HENRY TREE Electric Holy Man 1970 ORIG PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

35

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

HENRY TREE "Electric Holy Man"

Original 1970 LP on the MAINSTREAM label, STEREO S/6129

Cover:  VG+, actually super clean but docked for some weird "mottling" on the back cover

Vinyl:  SUPER CLEAN, plays EXCELLENT

Mainstream label enthusiasts tend to knock this 1970 latecomer, the only album from Cleveland’s Henry Tree.  It’s also one of the few, if not the only major psych rock album on the label that hasn’t even gotten a reissue yet!  I mean heck, they even got around to December’s Children, and that one plain s#*ked!  So, is Electric Holy Man somehow even worse?  Or are people just reacting to that crappy ass cover?

Like Jethro Tull, Henry Tree isn’t the name of the lead singer.  And like Jethro Tull, you can definitely hear some early 70’s progressive rock elements creeping in to their sound, like freeform jazz, tricky tempos and lo-o-o-ng song lengths.  And for all those Mainstream label purists used to short, trippy garage psych songs from their Tangerine Zoo’s and their Jellybean Bandits, this, my friends, is a recipe for disaster.  Hey man, there isn’t even a sitar!

Truth is, there’s nothing else on the label that sounds like this.  For better or worse.  Being on Mainstream is probably the worst thing that could have happened to this crew – if this were released on the German Opp label, or Brain, it’d probably be hailed as a heavy rock masterpiece.  Because people would be prepared for all these cosmic jazz-infused prog/rock jams that sound somewhat like Traffic gigging with the hippies from Amon Duul 2.  Although that still wouldn’t solve the problem of crappy cover art.

The Traffic analogy’s a good one, too, because they cover “Dear Mr. Fantasy” here – slowing it down, stretching it out, and giving it the stoned jazz fusion touch that’s somewhere between those Amon Duul kids and King Crimson’s Lizard.  But I bet that monster dirty fuzz guitar that literally bursts from the speakers at the 3-minute mark would appeal to the legions of Jellybean Bandits and Bohemian Vendetta fans out there.  If only they hadn’t been so quick to return ‘em for refunds.

“Mr. Fear,” the second song with a “Mr.” in the title, is more freeform jazz rock freakishness, featuring a drummer playing at his own tempo and a pianist who randomly speeds up and slows down whenever the next bong hit kicks in.  But before you can pigeonhole these guys, up pops “Penfield Town,” a jazz-free straight-ahead blast of good ol’ Southern rock.  Like the James Gang, or the Outlaws, or even early Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Only it’s good.  Thought I’d mention that before everyone ran away.

So yeah, Electric Holy Man is without a doubt the black sheep of the Mainstream family.  But just because the label collectors hate it, doesn’t mean it’s bad.  In fact, I betcha there are a thousand krautrock fans who’d welcome it into their fold.  And a few confused fans who just keep asking “Which one’s Henry?”

HEAR IT!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.