DRYEWATER - SOUTHPAW original private pressing - heavy psych LP in shrink

$

619

ULTRA MEGA RARE Private hard psych pressing from Gastonia, NC!  J.T.B. Records in 1974.  Matrix # NR5122  Cover is EX, vinyl is EX.
This thing is in fantastic shape!  A few very faint superficial paper scuffs from the inner sleeve in a few places on the vinyl.  Label in great shape.  Outer sleeve in fabulous condition as well, having been preserved by the original cellophane for the last 40 years!  Very light minor dings on exposed corners near the opening.  One minor 3/4" imperfection on edge of front jacket.  Barely noticeable.  All seams are tight, as new.  Please note that some blemishes visible in the photos are from the scanner and NOT the LP itself.
This ranks among the hardest to find of all US private pressings from the 70's.  Especially in great condition.  This album has been extensively covered in collectors publications like The Acid Archives & Hans Pokora's Record Collector Dreams series.  
Here's what others have to say about this rarity:
There are many evocations of cold, bleak landscapes  in this 1974 rural rock LP that is a cut above the rest and reveals something new with every listen. The  playing is frantic and wonderfully emotive, in parts it is utterly brilliant. The band mash together drums  and guitars in a dense soundscape with alternately delicate and strident vocals flowing over the  surface. ‘Winterground’ starts a strong downer theme that runs through the whole LP. They sound like  Hickory Wind grown up, grown wiser, after having taken some hard knocks. They have transformed a back  porch sound into something much bleaker and darker. The first side is full of powerful hard rock riffs  with subtle country influences. The second is slower and more reflective. They have a unique sound that I  would guess is borne out of rural small town ambitions to ‘make it big’. It’s a formula for  success because they avoid the clichés of ‘normal’ rock and tell us something about their own lives  worth hearing.
*
Appealing local hardrock in the melodic style, mixing  CA roots/rural influences a la Zini with a tight British mainstream hardrock sound like Fuzzy Duck and  vintage Deep Purple. Very skillful band with fluent fuzz and good use of keyboard, but Dryewater's  strongest asset lie in the vocals which are way above average, full of soulful teenage smalltown dreams not  unlike similar LPs like Felt and Top Drawer in particular. Good songwriting with hooks and riffs;  borders on UK prog bombast at a few turns but comes out unscathed. Recommended to pretty much anyone into  local early 70s rock sounds. Fewer covers than records were pressed, and many copies were destroyed  by the band when they failed to sell out.
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"Southpaw" is a highly professional sounding hard  rock album: tight rhythm section, solid heavy guitar playing, excellent backing vocals, strong lead  vocals. There are echoes of well-known bands, including Cream and Led Zeppelin, but the pieces come  together in a way that makes it more than just a genre piece. The songwriting is varied and clever.  The trebly guitar patterns, poppy choruses, brief song lengths and speedy tempos show that they’re not  beholden to any idea of what hard rock should or shouldn’t be. Keyboards are used sparingly, but to  nice effect, and there’s a refreshing limit to the soloing here. Satisfying throughout, with the  possible exception of “Thunder,” which has pretentious vocals, and constant and annoying phased  lead guitar runs. Like great albums should, it ends with its most powerful song. A great one.
Buyer agrees to remit payment for auction within 48hrs of close.  I will ship within 48hrs as well.  Sturdy packaging & affordable freight.