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** RECORD COLLECTOR **

 

 

THE WOODEN O

A Handeful Of Pleasant Delites

Original UK LP released on Middle Earth Records in 1969.
Fully-laminated cover.

MDLS 301A1-◊ H   /   MDLS 301B1-◊ H

***CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FOLK AUCTIONS THIS WEEK!!!***

***PLEASE READ CONDITION DESCRIPTION BELOW BEFORE BIDDING!!!***

Recorded and released in 1969, A Handeful of Pleasant Delites (sic), on the Middle Earth label, is the only known album by England's Wooden O. While critics at the time reviewed it as a kind of progressive folk music, the tunes here were more deeply influenced by progressive jazz and Baroque music than anything else. Led by recorder player James Harpham, the rest of the ensemble played mandolin (Hugo Dalton), double bass (Arthur Watts), harp (David Snell), and second recorder (Christopher Taylor).

All of the pieces are gorgeously played and arranged -- most notable is the opener, "Toy Tune," in which the recorder melodies play a sort of head and then go forth to melodically improvise like crazy. "Dance Tune" is a lush combination of Italian Renaissance melody and jazz improvisation. Watts' double bass is the perfect ground for this music because he swings no matter what he plays. There is also a Bach concerto here, entitled simply "Concerto," arranged by the band to weave British theatre music, salon music, and jazz into the heart of pre-classical music.

The second side is just as astonishing as the first, beginning with Watts' driven double bass on "Maypole." The two recorders play in harmonic counterpoint and offer a sense of true flight before the improvisation begins in a call-and-response way between the bass and the recorders. The jazzy backwoods stroll of "Sweet-Bedded" is a deeply reflective and moving piece as Snell's harp creates a countermelody that bridges the recorders.

The bottom line on A Handeful of Pleasant Delites is that freak folk fans may be interested in this because of the craft and gentleness of the tunes, but those interested in chamber jazz will find this both eye-opening and utterly enjoyable.

Tracks Are :-

Side One - The Lesson

Toy Tune
Pipe Tune
Sad Tune
Dance Tune
Walking Tune
Concerto

Side Two - Lover's Progress

Maypole
Overtures (Improvisation)
Sweet-Bedded
Arise
Fayne Would
It Was
Away

 

Released on 'Middle Earth Records' in 1969

Catalogue No. MDLS 301

Disc is in FAIR condition - on Side Two, towards the end of the first track ('Maypole'), there is a circular scratch around the groove which causes the needle to skip twice.

The rest of the record shows some surface wear, and generally plays VG to VG+, but I have graded the vinyl as FAIR due to the fault described above.

Low start price due to the condition of this item.

Sleeve is in VG+ condition (general light wear / minor laminate creasing)

Please contact me via Ebay Messages with any questions I will try my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.

 

 

PAYMENT BY PAYPAL ONLY

IF BUYING MORE THAN ONE ITEM PLEASE WAIT FOR COMBINED INVOICE!!!

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UK POSTAGE RATES FOR 12" RECORDS (LPs & 10"/12" SINGLES):

1 LP £4.15
2 LP £4.15
3 LP £6.50
4 LP £6.50
5 LP £6.50
6 LP £6.50

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO EUROPE FOR 12" RECORDS:

1 LP £6.90
2 LP £8.15
3 LP £9.35
4 LP £10.45
5 LP £11.60
6 LP £12.40

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO "WORLD ZONE 1" (USA, CANADA, JAPAN etc ) FOR 12" RECORDS:

1 LP £9.20
2 LP £11.65
3 LP £14.05
4 LP £15.50
5 LP £17.00
6 LP £18.20

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO "WORLD ZONE 2" (AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE etc)

1 LP £9.90
2 LP £12.35
3 LP £14.80
4 LP £16.45
5 LP £18.25
6 LP £19.70

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

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POSTAGE RATES FOR 7” SINGLES & CDs:

UK: £1.90 – then £0.50 each extra.
EUROPE: £4.95 – then £0.50 each extra.
"WORLD ZONE 1" (USA, CANADA, JAPAN etc ): £6.00 – then £1.00 each extra
"WORLD ZONE 2" (AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND etc): £6.55 then £1.00 each extra

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COMBINED SHIPPING ON ALL 12" RECORDS (LPs / 12" SINGLES etc). PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!!!!

We offer combined shipping on vinyl records: our shipping rates are listed above. HOWEVER shipping packages that weigh more than 2kg is VERY expensive. Therefore we can only offer combined shipping up to a maximum of SIX (6) LPs / 12" records. Any extra purchases will be invoiced, packaged and shipped separately.

***Due to the physical logistics of how I can package orders, I will not combine box sets with other items, I will only package them individually***

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COMBINED POSTAGE FOR DIFFERENT FORMATS will be invoiced at my discretion:

While I am happy to combine (for example) one or two 7” singles into one package with 12” records, sometimes it isn’t practical (like if you want me to combine one 12” record with three or more 7” records). I do not think that these combinations can be packaged together safely and securely. Therefore these will be invoiced separately as two packages.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE, please contact me before bidding!

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Sorry but I am no longer willing to carry combined transactions beyond two weeks of auctions (see below).

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PAYMENT

I would appreciate payment within seven days of the auction's end. If you want to bid on more of our auctions ending a week later please inform me. I will wait and issue a combined invoice at the close of the second week's auctions.

However, I am no longer willing to carry combined transactions beyond two weeks and in these cases would appreciate payment promptly after the close of the second week's auctions.

I am sorry to have to introduce these measures – I always try to be patient and allow buyers to bid on extra auctions and / or delay payment. Unfortunately some buyers have been stretching out transactions to unacceptable lengths so I have no option but to limit 'carried over' transactions to two weeks.