kentgirl22 is pleased to offer for sale the following rare original 1971 UK 1st pressing vinyl LP:

THE GROUNDHOGS

"SPLIT"

RARE ORIGINAL 1971 UK LIBERTY RECORDS 1st PRESS LP

CAT.NO.LBG 83401

MATRIX.NO: A-1U / B-1U

UK LIBERTY RECORDS BLACK LABEL ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING VINYL LP FROM 1971. ORIGINAL FULLY LAMINATED GATEFOLD SLEEVE. EXCELLENT CONDITION ORIGINAL FIRST UK PRESSING OF THIS CLASSIC LP!!

KILLER HEAVY GUITAR PROG / PSYCH / BLUES LP!!

1971 ORIGINAL UK LIBERTY LBG 83401 STEREO. A-1U / B-1U STAMPED MATRIX - THICK VINYL

EXCELLENT FULLY LAMINATED GATEFOLD SLEEVE-PRINTED BY E.J.DAY GROUP, LONDON

Known primarily as a hard rock / blues rock group, the Groundhogs have become a legend in the world of 70's heavy prog rock, they never set out to become a Prog rock band though during 1970 - 72 they created some imaginative experimental music born from the pen of Tony (T.S.) McPhee, and made much of the band's work interesting with material concentrating on social, mindwarp, ecological and psyche/space rock themes. Many unusual instruments found their way into the band's albums during this their most progressive and arguably most fruitful period, featuring what many regard as the classic Groundhogs line-up of Tony (T.S.) McPhee guitar/vocals, Pete Cruikshank on bass guitar and Ken Pustelnik on drums.

Following on from the excellent "Thank Christ For The Bomb" album Tony McPhee didn't have to look far for the inspiration behind material for his next album of songs - after suffering a nervous breakdown, "SPLIT" was conceived from these traumatic experiences, and gave a musical soundscape of what happens when one is losing his mind - panic stricken vocals, twisting, screaming, thrashing heavily distorted guitar backed by relentless throbbing bass lines and crashing primeval drumming - the sweats, paranoia, confusion, panic, hallucinations, running scared then the depression that follows. This suite of four sections "Split Parts 1-4" , engineered by Martin Birch (fresh from finishing Deep Purple's recording of "In Rock") became the band's Tour de Force. This album also features the mighty riff-laden track "Cherry Red" , a classic then and still a classic 40 years later!!
SPLIT  is the Groundhogs 4th studio album, recorded in 1970 and released in 1971. This legendary album is regarded by many as a masterpiece from the early 70's UK progressive heavy rock underground scene and is probably the seminal Groundhogs LP.

A GREAT ORIGINAL UK LIBERTY 1ST PRESSING OF THIS AWESOME EARLY 70s UK HEAVY GUITAR PROG ROCK LP.

TRULY ESSENTIAL LP - YOU NEED THIS ONE!!

Tracks

Side 1.

1. Split - Part One (4:25)
2. Split - Part Two (5:10)
3. Split - Part Three (5:25)
4. Split - Part Four (5:38)

Side 2.

1. Cherry Red (5:40)
2. A Year In The Life (3:07)
3. Junkman (4:52)
4. Groundhog (5:35)

Rare Original 1971 UK Liberty Records 1st Pressing Vinyl LP Housed In 'E.J.Day' Fully Laminated Gatefold Sleeve

Record Label: Liberty

Catalogue No: LBG 83401

Matrix Nos:  LBG 83401 A-1U / LBG 83401 B-1U

Mother & Stamper Codes: 2 RR / 2 RR

(Signifies original UK very first pressing) 

Year: 1971

Made In England

CONDITION

Vinyl: EX+

(A beautiful gleaming vinyl with deep mirror shine. Play tested today with EXCELLENT sound quality throughout. Sharp and perfectly clear loud sound with only sporadic light audible crackle in a few quiet parts. No skips, no jumps, no sticking, no serious loud pops or clicks that are noticeable. A lovely original UK 1st pressing of this classic LP)

Labels: EX+

(Original first pressing Black Liberty labels are very clean and unmarked with just a few faint spindle traces)

Gatefold Sleeve: EX

(The fully laminated gatefold sleeve 'Printed and Made by the E.J.Day Group, London and Bedford' features on the front an iconic photo of Tony 'T.S.' McPhee in typical on stage pose! The gatefold sleeve is in excellent condition. On the front there are just a few small creases near the spine and light wear only. The back is also very clean with just typical light wear and a few small creases near the spine. The wide spine is solid with all text totally legible. The top and bottom seams have barely any shelfwear. The inside panels of the gatefold sleeve are very clean and virtually unmarked. Overall a great example of this 40 years vintage gatefold cover)

NOTES

THE GROUNDHOGS 

"SPLIT"

LBG 83401

A-1U/B-1U

1st Pressing Matrices

Rare Original EX Condition 1971 UK Liberty Records 1st Press Vinyl LP Housed In Superb Gatefold Sleeve

Line Up / Musicians:

Tony (T.S.) McPhee: Vocals, Guitar
Pete Cruickshank: Bass
Ken Pustelnik: Drums

Produced by Tony (T.S.) McPhee for Zak Productions
Recorded during November 1970 at De Lane Lea Studios, London.
Engineer - Martin Birch
All compositions written and arranged by Tony (T.S.) McPhee
Published by United Artists Music Ltd.
Sleeve Design / Photography - Christopher Richardson

On offer here, from my own collection, is this rare original 1971 UK Liberty Records 1st PRESS LP

On the original 1st pressing UK Liberty Black labels

Housed in original 'E.J. DAY GROUP' fully laminated gatefold sleeve

Complete with original 'MADE IN ENGLAND' white paper inner-sleeve

Catalogue Number: LBG 83401

Matrix numbers: A-1U & B-1U

On offer here, from my own collection, is an EXCELLENT condition original 1971 UK 1st PRESS of The GROUNDHOG'S  totally classic "SPLIT" album, issued on the UK original 1st PRESS LIBERTY Records BLACK label.

