NATIONAL HEALTH - 1st UK Press NM CARAVAN EGG ARZACHEL Dave Stewart very scarce
Sold Date:
August 24, 2014
Start Date:
August 17, 2014
Final Price:
£19.00
(GBP)
Bid Count:
12
Seller Feedback:
2093
Buyer Feedback:
66
NATIONAL HEALTH
AFFINITY
AFF 6
1st UK Press 1977
Matrices: A1 B1
National Health were an English band associated with the . Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist 's band and 's band , the band also included guitarists and Phil Lee and bassist as original members. The band was named after Stewart's . (previously of and ) was the initial drummer but was soon replaced by . Campbell was replaced by and then .
A frequently changing line-up, they toured extensively and released their first album, in 1977. Although it was created during the rise of , the album is characterised by lengthy, mostly instrumental compositions. Their second record , which included (recitation on "Squarer For Maud") and (cello), is held as one of the best records ever on the Gnosis website. After the May 1981 death of Gowen, remaining members reconvened to record the album D.S. Al Coda, a set of compositions by Gowen, most previously unrecorded.
A short-lived experimental prog-rock band that included band members from Caravan, Egg and Gilgamesh . So it is not hard to imagine their three albums sound like a blend of them all. This was their self-titled debut and a superb album it is too! Very much in the Canterbury Rock mould, this is progressive rock for the connoisseur. Complex music and time structures and beautifully produced, a challenging album in wonderful condition. This is a copy that is the earliest you will ever see. Both cover and record have to be seen to be believed really, it would prove an upgrade for most Canterbury collectors.
Scarce: this was no big seller and this one of the earliest pressings ever made. In the early fledgling Virgin years, this label was taking on less commercial bands and artists and many are now scarce and collectable. Also try finding a better copy than this.
Vinyl: EX++ to NM. A beautiful well looked after vinyl in just stunning condition with a beautiful just pressed appearance. I have played it in full on my high end system and the audio is totally flawless without any discernible background static. NO hairlines at all and possibly unplayed before I spun it. A total joy to listen to and I am finding it hard to part with this smashing album. This album is extremely scarce in any condition at all, in this condition ... probably one of the last ones out there!
Sleeve: EX++. A smashing crisp sleeve with a fully legible spine. Totally uncreased and only the lightest touch of rub wear on the top edge only. This will be an upgrade for most.
The first National Health album couldn't have come at a worse time, just when punk and new wave were the musical orders of the day.
This swan song of the by then nearly defunct Canterbury Scene is ultra-serious, and determined to show its musical prowess by frequent, complex changes of time signature, dense, convoluted arrangements, and frightening technical ability. This is a stunning set of progressive magnificence!!In that regard it differed from the main ethos of Canterbury prog rock and fusion, which had offered a whimsical, often surreal hippie vision of the world, never taking itself too seriously (if you like, its antecedent was really an earlier group of keyboard player Dave Stewart, Egg). Because of its attitude, the opening epic, "Tenemos Roads," stands head and shoulders above the rest of the disc, suffused with both light and space, and lifting into a breathless atmosphere when singer Amanda Parsons enters.
Melody is key, and the album has plenty of that, mostly from Stewart and keyboard "guest" (and former member) Alan Gowen, who also shares compositional credits for much of the disc.
This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next prog album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. 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.
