer rock,” this one extends into the eighth circle of Prozac Hell.

How else can you explain a bitter tale of revenge that starts out like this:

“This is the story of a friend I once had,

He was mixed up with this girl, and I knew she was bad.

So I gave him some advice about her, and I think you oughta listen to it too.

It might help you someday.”

Wow, she must be bad news.  The mere fact that he talks about his friend in the past tense means that either this evil succubus came between these two guys and somehow ruined their friendship forever, or she killed him.  At least now the proper authorities have her full name.  I’m surprised they didn’t print her mailing address and phone number in the run-out groove.

Musically, this is a slow, smoldering jangle-fest of sad guitars – like something a younger, edgier Byrds might’ve written right after Roger McGuinn got dumped at the prom.  There’s also some tinny, ear-piercing organ that quivers and buzzes in the background, while the bassline sounds like the Damned’s “Stranger on the Town” slowed down to funeral dirge speed.  Fans of moody teen downer singles like the ones on I Can Hear Raindrops rate this Louisiana group’s 45 as one of the all-time greats, yet surprisingly no one’s comped it yet.  Maybe Acelia’s lawyers are more powerful than we thought…

There’s another siren on the flipside, “Laura (Is the Girl).”  But she gets off pretty easily compared to poor Miss Dulfin.  Sounds like the Sunshine Reigns actually like this girl, although, in true Robert Smith fashion, even their loving tribute sounds like a gothic wake.  Heavy on the quivering organ, with rough, world-weary harmonies, they’re trying to be wistful and dreamy, yet still make falling in love sound like the death of a pet.  Man, no wonder Hot Topic’s always crowded.

So put on your black mascara, hide the cutlery and settle back for five minutes of pure teen angst from the not-so-swingin’ 60’s.  An evil girl who ended a friendship and possibly a friend’s life on one side, the girl of your dreams on the other – and yet they both sound like an all-day rainstorm.  You can trace every Cure concert in the history of music right back to this point.

HEAR IT!

UPDATE: SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

(THE LESS EXCITING STUFF...)

First class shipping is $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Delivery confirmation included in the shipping costs.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $6 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $8 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  

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. 

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.