QUINTESSENCE RARE MINT 'IN BLISSFUL COMPANY'  1ST PRESSING UK-1969 PSYCHEDELIC ROCK, WORLD!
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SEE DISCOGS DETAILS & ALLMUSIC REVIEW BELOW

In Blissful Company Review by Chris Nickson

Courtesy of AllMusic.com

While it's easy to dismiss Quintessence's first album, In Blissful Company, as hippie-dippy nonsense, that would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Granted, there are several moments when the mix of jazz-rock and Indian influence go well over the top, as on "Ganaga Mai," and no one is going to mistake these guys for, say, Shakti. But they were still far ahead of their time, if you consider this from more of a world music perspective. And there's pleasure to be had from "Notting Hill." No doubt they believed in what they were doing, and lead guitarist Alan Mostert does add some stirring lines into the mix under Raja Ram's vocals and flute. It's certainly pleasant, progressive in its own way, and while there's a certain sloppiness and muddiness to much of the playing (in the best hippie fashion), that actually adds to its appeal in a perverse way. They did develop over the course of four more albums, but never became a major attraction, and in some regards this remains a high point.

DISCOGS DETAILS: Courtesy of Discogs

Quintessence (3) – In Blissful Company

More images

Label:

Island Records – ILPS-9110 Q, Island Records – ILPS.9110Q, Island Records – ILPS 9110Q

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Pink Label

Country:

UK

Released:

Nov 7, 1969

Genre:

Rock

Style:

Psychedelic Rock A1 Giants Written-By – Raja Ram, Shiva*, Stanley* A2 Manco Capac Written-By – Raja Ram, Bhava*, Shiva* A3 Body Written-By – Mcstert*, Milton*, Bhava*, Shiva* A4 Gange Mai Written-By – Raja Ram, Bhava*, Shiva* A5 Chant Arranged By – Barham* Written-By – Shiva* B1 Pearl And Bird Written-By – Mostert*, Raja Ram, Bhava* B2 Notting Hill Gate Written-By – Raja Ram, Shiva* B3 Midnight Mode Written-By – Mostert*, Barham*, Raja Ram, Shiva*

• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Island Records Ltd.
• Published By – Blue Mountain Music
• Lacquer Cut At – Phonodisc Ltd.
• Printed By – Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd.
• Made By – Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd.

• Artwork [Front And Back Cover Art] – Gopala
• Bass Guitar – Shambu*
• Composed By [Quote] – Milne*, Johnson*, Blake*
• Design [Cover] – Barney Bubbles, J. Moonman
• Drums – Jake*
• Flute, Bells, Percussion, Scraper [Raspers] – Raja Ram
• Lead Guitar – Alan*
• Music Director [Musical Director] – John Barham
• Photography By – David Redom*, Eric Hayes, Pat Mescal, Pete Saunders (4)
• Producer – John Barham
• Rhythm Guitar – Maha Dev
• Sitar – Mike (130)
• Tambura – Surya (6)
• Vocals, Keyboards – Shiva*

Issued on rough paper pink Island white 'i' logo labels, appearing 'textured' and with a 1.5" indentation ring at the centre.

Packaged in a gatefold card sleeve with 12-page b&w die-cut illustrated booklet attached with full credits and lyrics;
[inside]
Printed by Ernest J. Day Ltd. • Island Records Ltd, Basing Street, W.11
All songs published by Blue Mountain Music
Om tat sat
O, mother when shall I be blessed by joining your Blissful company
[rear]
island records ltd
basing street
london w11
Printed and made by E. J. Day, London

Illustrated light card inner sleeve printed in violet, reproducing at the top the following quotes [sic]:
"Suns that set may rise again, but if once we lose the light, 'tis within perpetual night" Johnson
"He who bends to himself a joy doth the winged life destroy, but who kisses the joy as it flies in eternity’s sunrise" Blake
"On Monday, when the sun is hot, I wonder to myself a lot: Now is it true, or is it not, that what is which and which is what?" Milne

Cat#:
On the spine: ILPS 9110Q
On rear cover: ILPS-9110 Q
On labels: ILPS.9110Q
℗ 1969

Tracks A4 and A5 are listed as two separate tracks on the label but are not mastered apart, A4 indicated as 'Ganga Mai'.

• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side A, stamped, variant 1): ILPS 9110 v A//1 7 1
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side B, stamped, variant 1): ILPS 9110 v B//2 1 2
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side A, stamped, variant 2): ILPS 9110 v A//1 7 1 4
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side B, stamped, variant 2): ILPS 9110 v B//2 1 1 1
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side A, stamped, variant 3): ILPS 9110 v A//1 7 1 1 0
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side B, stamped, variant 3): ILPS 9110 B//2 1 2 1
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side A, stamped, variant 4): ILPS 9110 v A//1 7 1 2
• Matrix / Runout (Run-out side B, stamped, variant 4): ILPS 9110 v B//2 1 1 2