MOVING SIDEWALKS, Flash - 1968 - Near Mint (ZZ TOP)

	£		195
	$		258

ARTIST: MOVING SIDEWALKS

TITLE: ‘FLASH’

FORMAT: VINYL LP

YEAR OF 1ST RELEASE: 1968

PRESSING: 1ST US

LABEL: TANTARA

CAT. NO: TS-6919

MATRIX NO. SIDE A: TS-6919-A1

MATRIX NO. SIDE B: TS-6919-B1

RECORD CONDITION: NEAR MINT

The interest this ultra scarce album holds for ZZ Top collectors is that it is the first recorded output by the guitarist Billy Gibbons, who would of course go onto huge success taking that band on endless tours playing a blues/boogie style of rock. Here though, with his band the Moving Sidewalks who never achieved anything beyond some small local success, the style is out and out psych/rock with just the vaguest hint of blues (and even then it’s far closer to a Jimi Hendrix sound than anything recognizably ZZ Top like). Consequently, this album is sought after not just by followers of Billy Gibbons but by collectors of obscure late-sixties psych/rock – and The Moving Sidewalks have made their mark on this genre after their single ‘99th Floor’ was included on the second ‘Pebbles’ compilation.

This original pressing from the US (the only place this rarity was issued) is on the scarce Tantara label. The condition is quite amazing, a real Near Mint item in every way and as close to Mint as it’s possible for a played record to get. The audio is everything you would expect from a quality 1968 pressing and more, the needle hits the outer groove to total silence, and as the start of ‘Flashback’ kicks in to fill out the room, you'll know you're in for a real aural treat! This is the kind of clear sound that can only come from first pressing vinyl, and the whole record doesn't disappoint. There are no pops or clicks, in fact my visual inspection revealed nothing other than the faintest, totally non-sounding paper scuff. The spindle wear is almost completely non-existent, you can see very clearly here that this record has only ever been played once (and now I’m doing a play grade so make that twice!). To put it simply, this original pressing rarely turns up in this sort of shape, opportunity's to buy it are rare enough but opportunities to buy it like this are very few and far between!

COVER CONDITION: EXCELLENT+++

This is a gatefold album cover that is in really great shape, it’s fully intact without any un-sticking and it doesn’t display any bad marks or blemishes. The whole piece, both front and back, has bright clean and un-faded colours printed on an undamaged surface that only has a few of the faintest kind of small creases. Likewise, the top and bottom edges are in good shape apart from a little of the lightest, early stage, scuffing effect (not seriously developed at all, the edges are basically smooth) and the spine remains firm with again only a few faint creases. This sleeve does not have any ring-wear, just the faintest circular impression of a record that becomes visible when held to light. Overall, this is a supremely well maintained old album cover that has only the smallest areas of wear and age, a nice piece.

ANY OTHER DETAILS: STEREO

TRACKLISTING:

Side One

‘Flashback’

‘Scoun Da Be’

‘You Make Me Shake’

‘You Don’t Know The Life’

‘Pluto-Sept. 31st’

Side Two

‘No Good To Cry’

‘Crimson Witch’

‘Joe Blues’

‘Eclipse’

‘Reclipse’

PLEASE IGNORE THE DATE ON MY PHOTOS, IT'S WRONG AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET RID OF IT!

Postage & Packing is UK £2.00 / Europe £3.00 / US £5.50 / rest of world £6.00. Payment is by Paypal, cheques or postal orders payable in UK Sterling only, well concealed cash in UK Sterling only or International Money Order payable in UK Sterling only.

I specialise in selling rare, collectable and hard to find vinyl. All of our ebay listings are play graded, when buying rare records over the internet I suggest that you settle for nothing less. I have been a collector of records and a trader for over 20 years and, as such, I use the experience I have gained in this area to grade & describe the records as accurately as possible. Good luck!