GROUNDHOGS SPLIT 1st UK PRESS N.MINT AUDIO ARCHIVE LIBERTY BLUES PROG ROCK PSYCH

	£		93
	$		123

[zipedit] The Groundhogs "Split"
1st UK pressing 1975 Cat No. LBG 83401 Liberty Labels!
Earliest Matrix Endings A-1U and B-1U
(I can't See Any Real Spindle Marks Around The Hole!) Barely Played!
Stunning Louder Cut Near Mint Audio Through Out! (Light Minor interferance Only)
Best Stereo Separation Ever!
Earliest -1U -1U Matrix Endings!
Early Mother Stampers "1" to "1" for Side 1
1st Issue Fully Laminated E.J Day Gate Fold Cover!
Awesome Blues Progressive Rock Psych Album!





Another from my personal collection of ove 50,000 UK albums that I have acquired over the past 45 years or more! An awesome Progressive Blues album. I have had this from new, I have only played this vinyl two or three times ever, Originaly been played to record to tape only! This is awesome, the vinyl has been stored in a case seperated from the cover and sleeve for at least 40 years! This is how i have always stored my records! This is complete with the original 1st issue fully laminated E.J.Day gate fold cover! The audio is graded very near mint crystal clear and very vibrant through out !

Hear the complete album in the player below. (Actual recording from the vinyl)





Split is an album released in 1975 by the (rock) Blues Band Groundhogs!
The Groundhogs were a British blues band founded in late 1963, which toured extensively in the 1960s and continued in existence sporadically to the present day!




The band's blues credentials were recognised when they backed John Lee Hooker and Champion Jack Dupree on their 1960s tours of Britain. The line-up for their first album, Scratchin' the Surface, released in 1968, consisted of Tony McPhee as singer and guitarist, bassist Peter Cruickshank (born 2 July 1945, Calcutta, West Bengal, India), Ken Pustelnik on drums (born 13 March 1946, on a farm near Blairgowry, Angus, Scotland) and Steve Rye on harmonica!





They remain one of the lesser known yet critically regarded bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s blues rock groups. Later album releases such as Thank Christ For The Bomb (May 1970); Split (March 1971); and Who Will Save the World?




The Mighty Groundhogs (March 1972) are powerful rock albums which share a common achievement of all reaching the top 10 of the British album charts. "Split" reached number 5 , spent 27 weeks in the album chart and achieved gold record status.





A further pinnacle in their career was supporting the Rolling Stones on their 1971 British tour at the personal request of Mick Jagger. They released an album of their live set on the Stones tour which was recorded at Leeds University and called "Live at Leeds". All these albums and live shows were performed by the classic power trio of Cruickshank, McPhee and Pustelnik!






Originally breaking up in 1976, they came back as a largely live act less than a decade later with a different line-up. At times in the 1990s, McPhee alternated two line-ups, one with a second guitarist.




 After years of performing, and recording for a loyal cult audience, McPhee left the band in 2004 in order to perform acoustically leaving fellow original members Cruickshank and Pustelnik to continue as The Groundhogs Rhythm Section. This line up has recently been augmented by a new frontman, Eddie Martin, the internationally known British blues artist, who will now be playing in the psychedelic / blues / rock style Groundhogs fans are familiar with!






McPhee has put together a new band in 2007 to be known as Tony McPhee's Groundhogs, with long-time Groundhogs bassist Dave Anderson (ex-Hawkwind) and Marco Anderson on drums!






The Matrix
Side 1. ''LBG 83401 A-1U'' (Earliest press only)
Side 2. ''LBG 83401 B-1U'' (Earliest press only)





The Mother Stampers
side1 ''1'' ''MG''  (Look Earliest "1" to "1" Mother stampers)
side 2. ''2'' ''MA''





The vinyl
On initial visual inspection THIS LOOKS SUPERBE, still retains its original sheen from new This lays perfectly flat on the turntable! This is the original THICKER and deeper grooved type of vinyl only found on original early pressings later pressings were much more flimsier and less robust. Any marks that could ever possibly be seen under strong light could only be sleeve removal marks but  I can barely see a blemish! THIS IS AWESOME! Please note! I have owed this album from new, Only ever played two or three times ever!, it would have been only to record to tape!

The Audio Quality
I have played this vinyl at very loud volume on a top system! The audio is stunning crystal clear and very vibrant with absolutely awesome separation through out and a deep bassey feel only found like this on the earliest pressings! There were no constant loud clicks or pops through out and certainly no distortion or any signs that this has been overplayed at all! Any interferance is very minimal and isolated in the for of one isolated static type pop and isolated static tick/ticks heard at the run of on the last track of side one to mention. Over all the main audio was to die for absolutely a real treat to listen to! Audio graded at least excellent plus to very Near Mint in my opinion!

Please note!,, I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for isolated light static/ticks/pop  but (not) consistant throughout the audio) This would benefit from a constant clean before each play as it has been stored in a case for at least 30 years! from my experiance subsequent cleaning would reduce the chance of any static and enhance the audio quality!



The Labels
These are the original and very early 'LIBERTY labels ! In absolutely superbe condition with (no) nasty names written on them. Only angled to the light can only see barely a hint of perhapes one spider trail that can barely be seen. UNBELEIVABLE! A TOP!example very rarely seen like this!





The record sleeve
This is plain white paper sleeve in superbe condition no splits or tares with patent number at the bottom and 'Made in England' Light creasing with age only. This is now always stored separately from the vinyl!





The Cover
This is the original 1st press E.DAY & CO fully laminated gatefold cover inside and out! In absolutely awesome \top! condition, with (no) splits or tares super glossy laminate inside and out! super square corners! Barely\ very very minimal creases, four very very minor crease lines near the spine worth to mention only! Any yellowing/aging  that could possbly be seen would be at the rear but you would really have to look for it to see any! Square spine and all text is readable.  I would grade this cover at least better than excellent in my opinion!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!

SHIPPING TO THE USA, CANADA & JAPAN IS 18.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 15.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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