SKIN ALLEY
CBS
S 63847
1st UK Press 1969
Machined matrices: -A1 -B1
It takes just one listen to Skin Alley s eponymous 1969 debut album to explain the band s popularity in Britain s underground college and club scenes. Here was a group who refused to play by the rules, a band whose diverse musical influences were given free rein, but who beautifully stitched together their eclectic stylings into a sound quite uniquely their own. Like most British acts of the day, Skin Alley were beholden to the blues, and the band paid off part of the debt with the barrelling Going Down The Highway. But as passages in that song made just as clear, the group were equally enthralled by experimental jazz, a style that would be explored more intimately on the atmospheric stunner of the track All Alone. That conjured up smoky torch clubs, while jazz of a more exhilarating mode is given its due on the equally excellent Marsha, which slips happily in and out of R B as well. The set opener, Living in Sin is a breezy piece of British blues/psych, but given an intriguing twist of the Middle East. It had all the makings of a single, but instead it was the more downbeat Tell Me that was chosen, albeit not in its original portentous album form, but in a jazzed-up version along with it s B-side Better Be Blind. But Alley s influences did certainly not end in America, they were equally inspired by their own musical heritage, as the medieval tinged Country Aire illustrates. Folk is pulled into the psych/prog world on the equally single worthy Night Time, then enters the arenas with the ballad-cum-haunting show-stopper Mother, Please Help Your Child. All told Skin Alley was a stunning debut with tinges reminding of the Floyd, Group 1850, Tonton Macoute and the Pretty Things, with excellent production by ex-Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor.
So, so hard to find, Skin Alley s debut classic album and here it is where it all came together from start to finish Splendid prog/psych album which is totally impossible to find at all This is grandeur from the first note till the very last. I am very happy to be able to present this fantastic and ULTRA rare album. This will be a great first acquisition
IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE THIS TURNS UP AGAIN WITH AGAIN MORE TAKERS THAN EVER BEFORE.
I AM OFFERING ANOTHER HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER PROG / PSYCH ROCK VINYL LP RARITY FROM MY COLLECTION OF SIMILAR ITEMS A FANTASTIC ALBUM BY SKIN ALLEY, STUPENDOUSLY CREATIVE MUSICIANSHIP . A MUST FOR ANY PROG COLLECTOR.
Vinyl: VG . A great glossy vinyl with just a few wispy hairlines and just one on side B causing a couple of low level clicks. Played in full on my Linn Sondek/ Rotel/B W set-up. Needless to say NO jumps or sticks. The audio of this recording is simply outstanding and will be an upgrade to many collectors. Wow
Sleeve: VG. A single sleeve which is very vulnerable by the nature of the flimsy cardboard used and of course for its main colour being white. A very obscure album with its Banksyesque front picture. First of all there are no tears or splits. Towards the top is a horizontal band where some sellotape must have been removed in the past resulting in some of the sateen sheen having been removed. This is not instantly apparent but it is there all the same so please bear this in mind. Some of this tape still remains in place over the CBS logo. There is very light ring wear. There are no major creases. The spine is still 100 legible. The opening is super crisp. This is most definitely an upgrade for most collectors. NO writing, NO splits, NO tears etc. The pictures tell all.
This is a unique investment opportunity The next prog album to go completely through the roof. The chance of finding this album in any condition at all is negligible so late in the day. Finding it in this splendid condition will prove nearly impossible Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.
Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 20.00. Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.
Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST, if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 rating is effectively detrimental to a seller s rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem. Thanks again
This an excellent investment opportunity Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.
This an excellent investment opportunity Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.
Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST, if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 rating is effectively detrimental to a seller s rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem. Thanks again
This an excellent investment opportunity Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.
