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 ORIGINAL 1971 FIRST PRESS With FLIPBACK SEAMS                                          TOP RATED UNDERGROUND PSYCH-ROCK "GEM"

                                ..
                 

                    "Choice Cuts"

 THE MASTERS APPRENTICES

                  

                                      

            UK -SLRZ 1016 - REGAL ZONOPHONE

RARE and widely sought-after (for goood reason) 1971 first pressing on the highly sought REGAL ZONOPHONE UK label. Still utilizing the old '60s formula of flip-back seams, so you can tell it's the true first press. 

The Masters Apprentices were a formidable beat/psych band issuing an amazing album in 1967 worthy of several hundreds of dollars on original label as dictated by the market... Then we didn't hear from the group until 1970 when they released their "Masterpiece" Lp, sound had completely changed into more of an underground rock format.

This brings us to 1971 when the band went into high creative gear releasing their two best post '60s LP's on succession with "Choice Cuts" and "A Toast To Panama Red" 

With Choice Cuts a progressive and psychedelic sound begins to bubble to the forefront with The Masters.

Choice Cuts represents a number of firsts for the Masters Apprentices: the first album the group has recorded where the intention was to go into a studio and record a complete album (the others being collections of work over a few years amalgamated into albums); the first of two albums recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios; and the first to feature the Masters line-up that would be considered the 'classic line-up' - Jim Keays, Doug Ford, Glenn Wheatley & Colin Burgess.

With the new line-up and the production guidance of Jeff Jarratt (an engineer on a number of The Beatles recordings and Pink Floyd's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn') the Masters recorded an album that was influenced by much of the new music they were exposed to while in the UK. These influences included King Crimson, Hendrix and Free from the heavier end of the music spectrum, as well as a high quality styled acoustic end.

Choice Cuts is by no means a true progressive album, but more of a "psych-rock" offering. However it does step away from the beat sound of the past and migrate into progressive areas. "Michael" and "Easy To Lie" are a couple of tracks with a progressive edge. Both make use of some smoldering guitar from Doug Ford. These are supplemented by the somewhat psychedelic "Our Friend Owsley Stanley III" (a direct reference to the LSD culture of the period), the tribute to the slain Martin Luther King with "Death Of A King", and "Song For A Lost Gypsy".

The hits from the Choice Cuts album are the maximized memorable melody laced "Because I Love You" and the Latin- influenced "Rio De Camero". "Because I Love You" features Jeff Jarratt playing keyboard of the legendary white grand piano belonging to Paul McCartney, and has become an Australian classic over the years. "Rio De Camero" was written at the last minute to give the album another few of minutes playing time, however it did not become a hit until 1974 when it was released as a single to support the Masters "Best Of" album 'Now That It's Over'.

Overall "Choice Cuts" presents this incarnation of the Masters Apprentices as a competent and cohesive playing unit. It is an important album that showed that Australian artists could venture overseas, learn from their experiences, and translate that into music with a fair level of success. 

- Colin Burgess / drums
- Doug Ford / guitar, vocals
- Jim Keays / vocals, harmonica
- Glen Wheatley / bass, vocals

A:

Rio the Camero (3:18)

Michael (3:52)

Easy to Live (4:29)

Because I Love You (4:31)

Catty (3:20)

B:

Our Friend Owsley Stanley III (3:25)

Death of a King (3:36)

Song for a Lost Gypsy (2:57)

I´m Your Satisfier (3:13)

Song for Joey Part II (1:02)

              

 

CONDITION: The cover: rated: VG++ pretty well handled considering that this textured/grainy dark cover is almost always found with ring wear and worse! Here a decent survivor from 46 years past. only LIGHT handling around the edges if that, slight contact rub, nothing in the least to make anyone interested put it down ...FLAP-BACK seams first printing ... There are no delete marks, no split seams, no bends, and no writing  ... VERY collection worthy ...

The vinyl: Rated: VG+ glossy surface; visually has stray light inner paper sleeve scuffs and very fine (light) - hard to see - past use. The outcome in play grade is mostly clean, a few quiet passages have some light crackle but overall, where are you going to find a better copy? Both UK Regal Zonophone labels are clean despite light spindle marks

 

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

 

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

 

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record

  NOTE: All Items backed by  money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving ANY negative feedback. Thanks!   GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M    Completely clean, no marks M-   Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX   Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG   more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops         this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG-  surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps     ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END   BIDDERS PLEASE = Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About  Following Through The Transaction!   ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!