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Tracklisting & More Information
Condition
This is a one owner copy and one of the few that actually made it over the counter at the time. It has been kept in beautiful condition ever since.
The sleeve is amazing with just a little scuffing evident at the edges and corners. There is the tiniest hint of a small crease to the bottom right fold but this does not go through to the inside and is really very hard to see, but is included for completeness' sake.
The inner plate is immaculate.
This was also one of only two albums to be issued with the reverse printed poly lined swirl inner, dated '0671', which this copy still has.
The vinyl remains in beautiful condition with just a few spindle marks evident around the centre hole to show for over forty five years. It still retains its sheen and has obviously not seen a lot of play and has been played on good equipment. Upon very close inspection there are no more than a couple of extremely light surface scuffs evident, which again have only been mentioned for completeness' sake as they have no impact whatsoever on play.
A amazing copy of this legendary pressing, only the second copy in even close to this condition we have ever seen. The last copy we saw was twelve years ago.
Background
Dr. Z's first & only album is the rarest record ever released on the Vertigo swirl label. It was also one of only two releases to have the reverse print 'swirl' inner, the other being Back Sabbath's Master Of Reality.
The band was lead by North Wales University professor Keith Keyes, who handles keyboards & vocals, with Bob Watkins on drums, and Rob Watson on bass.
The basic theme for the album is that, in the afterlife, your soul is divided into three parts; Spiritus, Manes et Umbra.
Spiritus, which represents the inherent good side of Man, the side of beauty, gentleness and goodness, the Manes, the part of the soul which inhabits the underworld, more benevolent than malevolent, but still mixing with the Damned & the Umbra, the shade of the soul which refuses to leave the Earth and stays to haunt the world.
The album was produced by Patrick Campbell-Lyons of the band Nirvana & the sleeve designed by Barney Bubbles.
It has all the right ingredients to be the classic it truly is.
Way ahead of its time, the majesty & power of the Harpsichord drive this album to occasional very great heights, though it will never be standard radio fodder!
This is actually one of the few 'lost prog' albums that deserves its legendary status - Very heavy and dark with a baroque feel.
Reports vary as to the actual retail sales of the album between eleven & eighty as do reports of the quantity of surviving copies - Either way, very very few!
This is far & away one of the rarest albums on the planet, especially to find in this superb condition.
Tracklisting & Personnel
Evil Woman's Manly Child (4.47)
Spiritus, Manes Et Umbra (11.36)
Summer For The Rose (4.28)
Burn In Anger (3.26)
Too Well Satisfied (5.51)
In A Token Of Despair (10.13)
Band Members:
Keith Keyes - Piano, harpsichord, organ and vocals
Bob Watkins - Drums and percussion
Rob Watson - Bass guitar
Produced by Keith Keyes
Executive Producer: Patrick Campbell-Lyons
Recording Engineer: Richard Digby Smith
Assistant: Trevor Lucas
Design: Barney Bubbles/Phil Freaks
Compositions published by Chappell and Co Ltd
Recorded at Island Studios, London
LP RECORD
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