BAKERLOO - Autographed First Pressing with Rare Labels

	£		106
	$		140

BAKERLOO - autographed first pressing with rare labels

1969 single album release, Harvest (SHVL 762), Stereo - Pressed in U.K.
First pressing in thick vinyl.
Matrix Info/Nos: SHVL 762A-2 and SHVL 762B-2.
Other Run-out/Dead Wax info: Side 1 - 1  G & Side 2 - 1  A.

Bakerloo, rather surprisingly given the quality of its music and the band’s growing reputation at the time, did not sell well, so this copy is one of a relatively small number in circulation. That on its own has made copies of the album in good visual and playing condition sought-after collectors’ items, but quality copies autographed by the band - this one has been signed by Dave “Clem” Clempson, the band’s guitarist and inspirational leader - are close to being unique.

The record itself has been kept in an original Harvest poly-liner since purchase and retains a very pleasant shine though played quite a few times.
Visual inspection in normal light shows some “scuffing”, mainly in the dead-wax areas, and on side 2, a couple of ½ - ¾” “scratch” marks, the first of which (side 2, track 1) creates some brief but audible background noise during the track’s quiet opening section but doesn’t otherwise disturb the listener. And it’s very difficult to tell whether or not the second of these marks - near the end of the second/last track - generates any rogue sounds.
A close examination under stronger light reveals many other, generally finer marks - mostly of the kind associated with the vinyl being frequently removed from and replaced within the inner sleeve. This is borne out when playing the album as, with the exception of the start of side 2 (as explained above), the sound is very good with relatively little in the way of background crackle, hiss, pop, etc. noises.
Taking all this into account, the vinyl is rated “very good (+)”.

The label areas which are very clean are a scarce example of a Harvest release without the word “EMI” (and its box) usually seen above the word HARVEST, to the left of the spindle hole. As you would expect with a 35-year old album, these label areas show some signs of wear, but the signs are limited on both sides, to (1) marks around the spindle hole - though only some, mostly on side 2, are visible in normal light - and (2) minimal wear on the circular ridge about ½” in from the hole itself.
Allowing for these observations, the label areas warrant a rating of “very good (+)”, going on “excellent (-)”.

The sleeve, (also kept in a polythene cover, available with LP, since purchase), is a gatefold by Ernest J Day & Son (London) and laminated on the outside, though not, it should be noted, up to the very edges. In common with many other “laminated” sleeves, the laminate on most or all of the sleeve’s sides stops some 1 - 2mm from the edge. The result is that those edges tend to age and/or become discoloured noticeable quicker than the laminated area, and this is the case here though the deterioration is fairly modest.
With the exception of a little wear and related laminate lift at the spine top/bottom and on the top edge, a couple of small creases, and a minimal hint of ring-wear, the laminated area is in superb condition, with the spine and outer edges retaining their sharpness and the wording - on the spine - being clearly visible.

Inside, there is some age-related discolouring along the bottom edge, one or two small creases and a few extraneous but not prominent marks. Otherwise, the only noticeable “mark” on this section of the sleeve is what makes this copy almost unique: the autograph of the band’s lead guitarist and driving force, Dave “Clem” Clempson who, shortly after the album’s release, left to play with considerable distinction in Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum and later joined Humble Pie, where he succeeded Peter Frampton.
Overall, the cover easily warrants a “very good (+)”, and maybe even an “excellent (-)”.

 Musically speaking, if you are considering bidding for this recording which was the group’s only album release, the chances are that you’ve not heard anything by Bakerloo before: if so, the following might be helpful.

Formed in 1967, the band was a three-piece in the then classic “power-trio” mould - guitar, bass and drums - so, think “Cream” because that’s a good start point, and for more than just musical reasons: apart from the trio aspect, both bands had a drummer named Baker (and though not in Ginger’s league, Kevin was very respected, and even facially similar!), the vocals are shared by the guitarist and bassist, and curiously (bassist) Terry Poole’s voice sounds uncannily like Jack Bruce’s in places! Interestingly enough Poole went on to play with Graham Bond, with whom both Bruce and (Ginger) Baker had earlier played.

On the playing side, Bakerloo share Cream’s blues influence, with the guitar very much to the fore. Indeed Clempson’s playing is at times decidely “Clapton-esque”, to the point that, near the end of the final track - the majestic 15-minute, “Son of Moonshine” - he launches into a few bars of “Cat Squirrel”, one of the numbers favoured by Cream in their early days.
And there may be other, less obvious similarities, but Bakerloo were not just, or even, a Cream double-take: apart from possible hints of other contemporary influences - Jimi Hendrix, Richie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and Alvin Lee - there is an underlying, almost jazzy, originality to several of the tracks that not only makes this a very enjoyable album, but also gives some hint of the massive contributions Clempson would later make with both Colosseum and Humble Pie, before becoming a very respected session musician.

7 Tracks:
Side 1 - Big Bear Ffolly; Bring It On Home; Drivin’ Bachwards; Last Blues & Gang Bang.
Side 2 - This Worried Feeling & Son Of Moonshine. 

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