VOICE To Have a Friend RARE '72 BEATLES psych LP LISTEN

$

77

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

THE VOICE "To Have a Friend" LP

Original 1972 LP on the German SOMERSET label

Cover:  MINT, still in shrinkwrap

Vinyl:  Probably never played, plays MINT

Incredibly good Beatles/Badfinger pop out of Germany that’s every bit as good (if not better) than Key’s much-lauded Fit Me In, but thanks to a butt-ugly cover that makes it look like a K-Tel repackage of “Up With People!,” the Voice’s 1972 album To Have a Friend has, so far, languished in complete power pop obscurity.  But just as Key’s album suddenly shot through the roof, this might be the next one to take off.  Obviously taking their musical inspiration from the Beatles (they cover “Yesterday”) and Beatles-inspired groups like Badfinger (they cover “Baby Blue”), the Voice really make themselves heard on a few stellar originals.  “Little Lonely Lady” sounds like America covering Badfinger, while “I Wanna Go Home to Mary Ann” could’ve easily been an outtake from the Ram or Red Rose Speedway sessions.  The title track starts out exactly like Sweet’s “Fox on the Run,” but then turns into catchy Beatles pop, a lost McCartney tune from the White Album sessions with playful “Martha My Dear” piano.  A cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man” seems completely out of place, but hey, it’s nicely done.  Released in Germany only, smack dab in the middle of the first krautrock explosion, To Have a Friend must’ve sounded like the only Voice of its kind.  A Yellow Submarine in the middle of the first wave of space rock.  But for fans of pop music, this is a Voice that needs to be heard.

 click below to hear a disembodied Voice:

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, or you can send checks and money orders made out in US dollars.  Items paid by check are held 14 days for the check to clear.

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.