JUNIPHER GREENE LP Friendship ORIG SONET 1st press NORWAY PROG PROMO close to NM
£
622
$
824
£ 622
Sold For
May 6, 2013
Sold Date
May 1, 2013
Start Date
£ 15
Start price
21
Number Of Bids
Portugal
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
Please wait for the invoice before paying! Shipping is not 1 cent!! LOOK AT SHIPPING RATES BELOW.
WE COMBINE SHIPPING OF COURSE! WE SHIP WORLDWIDE
Yes, this is a guaranteed 1st press (SONET SLP1413/1414) from 1971 of one of the top rarities in the psych/prog world. And this one is special since it’s one of the copies of the very first run of promos pressed.
A sprawling double-album from Norway of all places, this delightful mixture of hard-edged psychedelia, acid pop and organ-laced progressive flourishes shows that its not just about symphonic music in Scandanavia. Whilst Sweden(Kaipa, The Flower Kings, Anglagard) and Finland(Haikara, Wigwam, Pekka Pohjola) have produced their fair share of progressive acts over the years, fellow nations Denmark and Norway have been pretty quiet. Step forward Junipher Greene. Formed sometime in the late-sixties(their history is hazy at best) 'Friendship', which, incredibly was the groups debut, was issued in 1971 on the Sonet imprint. Little was heard of the album throughout mainland Europe but it did make a bit of splash in the group's homeland thanks to the concerted mixture of jazzy hammond organ, roughneck guitars, playful lyrics and memorable melodies. Now, thanks to modern communication methods(the internet!) Junipher Greene's acid-rock tour-de-force has become something of a cult item, reaching the ears of fans across the globe and it's easy to see(or hear) why. Featuring eighteen tracks spread across almost an hour-long running time, 'Friendship' is some body of work. The overall tone tends to lean more towards meaty psych-rock than complex progressive-style rock, yet several listens do reveal a more measured and intricate approach at play, especially considering that the album's final eight tracks are actually one long interlocking piece. Its also interesting to note that 'Friendship' was actually, or so it is told, the first double-album to emerge from Norway, which, in many cases would showcase a group whose enthusiasm outdoes their experience, but again, this is simply not the case. Virtually every track here sounds like the work of a mature, confident outfit - Norway's own Beatles anyone? - and the fact that 'Friendship' is rarely ever dull is a testament to the bucket-loads of imagination smothered across the album. Picking stand-out tracks is incredibly difficult - there isn't a duff song to be found - yet the catchier, poppier numbers really shine. Of these, the jocular romantic witch tale 'Witches Daughter' is probably the most indelible, featuring a muscular guitar riff overlaying an almost funk-imbued rhythm and some truly funny lyrics regarding jocular occult practices. 'Maurice', a breezy ballad-of-sorts, is also worth mentioning, with lead-singer Helge Groslie putting in another fine display whilst his tightly-wound colleagues groove effortlessly away underneath. Finally, of course, their is the eight-part 'Friendship' itself, an audacious workout that cruises cunningly between playful acoustica and complex noodling, topping off an extremely satisfying album. An absolute must for all fans of progressive rock, 'Friendship' is an outstanding achievement.
Thanks to STEFAN TURNER of STOKE NEWINGTON for this review.
CONDITION:
The gatefold cover is in excellent minus condition with creases on the spine (no tear) and some corner wear. Grades EX(-)
Both vinyls are super clean. Side 1, 2 and 3 are Mint-, couldn’t be better! Side 4 has 3 or 4 superficial hairlines that remain inaudible, just a visual thing really. Grades NM/NM/NM/EX(-)
A perfect keeper of a very rare and in demand holy grail of Prog rock.
This copy came from the private collection of someone in the music industry who received this album as an advance promo. He told me that the run-off matrixes prove this to be the earliest version of this album. A monster!
SHIPPING EUROPE: GB 11
SHIPPING REST OF THE WORLD: GB 15
Each additional LP only GB 1 !!
( Example: if you are in Europe and get 4 LP's you pay GB 14)
WAIT for my invoice before paying ok? Good luck and may the best bidder win :)
