TED STILLES Bhang RARE 1980 PRIVATE FUZZ PSYCH LP HEAR

$

57

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

TED STILLES "Bhang"

Original 1980 LP on the TELEWBAR label, TS-100

Cover:  EXCELLENT

Vinyl:  Clean, some light handling scuffs, plays EXCELLENT

Young boy from Montclair, New Jersey enamored with all things Jimi Hendrix makes a homemade guitar-lovers album in 1980 and names it after the sound an Indian makes when he explodes, Bhang.  If sh**y cover art equals rarity, this one’s a holy grail, which might explain why it routinely fetches three figure sums on Ebay if and when it shows up.  But yeah, Ted Stilles has created a six-stringed GIANT KILLER of the do-it-yourself variety, and if you think 1980 is a little late in the game for a guitar psych album, I grew up in New Jersey in the 80’s, and we were all still listening to Jimi and Carlos, blissfully oblivious to all the disco and new wave and punk stuff that was going on just across the Hudson.  Which is probably why “Love Is Just A Dream” is full of production tricks that would’ve been ingenious back in 1969 – echoed and delayed (and probably stoned) vocals, Bootsy-like rubber bass and some delicate and jazzy Santana-esque guitar figures.  Heck, if someone put “Creation/Commercials” on a mix tape (to keep the 80’s theme going) back to back with something by the Doors or the Electric Prunes, I’d swear they were recorded under the same mushroom cloud.  Stuff like this wasn’t made for the 80’s, at least outside of New Jersey, with its trippy distorto vocals and ripping fuzz leads and nonsense Ken Nordine-like monologue about skin cream or something like that.  And I’m amazed, actually, at how Ted got away with blatantly lifting the melody to the Raspberries’ “I Can Remember” for his “own” composition “Teenage Romance” and not get a phone call from Eric Carmen’s lawyer – check out the second sound clip below for proof.  Maybe Eric was as high as Ted by 1980.  As Paul Kantner once said as he walked by me backstage at a Jefferson Airplane show (a reunion, obviously), “Someone in here’s smokin’ dope,” and that’s because he could smell it in the dressing room.  With Bhang, I can hear it, and it reminds me of New Jersey in the 80’s.  And if it ain’t dope, it’s way too many Jimmy Buff’s hot dogs.

 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.