[zipedit] Stefan Grossman ''THOSE PLEASANT DAYS'' TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS LABELS 1st UK PRESSING! CAT NO. TRA 246 ((1971))  ONLY PLAYED A HANDFUL OF TIMES EVER EVER FROM NEW! NEAR MINT VINYL! NEAR MINT AUDIO! ORIGINAL MACNEIL PRESS FULLY LAMINATED COVER! very rare Folk Blues Rag time! AN AUDIO ARCHIVE COPY!
LOOK EARLIEST POSSIBLE MATRIX A-1 B-1 EARLIEST MOTHER STAMPERS ''1'' ''G'' AND ''1'' ''G''!

For MyYoutube Video of this album Actual Recording From The Vinyl (Please Click Below) Music Track ''RIZE UP LAZARUS''

Another from my personal collection! Purchased from new in the early 70s! Initially only ever played a few times, recorded to tape and then stored in a case with the vinyl removed from the cover for protection. This is how i have always stored my records.   This features the Transatlantic labels! ,, without any major spidering  The original fully laminated front 1st issue MacNeil Press cover is also at least excellent  in my opinion just a hint of storageware rubbing only worth to mention. Very rare to find!

Stefan Grossman (born 16 April 1945) is an American acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and singer, music producer and educator, and co-founder of Kicking Mule records.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Herbert and Ruth Grossman. Grossman described his upbringing, in Queens, New York, as "lower middle-class", and his parents as "very leftist", valuing education and the arts. He began playing guitar at the age of nine, when his father bought him a Harmony f-hole acoustic guitar. Later he moved on to an archtop Gibson guitar which he played between the ages of nine and eleven, taking lessons and learning to read music. For a few years, he gave up playing but resumed again at the age of 15!

Grossman's interest in the Folk revival was sparked by attending the Washington Square Park "Hoots", and he started listening to old recordings of artists such as Elizabeth Cotten, Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, Josh White, Lightnin' Hopkins, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Son House, Charlie Patton, Skip James, Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Woody Guthrie

He took guitar lessons for several years from Rev. Gary Davis, whom he later described as "one of the greatest exponents of fingerstyle blues and gospel guitar playing" and "an incredible genius as a teacher". He spent countless hours learning and documenting Davis's music, recording much of it on a tape recorder, and developing a form of tablature to take down his teacher's instructions!

In the folk and country blues revival of the 1960s he was listening to Broonzy, Brownie McGhee and Lightnin' Hopkins and beginning to collect old 78 rpm records from the 1920s and 1930s. This brought him into contact with other collectors, including John Fahey, ED Denson, Bernie Klatzko, Tom Hoskins and Nick Perls. Collecting the 78s developed into searching for the artists who had recorded them, with many successes: during the mid-60s, Grossman met, befriended and studied guitar with Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Mississippi Fred McDowell and other major blues artists!!

In 1964, Grossman and a group of friends formed the Even Dozen Jug Band. Although they only recorded one LP on the Elektra Records label (long since out of print but available at iTunes), other members were also to have successful musical careers, including David Grisman, Steve Katz (Blood, Sweat & Tears), John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), Joshua Rifkin and Maria Muldaur. In the early summer of 1966 there was an effort by Elektra’s Paul Rothchild to put together a folk rock group (like The Mamas & the Papas) with Grossman, Taj Mahal, guitarist Steve Mann and a recently returned folk singer from Texas named Janis Joplin. They actually had a rehearsal in Berkeley, sometime in June (Joplin’s first show with Big Brother and the Holding Company was at the Avalon Ballroom June 10, 1966, but she had been in the Bay Area for about 10 days). However, Janis would not abandon her new band and the deal was scuttled. Subsequently Grossman spent about three months with The Fugs and a further four months with a band called Chicago Loop. At the same time, however, he was beginning his career as a guitar teacher. With his friend Rory Block and also Mike Cooper, he produced and released one of the earliest (if not the very first) guitar instructional LPs, How To Play Blues Guitar and began the publication of a five volume series of instructional books with Oak Publications called the Oak Anthology of Blues Guitar. These drew on his studies with Rev. Davis and the other older blues artists and on his obsessive listening to old 78s. The Country Blues Guitar, Delta Blues, Texas Blues, Ragtime Blues Guitar and Rev. Gary Davis/Blues Guitar have remained in print through various editions. They were well received by other guitarists seeking to learn the various styles of acoustic blues!

