Andy Roberts Home Grown RCA 1st Press Mighty Baby RARE

	£		38
	$		50

Andy Roberts - …Home Grown was issued in the UK in 1970 on RCA SF8086. This is the 1st and only pressing of the original version of this album (3 radically different versions of the album exist! To my mind this is THE quintessential prog folk psych album to which all others in the genre must admit inferiority to a greater or lesser extent. Accompanied on many tracks by the fabulous contemporary pysch band, Mighty Baby, the breadth of stylings: from prog to folk to country to whimsy to psychedelic to blues / R‘n’B and all the way back makes the whole unique to these ears. That Roberts remains a criminally under-rated (and obscure) musician and songwriter (despite the best attentions of Pink Floyd, Roy Harper and many, many others) is surely only testament to the whims of the publicity machine and his preference to take the stage as an accompanist rather than a band leader. Anyway … his solo career which began here and ended in 1973 after only a handful of albums was short on timespan whilst very high on quality.

There has been much debate about whether this RCA pressing was supplied with a lyric insert. The RCA pressing is very rare in itself and most copies that surface have no insert. The inserts I have seen have all been creased from having been folded. It seems clear from this fact that the LP itself had no insert when sold in the shops but that the purchaser was given instructions by the sales staff to write to RCA for an insert (if they could be bothered) and those that did subsequently received a folded copy in an envelope. This copy had no insert, so I have done quite a good job of photocopying an original insert on both sides and gluing the pages together. I am supplying this copy to the winning bidder. Although not ideal, the result is vastly better than no insert at all, because the sleeve itself contains absolutely zero information about the recording (not even a track-listing!), let alone the lyrics.

For more information on Andy Roberts and his amazing career in music, check out his excellent website at: http://www.andyrobertsmusic.com/index_two.html

Tracks:

Side 1

1.    Home Grown (Roberts)

2.    Just for the Record (Roberts)

3.    Applecross (Roberts)

4.    The Praties are Dug (Trad Arr-Roberts)

5.    John the Revelator (Trad Arr - Roberts)

6.    Autumn to May (Yarrow, Stookey)

7.    Moths and Lizards in Detroit (Roberts)

Side 2

1.    Creepy John (Koerner)

2.    Jello (Darlington)

3.    Gig Song (Roberts)

4.    Queen of the Moonlight World (Roberts)

5.    Where the Soul of Man Never Dies (Trad Arr - Roberts)

6.    The One-Armed Boatman and the Giant Squid (Roberts)

7.    Boris at the Organ (Roberts)

Musicians:

·       Andy Roberts: Vocals, guitars, percussion, flutes, violin, organ.

·       Ian Whiteman: Vocals, piano, organ, mellotron, electric piano.

·       Mike Evans: Bass and world of his own (sic!).

·       Roger Powell: Vocals, drums, percussion.

·       Gordon Huntley: Steel Guitar

·       Boris: At the organ

Other Credits:

Brass arrangements: David Palmer

Engineers: Vic Gamm, Roger Quested

Photography: John Oldham

Dog: Seithenyn

Produced by Sandy Roberton and Andy Roberts for September Productions.

Single sleeve laminated on the front only is in Excellent + condition with just a couple of very light creases in the laminate close to the opening edge. And that’s about it! No edge or cornerwear. No ringwear. Spine and opening edge in fine condition. One of the best examples of this sleeve I have seen.

The vinyl is in Very Good + condition. Plays beautifully but with some very light crackle in the run-in and run-off grooves, between tracks and in the very quietest moments of the music - but not sufficiently to impede enjoyment of the brilliant music.

As mentioned above, the insert is one I have created from an original and is what it is – and, unlike the original from which it came, it is uncreased!

I am not a dealer but a serious collector. All my records come from my private collection. Please read my ME page for details of my philosophy on descriptions and gradings. I absolutely guarantee my gradings as played through my system. All my records are cleaned on a Moth Mk II RCM and play-graded on a Rega Planar 3 turntable through an azur 840a amp into Matrix MX-1200 Reference speakers. Inferior component-type turntables without proper tracking are more prone to sticking and jumping than high-grade turntables. If you love vinyl, do yourself a favour and invest in a decent system if you don't already own one. You don't have to pay thousands. Excellent quality 2nd hand turntables are available on eBay for under £100 (about the price of 1 rare LP). Your investment will be more than rewarded by the additional listening pleasure you derive. BUT if, unexpectedly, you are unhappy for any reason, please get in touch.

Please see my other similar LPs for sale. Over the coming weeks and months I will be listing hundreds of classic prog, psych, folk, jazz and pop LPs, including numerous Swirls and many other collectors' holy grails. Don't miss out - keep watching and bookmark me in your favourite sellers. Once they are gone, they are gone!! It is my strongest desire that these records go to good homes where they will be cherished and played occasionally.

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Grading :

M = Mint - as new

NM = Near Mint - very few, light signs of usage that don’t affect play - the cover has only minor signs of wear.

EX = Excellent - some signs of usage, but very little lessening in sound quality – the cover might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VG = Very Good - no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch - normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

G = Good - the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches - the cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

+ and - are used as appropriate.

Payment

Payment is expected within 5 days of auction end. PAYPAL is welcomed and there are no charges for anyone. In the UK cheques or direct credit into my bank account (please ask for the account details) are also fine. For buyers in Euroland I am happy to accept transfers into my bank account in Austria (please ask for the account details).

Non-paying bidders will be reported to eBay.

Shipping Policy :

The records are taken out of the sleeve to avoid splitting - if not still sealed. They are sent in professional mailers with proper stiffeners for extra protection. A polythene sleeve is included in every case. 

Postage / Shipping Charges

UK

SECOND CLASS (My standard service for items of less than £34 value, unless otherwise noted)

1 LP                                £1.80

2 LPs                              £2.30

3 LPs                              £2.80

4 and more LPs will be sent as a STANDARD PARCEL.

4 LPs                              £5.50

5/6 LPs                           £6.50

7-12 LPs                        £9.00

Larger quantities, please enquire.

BUT PLEASE NOTE: Automatic compensation cover is limited to a value of £34.00. If the value of your LPs exceeds this, your package will be sent SPECIAL DELIVERY NEXT DAY, the rates of which service depend upon the value and weight of the goods, as follows:

Value not exceeding £500

1 LP                      =  £5.50

2 to 3 LPs             =  £7.50

4 to 6 LPs             =  £9.50

7 to 30 LPs           = £22.00

Value £501 to £1000

1 LP                      =  £6.25

2 to 3 LPs             =  £8.25

4 to 6 LPs             = £10.25

7 to 30 LPs           = £22.75

OVERSEAS

Under no circumstances will I send items via Surface Mail. Standard Airmail to all parts of the world contains no compensation. Compensation up to a value of £34 is available via the AIRSURE service for an additional fee of £4.50 whilst compensation up to £500 is available for an additional fee of £7.00.

Compensation for packages with a value from £501 to £2500 is also available via INTERNATIONAL DATAPOST, but is very expensive (e.g. a 2 kilo package to Japan with a value of £2500 would cost in excess of £110).

I offer you these services. If you decline to pay for compensation, the goods will be shipped Standard Airmail AT YOUR OWN RISK. Standard Airmail charges are as follows:

Europe

1 LP                                =  £4.00

2 LPs                              =  £6.25

3 LPs                              =  £7.75

Add £1.50 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.

USA / Asia / Rest of the World

1 LP                                =  £6.25

2 LPs                              =  £9.25

3 LPs                              = £12.00

Add £3.00 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.