Despite Split coming from a dark place; being born and inspired as a result of mainman Tony "TS" McPhee suffering a nervous breakdown, it remains The Groundhogs finest recorded moment. Just a look at the cover gives the impression of an album brimming with energy and it certainly is.

The music is in a power trio format of guitar, bass and drums. It's basically blues influenced heavy guitar rock with McPhee's brilliant and inventive guitar playing giving the music an edge that many who have played in the genre lack. He has an excellent picking style which comes from using his fingers rather than a plectrum, yet still nails those killer riffs with ease; surely one of the most underrated guitarists. He's aided admirably by a solid rhythm section comprising of Pete Cruikshank on bass and Ken Pustelnik on drums.

Side one on this original vinyl 1st pressing consists of Split parts 1 - 4. Each track is excellent on its own; all full of great riffs and wonderful soloing from McPhee making it difficult to pick a favourite. If pushed I'll go for Part 3 for the dynamic interplay between McPhee's sweet picking and heavy riffing. Really though it demands to be listened to as a whole, working at its best by treating it as a single piece. The side ends in fine style with a superb guitar solo from "TS", a cacophony of noise dying away to end.

Side two opens with the perennial live favourite, Cherry Red, an up tempo driving rocker with all the musical qualities to be found on side one. A Year In The Life is a more mellow moment, at least in parts; brooding and melancholic one minute before exploding the next. Junkman has acoustic guitar trading places with wah wah infused electric, closing with another cacophonous guitar moment. After so much high energy the closing track Ground Hog is pure blues, a simple stomping rhythm as McPhee plays some excellent blues licks while he sings over the top.

While the band are more experimental on other releases and despite several more great albums in their catalogue, Split remains their ultimate masterpiece and an essential slice of seventies heavy prog rock. Truly great stuff indeed!!

This ORIGINAL 1971 UK LIBERTY BLACK LABEL 1ST PRESS album is a 'MUST HAVE' for GROUNDHOGS collectors and fans of British heavy prog rock of the 1970's.

 The record is pressed on THICK quality EXCELLENT condition vinyl. The Cat.No. is LBG 83401 on the ORIGINAL 1st PRESS BLACK LIBERTY label (see picture) and is a 1971 UK Stereo 1st Pressing (there were NO Monos!)!!

I doubt if you can find a significantly better UK 1st PRESS of this seminal early 70's GROUNDHOGS LP!!

 Low Start....No Reserve....Don't Miss Out!!

Please take a look at my other ORIGINAL UK 1st PRESS LPs listed this week

POST & PACKING:

UK: 1st Class: £4.00 (Recorded Delivery) each additional LP will cost £1.50
EUROPE: Airmail: £5.00 or £10.00 (International Signed For Delivery) each additional LP will cost £2.50 
INTERNATIONAL / REST OF WORLD: Airmail: £8.00 or £13.00 (International Signed For Delivery) each additional LP will cost £3.00

***Any record (or combination of records) which sells for more than £20 MUST be sent by a trackable method ie INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR outside of the UK. This is compulsory. Please do not bid above £20 on this item if you are not prepared to pay for this secure shipping service. I will email you when payment has been received to let you know when the item will be posted. Please leave feedback upon receipt of the item so that I know you have received it safely. Any problems please email me. Thanks.

ALL RECORDS ARE VERY WELL PACKAGED WITH THE VINYL OUTSIDE OF THE SLEEVE TO PREVENT ANY 'KNIFING' DURING TRANSIT. A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, CRUCIFORM (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY.

Note: The pictures provided are REAL images of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. What you see is what you'll get!

Records / CDs Are Graded In The Following Way:

MINT (M): The record / cd displays barely any signs of use, if any, with no marks or deterioration in sound quality. Extra items and cover are near perfect.

EXCELLENT (EX): Shows only minor signs of being played with very little lessening in sound quality. The Cover and extras will have some light wear and or creasing

VERY GOOD (VG): Has been played many times but has no major deterioration in sound quality, despite some noticeable surface marks and occasional light scratches. Cover and extras will have normal wear and tear but no major defects

GOOD (G): Has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and any extras may suffer from folding, scuffing, split spine, discoloration etc.

FAIR (F): The record is still just playable and has considerable surface noise and may even jump. Cover and contents will be torn stained and/or defaced.

POOR (P): The record will not play properly. Covers badly damaged or partly missing

+ or - : Indicates slightly better (+) or slightly lesser (-) condition than main grade

All records / cd's are from my personal collection and have been carefully play graded before listing. In many cases I have owned them from new and all have been looked after very well. Please check out my other similar items currently listed on eBay.

Auction Conditions - Important : Please read before bidding

UK Bidders

Acceptable methods of payment :

• Cheques
• Postal Orders
• PAYPAL

Non-UK Bidders

Acceptable methods of payment :

• PAYPAL

All payment to be made within 7 days of end of auction.

At the end of the auction I will send you an invoice confirming your winning bid(s) with the total amount payable. Do not send any payment until you have received this invoice.

Paypal To: kentgirl22@gmail.com

Packaging Notes:

All records are securely and well packed to avoid any unnecessary damage during transit. I aim to dispatch all items within 48 hours of receiving payment. I always obtain a certificate proof of posting receipt for every item sent, which will complete our transaction. Thank you for taking the time to look at my listings, I hope you will be lucky if deciding to make a bid.