SAM GOPAL Escalator LP+7"/1969 UK/Heavy Psych/Red Vinyl/Lemmy/Hawkwind/Motorhead

Sold Date: March 3, 2021
Start Date: July 17, 2020
Final Price: $36.98 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 7549
Buyer Feedback: 52


SAM GOPAL 'Escalator' LP+7" (UK, Morgan Blue Town, Catalogue #BT5012R) Brand new/unplayed copy of limited year 2017 Morgan Blue Town label RED VINYL LP+7" edition of famed, legendary Tabla-driven Heavy Psych album from the UK in 1969 by Sam Gopal (featuring pre-Hawkwind/Motorhead era Lemmy Kilmister.)

(NOTE: LIMITED RED VINYL EDITION! INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 7"
SINGLE: "HORSE"/"BACK DOOR MAN"!)


"Sam Gopal took up the tabla in Malaysia at the age of 7, before coming to study music in Britain in 1962. Sam Gopal put together his first group, 'Sam Gopal's Dream' in 1966. They quickly became a feature of the psychedelic scene, playing at the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream at Alexandra Palace in 1967 and sharing stages with such giants as Pink Floyd, the Move and Jimi Hendrix. Indeed, Jimi jammed with them during a gig at the Speakeasy in January 1968. However, whilst successful live, the band went unrecorded, and disbanded shortly after, only to be reconstituted under the 'Sam Gopal' moniker, Sam being joined by Roger D'Elia on guitar, Phil Duke on bass and most famously, ex Jimi Hendrix roadie Ian 'Lemmy' Willis on vocals and guitar. Signed to the short-lived Stable label, songs for an album were quickly written, most of them by Lemmy, and the album was released in March 1969, beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve. Something of a classic of psychedelic acid rock, complete with fuzzed guitars, but rooted by its Eastern percussion, the album included one cover, a rocked up version of Donovan's 'Season Of The Witch', whilst a projected single release included a version of Willie Dixon's 'Back Door Man', which managed to be even heavier than the interpretation by the Doors on their first album, released two years earlier.'You're Alone Now', one of the Lemmy-written songs on the album, became quietly influential, acting not only as a forerunner of Hawkwind's seminal 'The Watcher', but having an intro that brings to mind Black Sabbath's 1970 smash 'Paranoid'. The album ends with undoubtedly the gentlest song of Lemmy's career, the rather lovely 'Yesterlove', which has Lemmy's vocal floating gently over a backing of tabla and acoustic guitar. Sadly, despite apparently having all the ingredients in place for success, this incarnation of 'Sam Gopal' proved to be no longer-lived than 'Sam Gopal's Dream', and broke up not long after the release of this album."

Tracks on this LP + 7" are as follows:

A1Cold Embrace Written-By – *, , , 3:37 A2The Dark Lord Written-By – *, , , , 3:13 A3The Sky Is Burning Written-By – 2:30 A4You're Alone Now Written-By – *, , , , 3:40 A5Grass Written-By – 4:01 A6It's Only Love Written-By – * 4:16 B1Escalator Written-By – * 2:49 B2Angry Faces Written-By – * 4:01 B3Midsummer Night's Dream Written-By – *, , , , 2:11 B4Season Of The Witch Written-By – * 4:23 B5Yesterlove Written-By – 4:56 C1Horse Written-By – * 3:31 D1Back Door Man Written-By – 3:04

Shipping rates to the following locations at this present time (note: all shipping rates are subject to change.)

Shipping in US (including ALASKA & HAWAII), PUERTO RICO (MEDIA MAIL) is $4.98.

Shipping to CANADA (AIRMAIL) is $16.98.

Shipping to MEXICO (AIRMAIL) is $20.98.

Shipping to UK, EUROPE, RUSSIA, ASIA, CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS (AIRMAIL) is $20.98.

Shipping to BRAZIL (AIRMAIL) is $27.98.

Shipping totals will be consolidated for multiple orders/winning bids.

Record shipped in professional, superior rectangular shaped, corner-protecting corrugated cardboard record mailer with filler pads. Satisfaction guaranteed!