THE SWORDSMEN Aussie private pressing MONO LP garage beat 200 only

	A$		1,025
	$		679

THE SWORDSMEN ULTRA RARE Aussie private pressing MONO LP garage beat punk 1966 ~ 200 copies only

The Swordsmen – Self-titled LP (orig. Australia East Custom Pressing MONO EASC 8 / flipback cover)

Release date: December 1966.  Recording dates: 1966.

On offer here is an ULTRA RARE original issue of the PRIVATELY PRESSED album by Melbourne-based group, THE SWORDSMEN.  This album was issued in December 1966 in a minute quantity of 200 copies only (according to lead guitarist Harry Leggett).  I have only ever seen (and owned) one copy and this is it!  I have sighted several copies of THE MISSING LINKS original album on PHILIPS, so this should give you an indication of how truly rare this vinyl artefact is.

This LP is made up entirely of cover versions.  These include “Tossin' and Turnin'” (BOBBY LEWIS), “Shakin' All Over” (JOHNNY KIDD/NORMIE ROWE), “Pink Dally Rue” (THE NEWBEATS), “Road Runner” (THE GANTS), “Slow Down” (LARRY WILLIAMS, also THE BEATLES), “Bulldog” (THE FIREBALLS), “Love Potion No. 9” (THE SEARCHERS), “Midnight Bus” (JOHN D. LOUDERMILK), “Memphis, Tennessee” (CHUCK BERRY/DAVE BERRY & THE CRUISERS), “I'll Make You Happy” (THE EASYBEATS), “Kansas City” and “Long Tall Shorty” (both by LITTLE RICHARD/THE BEATLES).

SIDE 1

1.          Tossin' and Turnin'        Writ: Malou Rene - Ritchie Adams

2.         Shakin' All Over            Writ: Frederick Heath (aka Johnny Kidd)

3.         Pink Dally Rue                Writ: Don Gant - Norris Wilson

4.         Road Runner                   Writ: Ellas McDaniel (aka Bo Diddley)

5.         Slow Down                      Writ: Larry Williams

6.         Bulldog                           Writ: George Tomsco

SIDE 2

7.         Love Potion No. 9            Writ: Jerry Leiber – Mike Stoller

8.         Midnight Bus                  Writ: John D. Loudermilk

9.         Kansas City                     Writ: Jerry Leiber – Mike Stoller

10.       Memphis, Tennessee       Writ: Chuck Berry

11.        I'll Make You Happy       Writ: Stevie Wright - George Young

12.       Long Tall Shorty             Writ: Donald Covay – Herbert Abramson

PERSONNEL

     Geoff Augustine        lead vocals, rhythm guitar

     Harry Leggett           lead guitar

     Mike Sibley               bass guitar

     Ron Smith                 drums

Recorded at Elwood Audio Services Transcriptions (independent studio) in Melbourne—Australia.

Produced by Bill Hawtin.

GRADING (also refer photos)

Cover (matt finish):

VG+ highly acceptable appearance overall (flipback): minor surface rubbing & discolouration, insignificant creasing (along spine), tape along top & bottom seams (hence the lower grading) otherwise VG++;

Record:

visual: VG++ beautiful glossy sheen—some insignificant hairlines & surface scuffs, one light surface mark across side 1 which DOES NOT affect play (seen under strong light), therefore side 1 is VG+ but plays better.  QUALITY THICK VINYL PRESSING!

audible: EX sounds GREAT overall, infrequent underlying static which you would expect from a disc of this vintage, low fidelity production.  COMPLETELY FREE OF ANY JUMPS OR SKIPS.

labels: very light spindle wear.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS IS THE RAREST OF ALL 1960’s ALBUMS TO BE ISSUED BY AN AUSSIE ROCK COMBO.  IT IS NO WONDER THAT THIS LP HAS ATTAINED ‘HOLY GRAIL’ STATUS.  COPIES BASICALLY NEVER TURN UP, SO DO NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THIS VALUABLE PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN ROCK MUSIC HISTORY!

GRADING DESCRIPTION

COVER

M:      Absolutely NEW—perhaps still in shrink-wrap.

M-:    Slightly less than MINT.

EX:    Very light wear and/or creasing—defects will be noted.

VG++: Slightly less than EXCELLENT.

VG+:   Slightly better than VERY GOOD.

VG:     Some ring-wear and other signs of aging are apparent—defects will be noted.

VG-:   Slightly less than VERY GOOD.

G:       More obvious ring-wear, seam-splits, stains etc—defects will be noted.

M=MINT, EX=EXCELLENT, VG=VERY GOOD, G=GOOD

NB: Brackets indicate the cover is between one grade and another—eg. VG+(+).

RECORD

M:      Absolutely NEW—perhaps still in shrink-wrap.

M-:    Slightly less than MINT.

EX:    Very light scuffs.  Record played infrequently, with little or no reduction in sound quality.

VG++: Slightly less than EXCELLENT.

VG+:   Slightly better than VERY GOOD.

VG:     Lightly scuffed/marked record, with acceptable sound quality—defects will be noted.

VG-:   Slightly less than VERY GOOD.

G:       More obvious scratches, with some deterioration in sound quality—defects will be noted.

M=MINT, EX=EXCELLENT, VG=VERY GOOD, G=GOOD

NB: Brackets indicate the record is between one grade and another—eg. VG+(+).

Shipping, payment details and returns policy

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