TAGES Contrast '67 RARE SWEDISH FREAKBEAT PSYCH LP HEAR

$

71

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

TAGES "Contrast"

Original 1967 LP on the Swedish PARLOPHONE label, STEREO PMCS 313

Cover:  VG, 1" split seam on spine, X1:2 written on back, small part of lower back cover torn

Vinyl:  Lotsa light hairlines, but plays SUPER solid VG+ to maybe VG++ with light surface

Sweden’s answer to the Yardbirds – man, if more people knew how amazing this 1967 album from Sweden’s Tages was, Contrasts would be hailed as the long-lost buried treasure it is.  And maybe then it’d get a proper reissue too.  But as it is, you’ll have to make do with trying to find an original vinyl album, which, as you’d expect, is as about as hard to find as an ugly Swedish brunette at this point.  Granted, this ain’t the Clapton Yardbirds we’re dealing with here.  Screw Eric anyway - he left them when they were just getting good.  No, Contrasts is more like the Yardbirds of Roger the Engineer, classic 1966-1967 stuff when they were getting into Tibetan chants and Eastern drones and moving away from the stuff that kept God happy until Cream came along.  You’ll hear traces of “Still I’m Sad” in “Hear My Lamentation,” which is probably how you’d translate the phrase “Still I’m Sad” if English were your second or third language.  The too-good-to-be-unknown “Fuzzy Patterns” starts with a burst of demented laughter before heading off into “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” territory, a little poppier and less dark but still just as nutritious.  Even the less-Dreja influenced numbers all have weird little twists and turns in ‘em, often when you least expect it.  The sad, echoed-out ballad “Prisoner” sounds like a classic moody psychedelic head trip, then suddenly breaks into a mad Russian Cossack dance midway.  And the lush Bacharach-like harmony pop of “You’re Too Incomprehensible” sounds like a perfect late 60’s Curt Boettcher sunshine pop production, until those tricky Tages start layering tons of weird sound effects and off-key orchestration on top, making this sound like the Association on some really brown acid.  I know it’s a cliché, but it’s true in this case - there ain’t a single bad song on this one, and 1968’s follow-up Studio’s pretty nifty too.  Of course, if they were British, you’d already know this one like the back of your hand.  And you’d still be wondering why Clapton left ‘em. 

 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.