THIS IS THE 1989 AUSTRALIAN REPRESSING on MUSHROOM label. SINGLE COVER.  The cover is in VG(+) condition: normal wear BUT surface ringwear, mild creases on edges, discolouration/wear on corners/bottom spine, sticker mark+small tear on rear (top right corner), left spine is fully readable; please for details see photos (with and without flashlight).  The vinyl is in EX condition (barely played) and plays wonderfully. 

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THE SAINTS

Unpretentious and straightforward, these long-haired Aussies refused to subscribe to the rigid definitions of the punk scene. Roaring out of Brisbane, Australia in 1977 with the punk-era classic "(I'm) Stranded," the Saints, despite going through numerous incarnations, were a part of rock & roll for more than 20 years, thanks mainly to their indefatigable leader (and founder), Chris Bailey. Although they didn't play anything that passes for punk rock after about 1978, and despite extended dormant periods, the Saints never officially broke up, and Bailey always seemed to have another version of the band and another record ready to release. Saints' fans generally fall into two distinct camps: the punk-era fans (up to about 1980) and the mature pop fans.

"A LITTLE MADNESS TO BE FREE" <reissue, originally published 1984>
tracklisting Side A: GHOST SHIPS - SOME ONE TO TELL ME - DOWN THE DRAIN IT'S ONLY TIME - IMAGINATION Side B: WRAPPED UP AND BLUE - WALK AWAY - PHOTOGRAPH - THE HOUR - ANGEL
LP     MUSHROOM  RECORDS    L19352 MADE IN AUSTRALIA     1989 REPRESSING SINGLE SLEEVE
NOTES: " $9.99 SOUNDS RIGHT " on some copies’ high left front of the jacket (black/yellow rectangular sticker). "SPECIAL FESTIVAN EXPORT"round sticker on rear.
Barcode and Other Identifiers

Barcode: none

LABEL: MUSHROOM - BLACK LABEL w/MULTICOLOR LOGO - MULTICOLOR TEXT

Catalog on cover: L19352

Catalog on labels: L19352  SMX-69239 / L19352  SMX-69240

Matrix / Runout (Side A, Etched): DMX 69239 R2A

Matrix / Runout (Side B, Etched): DMX 69240  R2A

On labels: 2-line rim text "All rights........Made in Australia by Festival Records Pty Ltd"

"Unauthorised............prohibited"

Produced by Chris Bailey and Paul Comrie-Thomson

℗ 1984 luxborough Pty Ltd

© 1989 Mushroom Records Pty Limited, Australia

On Back Sleeve: Tracklist + Credits

℗ 1989 Mushroom Records..........Manufactured by Festival.........Australia and New Zealand........prosecution

grading

RECORD EX but (please, read above description)

SLEEVE VG(+) but (please, see pictures and read above description)

On this album, the Saints shift gears yet again. A Little Madness to Be Free takes the band (which was actually just a vehicle for singer Chris Bailey at this point) in a denser, more layered direction. This time, brass and strings dominate with lush acoustic guitars underneath. Obviously, any trace of the punk band that was, is gone. The power, however, remains. Like its follow-up, the devastating All Fools Day, this record explores the depths of irony, and the ironies of depth. Through exploration of the soul there is (musically at least) redemption. From the incredibly beautiful photo of a bay at sunset on the album cover to the opening track "Down the Drain," the tone is set. "Still I think it's better to stand out in the rain/ then go slipping on down the drain," Bailey sings. A melancholy rainy day vibe so damn gray it's vibrant; you can't help but be transported by it. This is the kind of album that makes you think about stuff. Stuff you'd rather not think about, like, "what the hell have I done with my life?" Somehow there is catharsis, so the end result is not an overall bummer. The somber and powerful "Photograph" tells of a lost love, and the beautiful, "Angels" will leave you singing along ("we can't waste another day") to the point of wanting to play the track again. The album concludes with one of Bailey's all-time classic songs, "Ghostships," a track so amazing he went and put it on several more albums, re-recording it twice. While electric guitars are not the centerpiece of the sound here, the layers make for an equally powerful experience. Surprisingly, there are really no keyboards to speak of, which is very unusual for a non-guitar rock album. By this point in his career, Bailey had come into his own as an arranger and it really shows. Certainly one of their most obscure discs, but ultimately as rewarding as their classics I'm Stranded, Eternally Yours, and All Fools Day...(AllMusic)