ULTRA RARE VERY 1st UK-ORIGINAL 2nd LP RECORD PROG PSYCH Album

                                                                      GRACIOUS

                                                                 This Is ... Gracious !! 

                                      1971-UK ORIGINAL VERY RARE FIRST PRESS

          on the PHILIPS INTERNATIONAL Black LABEL. STEREO 6382 004
  A heavy progressive outfit whose recordings all attract interest from collectors.Basically we're talking progressive symphonic psych rock here with a lush mellotron sound.It included the majestic Blood Red Sun.Vocalist Paul Davis later guested on the Jesus Christ Superstar album.                                                              

                                                              Produced by Hugh Murphy

Condition:

             Record VINYL is: NM !!!  Beautiful original copy of this in-demand UK psych lp.

Laminated Glossy Cover is: NM !!! i don't know what to say !!! ok it has some very light corners wear !! happy now !!

     A superb copy in near mint condition. Vinyl looks as if it has never been played !!!

Side A: Supernova
1.Arrival of the Traveller
2.Blood Red Sun
3.Say Goodbye to Love
4.Prepare to Meet Thy Maker

Side B:
5.CBS
6.What's Come to Be
7.Blue Skies and Alibis
8.Hold Me Down

- Paul Davis: vocals, 12-string guitar, timpani
- Martin Kitcat: Mellotron, piano, electric piano, harpsichord, vocals
- Alan Cowderoy: guitar, vocals
- Tim Wheatley: bass
- Robert Lipson: drums
                     1971 UK release of the ultra rare (more then the 1st album) and collectable 2nd Gracious LP - "This is Gracious"                

                                                                           on the Phillips label 6382 004.

                              MEGA' RARE, BRILLIANT  ALBUM !!!

For every Yes, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, etc., there were many more lesser known prog rock bands. Bands like Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Caravan, Cressida, Beggars Opera, Spring, etc. all created some great music but were often forgotten in the mists of time, but those who found out about these bands gave high praise to many of these albums, and for good reason. Gracious was yet another one of these bands. They released two albums and then disappeared. Gracious formed in the mid 1960s at a Catholic school in the well-to-do stockbroker belt of Surrey, England (south of London, Surrey was also home to Genesis as well) playing typical pop covers. The band was known as Satan's Disciples at that time, probably to cause a stir, since the school they went to was religious in nature. But as the '60s came near an end, and the band members graduated, the progressive scene started with the likes of King Crimson, Colosseum, Rare Bird, Yes, Genesis, etc. The band started writing original songs, and changing their name to Gracious. They even had the pleasure of being King Crimson's opening act! And that inspired Gracious' keyboardist Martin Kitcat to buy a Mellotron. They then signed to Vertigo and released their debut in 1970, which was entitled Gracious! (with the exclamation mark). The album was also released in America on Capitol Records (making that one of the more collectible artists on that label), but with a different cover!

In 1971, the band recorded their followup This Is... Gracious, but Vertigo Records rejected it and it wouldn't be until 1972 when Philips Records released it, by which point the band broke up.

This album features artwork by Roger Dean, but looks very little like any of the artwork he's done for Yes. Anyway, the Mellotron hype of Gracious is totally justified on this album, as it's used on every cut! This time the band dropped the classical influnces, the harpsichord and electric piano is gone, leaving the Mellotron and standard piano to dominate. The music tends to rely more on grooves, and is perhaps a bit more accessible and song-oriented than their debut, but still quite progressive.

The album starts off with the wonderful side-length suite "Super Nova". It's a four movement suite (actually it was supposed to be a five movement suite, but it couldn't all fit because of time contraint of the LP). The music starts off deceptively in Krautrock territory, sounding like something Amon Düül II or Tangerine Dream were doing at that time. That movement was called "Arrival of the Traveller". But then they quickly enter British prog territory with the "Blood Red Sun" section. "Super Nova" in general features some killer jamming, as well as some great acoustic ballads (that is "Say Goodbye to Love" and "Prepare to Meet Thy Maker"). All the music of "Super Nova" was about astronauts returning to Earth only to find it destroyed by a super nova (Morgan Fisher did something similar for his 1972 prog rock album Nova Solis).

