The Randoms, 1964-5 Private Press LP Acetate, Folk, Protest, Psych,RARE & GREAT

$

100

Firstly, I would have liked to put this LP acetate up for auction at a low MB, but this is not the best way for 2 reasons.

First: this excellent LP is Totally Unknown, Undiscovered. I’m fairly sure this is the first time this has ever been offered for sale anywhere and at anytime in the world (And another will probably Never be offered).  

Second: At this time I can’t do sound clips, which would make it easy for interested parties to audition it.  

If you would like to listen to this record, message me your phone number.

Private Press on Hull Records, no issue #. This Acetate is probably one of a kind, at most maybe very few were ever made. I searched every way I could and found no info on these artists or this recording. If you have any info, I’ll post it here.

The acetate is in Mint- condition, it looks unplayed. Very quiet but there are 3 or 4 moments of brief “distortion/noise” on one side of the disc, this may be my turntable or the recording or manufacture. Also, I just noticed on the outer edge of side 2, a tiny spot where the vinyl  did not cover the metal, this is a minor manufacture flaw and not caused by use, (It is less than 1/32nd” in diameter, and was too small for me to properly photograph).

The technical sound quality of this recording is excellent, as acetates, private press 45’s & LP’s go.

The original plain white cover has no splits or bends.

Also included is the original Mint- Transco tan paper inner sleeve, with the red print.

I think this recording was made sometime between 1964-1965.

Hand written on the top left cover is “The Randoms Present…by Maggi and Jan”

On the right center of the side 1 label is hand written “The Randoms Present…”. On the bottom of the Side 2 label is written “Maggi Fisk & Jan Lutz.

The girls sing and play guitar. Their vocals (& harmonies) are excellent and beautiful (by any standard), with a sometimes haunting spacey ethereal sound in the lead vocals, harmonies, and background voice.

It sounds like they perform everything live, no overdubs. Their guitar playing is also very good. Absolutely perfectly charming, so let’s hear it for the Girls! They sound like they were of high school or college age when they made this recording (somewhere between 15 and 22, I would say).

About 30 seconds into the song  “Shenandoah” (as they are playing), they introduce themselves as The Randoms, then they introduce each other with each singing a solo after they are introduced. Cool and perfectly done.

There are a few uptempo songs like “”M.T.A”.

The Songs include:

“Blowin’ In The Wind”: written by Boy Dylan, one of the psych folk masters. Please note: on the label it is referred to as “Blowin’ The Wind”, but it is the Dylan song..

“Four Strong Winds”: by Ian Tyson of Ian and Sylvia. This classic has been recorded by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Waylon Jennings, Marianne Faithfull, Chad and Jeremy, The Seekers, Judy Collins, the Chad Mitchell Trio, Bobby Bare, The Searchers, John Denver, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, The Wolfe Tones, The Tragically Hip, Joan Baez, Vanity Fare, Glenn Yarborough, Tony Rice, The Vanguards, Sarah McLachlan, The Hep Stars, Schooner Fare, and others.

“Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”: is a popular traditional song, the song is now considered a powerful anti-war protest song.. First published in London in 1867 and written by Joseph B. Geoghegan,. Versions & references have been recorded by many artists including: The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, Bob Dylan, Bud & Travis, Maureen O'Hara, The Chad Mitchell Trio, The Leprechauns,  Frida Boccara, Susan Dunn, Benjamin Luxon Bill Crofut, Easterhouse, Vlad Tepes, Joan Baez, The Tossers, Isla St Clair, Dropkick Murphys, Karan Casey, Tracy Smith, Janis Ian, Susan McKeown and Lorin Sklamberg, Santiano, The Cranberries.

 “Seven Daffodils”: written by Lee Hays (of The Weavers), Fran Moseley. Recorded first by The Tarriers in 1960; and The Mojos, Lonnie Donegan, The Brothers Four, etc.

“A Taste Of Honey” written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow. first recorded by Lenny Welch in 1962, The Beatles in 1963. Herb Alpert in 1965,etc.

"Green leaves of summer" written by Paul Francis Webster, with music by Dimitri Tiomkin, for the 1960 film The Alamo, performed in the film by The Brothers Four. It was Also Recorded by Peter and Gordon, The Ventures, Hampton Hawes (Jazz version), Mahalia Jackson, Herb Alpert, Frankie Avalon, Kenny Ball, Ken Dodd, Anita Harris, Frankie Laine,  Patti Page,.

