UK POSTER + VERTIGO Beggars Opera PATHFINDER Prog Psych

$

64

         1972 ORIGINAL SWIRL VERTIGO ORIGINAL

                HARD EDGED PROG PSYCH CLASSIC

                 BEGGARS OPERA

                       Pathfinder

\                                                                    UK - SWIRL VERTIGO - 6360 073

Original 1972 first pressing in POSTER size foldout cover on the famously sought and collected VERTIGO SWIRL label... 

Beggars Opera were always brave and adventurous, both in their choice of material and musical philosophy. Whether performing original songs or applying their arranging skills to the compositions of others, this highly esteemed progressive group could always be relied on to deliver diverse and satisfying sounds. Filled with atmospheric mellotron backdrops which add rich flavors to the songs. The mellotron was an early attempt at a sampling machine. Tape loops of pre-recorded strings stored inside the machine could be activated by a keyboard, which produced a haunting heavenly sound beloved by top progressive groups including The Moody Blues and Genesis. There is nice mellotron on one of the many highlight tunes on Pathfinder, a celebrated version of 'MacArthur Park." This poignant epic was a huge underground hit for the band. Don't expect overly complex, grand, over-the-top prog, this music is actually quite typical of British prog of the time: emphasis on strong melodies, with heavy attack edges that rise up suddenly and submerge as quickly as they came, like a quick thunderstorm. As for the keyboards, the Hammond organ is by for the most dominant. There is also piano, Mellotron, and Harpsichord as well. The album doesn't take much to get in to, it only needs a couple listens to like. Other truly worthwhile songs are the catchy "HOBO" and the heavy prog  "Witch" with its dark theme and screaming voice to great effect.  Both "The Witch" and "Madame Doubfire" are the album's most scary songs which deals with witchcraft and Satanism, so just like Black Widow's Sacrifice, you better avoid those songs if you're a Christian fundamentalist. The title track has great vocal harmonies that sound exactly how the Byrds might have sounded like if they were a prog band, rather than a folk rock band. if you love early British prog, like Spring, Gracious, Cressida, Fantasy, Indian Summer, Black Widow, Rare Bird, etc. you will probably enjoy this album as wellAll in all the album is well worth seeking out.

1. Hobo

2. Macarthur Park

3. Witch

4. Pathfinder

5. From Shark to Haggies

6. Stretcher

7. Madame Doubtfire

CONDITION: The poster cover is pretty clean, but for the edges where it folds into the standard cover, has some light shelf wear, VG+ showing small prior use but not enough for most to put down...not quite VG++ but not bad either...

The vinyl is shiny having light hairlines, VG+, playing enjoyable with very little disturbance at all, thus a keeper collectible and the Vertigo Swirl labels are CLEAN 

       A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record