Sold Date: September 5, 2014
Start Date: August 29, 2014
Final Price: £95.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 5
Seller Feedback: 3772
Buyer Feedback: 126

This item is not for sale. Gripsweat is an archive of past sales and auctions, none of the items are available for purchase.

"THERE IS A MOUNTAIN" (Donovan, 1967)

That's nice!

The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is.
The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.

That's nice!

The caterpillar sheds his skin to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds his skin to find a butterfly within.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain.

Oh, Juanita, oh, Juanita, oh, Juanita, I call your name.
Oh,The snow will be a blinding sight to see,
As it lies on yonder hillside.

Lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is.
The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is.
Caterpillar sheds his skin, to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds his skin, to find a butterfly within.

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain.
  DONOVAN: "There Is A Mountain" / "Sand And Foam" 45 RPM IN MONO, VERY RARE 1967 UK PYE DEMO,
PRODUCTION SINGLES WERE RELEASED 20th OCTOBER, 1967.


YELLOW PYE DEMO LABEL:  7N 17403

MAITRIX: 7N 17403  A - 1   ▽ F / 7N 17403  B - 1   ▽ F
As it only could be for a Demo/Promo Pye single, pressed in advance of the standard records, the 'first of the first pressings.'

DEMO ONLY, YELLOW  PYE LABEL, WITH A LARGE BLACK  'A' ON THE  A-SIDE, THE CENTRE OF THE 'A' IS
WHERE THE CENTRE HOLE WAS CUT OUT.   WITH THIS TEXT PRINTED ON BOTH SIDE'S LABELS .
  "Advance Promotion Copy - Not For Sale,"

THE RELEASE DATE WAS HAND STAMPED ON THE A-SIDE LABEL:  '20 OCT'  
ORIGINAL BLUE PYE SLEEVE, UNSPLIT AND UNFADED, WITH ONLY A FEW RECORD IMPRESSION RELATED LIGHT CREASES,
IN NEAR MINT CONDITION.
Top right on the original 1967 blue Pye wavy top sleeve, the '7N 17403' catalogue number was written in blue biro, underneath is
a slightly later release date,'18/11/1967.'  That had me checking my Charts Book to check and it was released on the 20th October
in the UK, the handwritten details had to originate at Pye and I can only surmise a possible later release was being considered.
I know mistakes account for such matters, but the date stamp on the label is specific to the actual day, so was the handwritten
date on the sleeve, I do not think it was an error because Demo's were sent out well in advance of the release when plans could
change overnight.   A phone call could have a Pye executive writing a new slightly later release date on the sleeve, then another  
call could have cancelled the delay without the sleeve being amended, after all, the record had the 20th October release date.

THIS DEMO WAS ONLY PLAYED ONCE AND THAT WAS FOR THE A-SIDE, COMPLETELY UNMARKED AND,
IN OUTSTANDING MINT CONDITION.

"There Is A Mountain" was the follow up single to the October, 1966 "Mellow Yellow", which featured Paul McCartney singing on
the chorus, by the psychedelic year of 1967, Donovan's lyrics reflected a very special year. As usual Pentangle's Danny Thompson
played the bass, Tony Carr the percussion and Harold McNair a flute to accompany Donovan's acoustic guitar and vocals.  Donovan
was inspired by Buddhism or Zen, now you see a mountain, then it's gone.   You see a river, then there is no river, a fascinating
way of dealing with reality and our conception of nature.   I doubt very much if those who bought the single  in 1967 and sent
"There Is A Mountain"to No.8 in the UK charts and No.11 in the USA, were aware of Donovan's philosophy, but he sure could write
fantastic songs.   A lovely melody did the rest, often Demo's have unique mixes, having just played both sides,I was really surprised
how superb  "There Is A Mountain" sounded, I don't think it is a alternate mix, just a Mint very first pressing having the fullest potency
of the 1967 first Mono mix.   The sheer power and impact of that incessant rhythm was amazing and the sheer clarity of the vocals
and instruments was that of a first generation from the Master Tapes.  I have to double up on those comments when I turned the
record over, incredible sound!  I particularly love "Sand And Foam", I first heard that in 1966 on the UK LP, "Sunshine Superman",
a song with truly poetic lyrics and a haunting melody seeped in an atmospheric feel, so intensive he transports to Mexico via the
lyrics and the sublime instrumental backing track.  Written in 1966, there was a touch of acid influence to the lyrics, I never
quite know where my  descriptions are heading and I have virtually described both tracks now.   As the sound quality was so
perfect, I think I will type out the wonderful lyrics  for "Sand And Foam," what a great way to finish this, every verse has the
most incredible lyrics and that will portrayal the genius of Donovan better than anything I could write.   Some records are just
too immense to do anymore than present them, mentioning rare Demo's seems trivial in comparison to both tracks of this really
magical single.
  "SAND AND FOAM" (Donovan, 1966)

The sun was going down behind the tattoo tree,
And the simple act of an oar's stroke put diamonds in the sea,
And all because of the phosphorus there in quantity,
As I dug you digging me in Mexico.

There in the Valley Of Scorpio, beneath the cross of jade,
Smoking on the seashell pipe the gypsies had made,
We sat and we dreamed awhile, of smugglers bringing wine,
That crystal thought time in Mexico.

Sitting in a chair of bamboo, sipping grenadine,
Straining my eyes for a surfacing submarine,
Kingdoms of ants walk across my feet,
I'm a-shaking in my seat in Mexico.

Grasshoppers creaking in the velvet jungle night,
Microscopic circles in the fluid of my sight,
Watching a black-eyed native girl cut and trim the lamp,
Valentino vamp in Mexico.

The sun was going down behind the tattoo tree,
And the simple act of an oar's stroke, put diamonds in the sea,
And all because of the phosphorus there in quantity,
As I dug you digging me in Mexico.
  {Roy}
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