“M.T.A.”:  a/k/a "The MTA Song", is a 1949 song by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes. A protest song against  Boston’s MTA. The song's lyrics tell a strange tale of a man named Charlie trapped on Boston's subway system. A version of the song was a 1959 hit by the Kingston Trio. This song, variations and references have been recorded by: The Chad Mitchell Trio, Boston-based punk rock band Dropkick Murphys's, Frank Black, The Front Porch Country Band, They Might Be Giants, Fred Small.

“Drinking Gourd” : An old folk/ blues song, probably from the 1800’s. Here’s what I read: "Follow the Drinking Gourd" is an American folk song first published in 1928. The Drinking Gourd is another name for the Big Dipper asterism. Folklore has it that fugitive slaves in the United States used it as a point of reference so they would not get lost.[1][2] According to legend, the song was used by a conductor of the Underground Railroad, called Peg Leg Joe, to guide some fugitive slaves. While the song may possibly refer to some lost fragment of history, the origin and context remain a mystery. A more recent source challenges the authenticity of the claim that the song was used to help slaves escape to the North and to freedom. Two of the stars in the Big Dipper line up very closely with and point to Polaris. Polaris is a circumpolar star, and so it is always seen pretty close to the direction of true north. Hence, according to a popular myth, all slaves had to do was look for the Drinking Gourd and follow it to the North Star (Polaris), and north to freedom.

"Shalom chaverim": an Israeli Folk song , I read the Translation is: “Peace friends till we meet again”.

“Water is Wide”:  a folk song of Scottish origin, based on lyrics that partly date to the 1600s. It remains popular in the 21st century.  Versions of "The Water is Wide" has been recorded countless times, including June Tabor, Angie Aparo, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, Cliff Richard, Neil Young, The Highwaymen, The Seekers, Peter, Paul and Mary, Sheila Jordan, The Cowboy Junkies, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Rangers, Joan Baez, Enya, Steeleye Span, Karla Bonoff, James Taylor, John Gorka, Daniel Rodriguez, Luka Bloom, Steve Goodman, Eva Cassidy, Rory Block, Tom Chapin.

Mark Knopfler recorded an instrumental version, The Kingston Trio, The New Christy Minstrels, Renaud, Leehom Wang , Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, and the Indigo Girls collaborated on a version of the song in concert on the Lilith Fair tour.Barbra Streisand included, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin, American jazz artist Charles Lloyd , Charlotte Church, Eva Cassidy,  Eyran Katsenelenbogen , Chloë Agnew, the youngest member of Celtic Woman, Runrig, the Scottish Gaelic rock band,  Triniti , Hayley Westenra , Masaaki Kishibe

“Maria”:  the formal title is  "They Call the Wind Maria" written by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe for their 1951 Broadway musical, “Paint Your Wagon”. Rufus Smith originally sang the song on Broadway, and Joseph Leader was the singer in London's West End. The song was also recorded by: Sam Cooke, P.J. Proby, John Raitt, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Arthur Conley, The Browns, Michael Jackson, The Country Gentlemen, Zoot Sims, Smothers Brothers, Bryn Terfel, Josh White, Vic Damone, Eddie Fisher, Robert Goulet, Burl Ives, Richard Kiley, Vaughan Monroe and his Orchestra, Jim Nabors, Pernell Roberts, Earl Wrightson,  101 Strings, Ed Ames, Baja Marimba Band,

“Today”: composed by Randy Sparks  for the 1964 film “Advance to the Rear” and sung by The New Christy Minstrels. It was also recorded by John Denver, and before him by the magnificent Randoms.

The Randoms version of these songs equals or surpasses any of the other artists I’ve named. If you listen to this LP acetate I think you will agree.

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RECORD GRADING (Usually Visual) :

FS=Original Factory Sealed. ///

New= New (or Mint) perfect in every way, record appears unplayed. ///

New- = New minus (or Mint minus), record played maybe 1 to 9 times , perhaps a few spindle lines on label, and maybe a sleeve line or two. Covers close to M, has maybe a small corner bend, maybe the very slightest of ring line caused by the record.///

VG+ = Very Good Plus, record played a little more than an m- but well cared for. Vinyl has the vast majority of its original luster, may have sleeve lines, maybe a few very lite scuffs; maybe one or two small, very light surface scratches. But not all at the same time. Cover MAY have very minor ringwear, maybe a few other flaws, a minor corner bend or two, maybe a small partial seam split; ///

VG = record has the flaws of a VG+, only more of them; may also have some small scratches that are felt with a fingernail. Vinyl is very playable and will play through, good luster. Probably some noise between tracks, maybe in quiet passages. Still, a reasonably well cared for record. /// VG- = proportionally lower than a VG.////

G = It is rare that I will even list a record in this condition; but it will be proportionally lower than a VG-.