In the mid 1960s, Stefan Grossman recorded a number of cuts for Joe Bussard and his Frederick, Maryland based Fonotone Records and performed at the Jabberwock coffeehouse in Berkeley under the nom du folk of "Kid Future". The origins of the name Kid Future date back in the 1930s where there were a number of country blues artists called Willie Brown, the best known of these, and a friend of Son House, recorded a song called Future Blues, using an open G tuning. The song was considered very difficult to master and puzzled many experienced blues players but Grossman, when still in his teens, figured out how to play it. Given Bussard's penchant for creating noms de plume, as he did famously for John Fahey when recording him as Blind Thomas in the 1950s, it seems likely that the origins of the name Kid Future lie in Federick, MD and a talented teenager who had mastered Future Blues. Grossman also played on Pat Kilroy's Light of Day album released in 1966!

In 1967, Grossman travelled to Europe as a first step on a planned journey to India which was not completed. In London he stayed at first with Eric Clapton whom he had met whilst in Chicago Loop and met guitarists and singers on the British folk scene including Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Davy Graham and Ralph McTell and The Young Tradition. He began playing in folk clubs around the country and made his first solo recordings for the Philips/Fontana label (Aunt Molly's Murray Farm and The Gramercy Park Sheikh) and then for Nathan Joseph's Transatlantic label, including Yazoo Basin Boogie and Ragtime Cowboy Jew (see discography). He also traveled widely in Europe and eventually settled in Italy, where he lived for seven years. Travelling around Europe for gigs brought him into contact with many other fine guitarists, but few of them had record deals; Grossman saw a niche in the market for solo acoustic guitar records which were accompanied by a tablature book to allow the buyer to try playing the arrangements and, with his friend Ed Denson taking care of the US side of business, founded Kicking Mule Records. Over the next few years KM released albums by such artists as John James, Happy Traum, Ton van Bergeyk, Dave Evans, Peter Finger and the late Sam Mitchell. Grossman also released his own original and instructional albums on KM, the latter including seminal works such as Fingerpicking Guitar Techniques, How To Play Ragtime Guitar and Famous Ragtime Guitar Solos which had a major influence on acoustic guitarists in Europe, the UK and the US. During these years Grossman was also touring as a solo artist and in partnership with John Renbourn and continuing to write and publish instructional books, often accompanied by the then new technology of a cassette tape!

The Matrix

Side 1. ''TRA 249 A-1''

Side 2 ''TRA 249 B-1''

The Mother Stampers

Side 1. ''1'' ''G''

Side 2 ''1'' ''G''

The Vinyl

This vinyl gleems ! This is the original thicker heavier vinyl (only early press) Lays perfectly flat on the turntable! Please note! This vinyl looks like it has barely ever been played in my opinion, Any marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal scuffs only, importantly no marks that would cause any loud clicks or pops!

The Audio Quality

I have very carfully played this vinyl one time track for track prior to listing at very loud volume on a top system. The audio can not be surpassed on these early UK pressings in my opinion truly stunning throughout!,

The audio is cristal clear and vibrant all of the way through! Importantly there is no loud clicks or pops heard during the audio, no distortion and certainly no skips or jumps. Any light static/crackle or isolated ticks heard during quiet places would probably be due to the fact that this vinyl has been in storage laying dormant for the past 40 years or more and a constant clean before each play is highly recommended and would enhance the audio quality!   I would class myself as highly critical , please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that I normaly get it right! The audio quality on was at least excellent plus to near perfect\near mint on my systems (One of the best copies that I have seen or heard) Very rare to find after 40 years!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! That I have given my honest opinion when describing the audio quality of this vinyl. and have played it through track for track. !, Please allow for the odd isolated static (not) consistant through out the audio!!! Remember this is an original (not) a reissue that is 44 years old and would have been played on a system that is 40 years old!! (One of the best that I have heard Audio graded at excellent plus to very near perfect \ near mint on my systems)

Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!

Please note! A constant clean before each play is highly recomended! This vinyl has been stored laying dormant for over 40 years! A buld up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static/ crackle. A clean before each play will drastically reduce static and enhance the audio quality!

The audio is graded at the very very top near mint through out!

The Labels

These are the original Transatlantic labels  These are in superbe condition for 40 years old! Just bare minimal spider marks to mention only realy noticed on one side if looked for in strong light. No spindle ware (the hole is perfectly round) This looks like it hasn't ever been played much at allin my opinion!

The Record Sleeve

This is the original advertizing serpier sleeve no splits or tares just light staining/fading with age only. The original.

The Cover

This is the 1st issue , fully Laminated MacNeil Press (London) cover! This is clean and straight without any splits or tares at the edges! Please note! ! (no) nasty names written! On close scrutiny I can just see minor storageware rubbing/ringware  only in the laminate (very light only and not noticed unless looked for in my opinion) There is some laminate lift noticed at the front near spine (see photos) Clean and straight as it should be. (see photos) This cover must grade at least excellent!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 800 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!!!

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement!!!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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