Sold Date: January 31, 2021
Start Date: January 24, 2021
Final Price: £74.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 18
Seller Feedback: 914
Buyer Feedback: 57

MR. FOX -

THE GIPSY   

TRANSATLANTIC TRA 236

1st UK Press 1971

Matrices A-2U  B-2U

This is an auction for a very scarce acid folk album. It is hardly ever offered for sale. Only few were ever pressed in the UK. 

Beautiful acid-tinged folk, highlights for me were Mendle & The Gipsy (a 13 minute story about one man's pursuit of his gipsy lover, ranging from trad folk, via spiky organ sounds, penny whistle, Wicker-Man/Comus type chants and even a mention of Wensleydale cheese!)

The short-lived Mr. Fox was the curious creation of Bob and Carole Pegg. Unlike many English folk rockers of their time, the two wrote most of their own material. To the casual listener, their often macabre songs sound like something straight out of the Child ballads. The band's arrangements -- mostly acoustic -- were unique to the early-'70s folk-rock scene, utilizing cello, tin whistles, melodeon, and organ. The material from the group's self-titled release comprises the richest material here and can stand beside any other English folk rock of this period (or any other). "The Hanged Man" tells the story of a hiker who becomes separated from his companions and then falls to his death. This simple story is filled with dark details -- "And roll along the pathway where the dead men used to hang" -- and is set forth with an odd combination of drums, organ, and whistles. "The Gay Goshawk" and "Salisbury Plain" also succeed in creating haunting impressions through spare combinations of instruments -- a droning fiddle, primitive percussion, and eerie organ -- that leave the listener with something akin to a medieval Velvet Underground. 

The crowning achievement of the group's self-titled album is the masterful story song, "Mr. Fox," a tale of deceit and severed limbs. The combination of musical dissonance and Carole Pegg's vocals create a chilling atmosphere that will haunt the listener from start to bitter finish. The material on The Gipsy is more straightforward, covering traditional pieces like "House Carpenter" and "All the Good Times." While less exciting than the Mr. Fox material, songs like the medieval rap of "Aunt Lucy Broadwood" shouldn't be missed. Mr. Fox/the Gipsy is a fine release, and should serve to give belated recognition to an important group from the heyday of English folk rock. (from: ALLMUSIC.COM)

VINYL : EX++. The vinyl has barely been played and retains it deep glossy sheen. The whole record plays through nicely with stunning audio on my Project Debut deck with Ortofon cartridge with superb stereo separation. A great supreme vinyl which has been looked after and is totally an upgrade for any folk collector for this rarity. NO jumps or sticks, played through in its entirety, a very enjoyable experience.

Gatefold Sleeve: EX+.  A lovely gatefold sleeve without any issues at all. There are no creases and no tears. The spine is 100%. The edges are incredible without wear. The opening is super crisp.

 LABELS: NM.   

VINYL TESTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF WARPING:

Yes, NONE visible what so ever when tested be sight and on a moving turntable. This is a rather heavy vinyl pressing.

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!!

Postage: In the Uk 2nd class standard 2nd class signed for if over £20.00

Europe and worldwide standard airmail. If over £30.00 I will have to send it tracked and there will be an extra Royal Mail fee for that. Please wait for my invoice.

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.