The second half of the album consists of four cuts that are plastered with Mellotron and lots of great melodies and jams, like "C.B.S.", "Blues Skies and Alibis", and "Hold Me Down". The stunning ballad "What's Come to Be" was supposed to be included in the "Super Nova" suite but wasn't. If you like King Crimson, the Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, or early British prog in general, you're sure to enjoy these kind of albums!

More interesting,obscure and rare original Records of the past (Psych-Kraut-Electronic-U.K./US-Progressive-Psychedelic,Acid-Folk&Classic Rock Originals as well as Jazz&Blues)you can see in my other auctions..........

                                                                   A surprise every day !!!

                                                              Records are graded visually.

CONCERNING THE SHIPPING EITHER TO US OR CANADA OR REST OF THE WORLD COULD BE CHEAPER OR COULD BE MORE I HAVE TO RE-CHECK THE COST WITH THE POST OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE NEW PRICES AT CANADA POST,I NEVER OVER CHARGE FOR POSTAGE AND I OFFER THE BEST RATES POSSIBLE,IF POSTAGE ENDS UP BEING LESS I WILL REFUND THE DIFFERENCE!!

                         I COMBINE SHIPPING & HANDLING COSTS FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.

                 All items will be packed with great care and dispatched promptly.

           The payment must be sent within 5 DAYS of auction closing date,i accept PAYPAL and $US    INTERNATIONAL money order,please e-mail for any questions you have!

               Thank you for shopping !  and don't forget to check out my other auctions!

                                                                          GOOD LUCK !

** ** ** S H I P P I N G   I N F O R M A T I O N ** ** **

Number of Records/Weight
(including mailer)

CANADA:

QUEBEC: $6.99 (1 LP) - $9.99 (2-6 RECORDS)

ONTARIO: $7.99 (1 LP) - $11.99 (2-6 RECORDS)

ALL OTHER PROVENCES: $11.99 - (1 LP) $14.99 (2-6 RECORDS)

U.S. 

 (Air): $7.99 (1 LP - under .500kg) - $13.99 (2-3 RECORDS - under 1kg)

Expedited (with Tracking #): $14.99 (1 LP - under .500kg) - $17.99 (2-6 RECORDS 2-3: under 1kg)

INTERNATIONAL

(Air): $18 (1 LP - under .500kg) - $33 (2-3 RECORDS - under 1kg)

Please note that some heavier vinyl, gate-fold jackets, inserts, etc. may increase weight equivalent to 2 records.

LP condition GRADING system:

M (MINT) : Sealed, never opened or played, new in original package.

NM (NEAR MINT) : Near perfect copy, played only a few times. At worst it may have one or two insignificant flaws. This is the highest grade I give for a non-sealed (used) record.

EX (EXCELLENT) : Clean copy, slight surface marks/hairlines, cover has minor defaults.

VG++ (VERY GOOD++) : More surface marks, minor flaws, or cover wear, minor edge wear (cover). Nothing serious but is not graded EX because of few minor defaults

VG+ (VERY GOOD +) : Played a lot, will show signs of handling, has marks, possibly few light scratches but no jumps or sticks. Cover wear (light ring wear, heavier corner or edge wear on cover)

VG (VERY GOOD) : Used record, played a lot, has marks, few scratches, some crackling while playing and but no jumps or sticks. Still quite listenable. Cover may have heavy corner, edge wear or split seams

G (GOOD) : Played a lot and more (but still playable), lot of scratches, crackles a lot while playing, may have jump or sticks and cover is damaged...so not so good ! This record must be very rare to be proposed in this state !!!

All shipping is carefully prepared
using a hard box specifically designed for LPs.