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RARE 1968 CALIFORNIA POPSIKE MASTERPIECE

         TOPMOST COPY MINT IN SHRINK!
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                     THE SMOKE

 

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\                                                              USA - SIDEWALK - ST 5912 

 

STILL IN FACTORY SHRINK WRAPPER

a BEAUTY ... consider the rarity ...

RARE "COLLECTION" ARTIFACT ... hard to find in any condition, here is a highly collectible survivor from 49 years ago ...

RARE, sought after Original 1968 first pressing by trippy West Coast psychedelic band produced by Michael Lloyd of the WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND....

The California SMOKE released only this one album -- smelling of flowers overflowing the senses in the spring...we like the way the mighty ActiveGod so aptly put it when advising of SMOKE's sound being like a mix of Creation Of Sunlight meeting Strawberry Alarm Clock (with vibes of peak Beatles, Beachboys & Zombies sprinkled in)... 

***Check the beat of their music by clicking on this line ==>

Not to be confused with the British psychedelic band of the same name, the Smoke was a one-off studio group headed by producer/musician Michael Lloyd. Lloyd's vast exposure to the LA music industry was at an early age, signing a publishing deal at only 13 after meeting producer Kim Fowley. He was a member of the West Coast Art Experimental Band and wrote and produced for the Los Angeles group October Country. The name October Country was actually derived from a song penned by Lloyd that appears on The Smoke. Fowley introduced Lloyd to enterntainment mogul Mike Curb who gave him many production jobs. Curb was so impressed by Lloyd that he let him freely use his Hollywood Boulevard Studios for six months. It was during this time that Lloyd recorded The Smoke's sole album. It was completed with Stan Ayeroff on guitar and Steve Baim on drums. This same lineup had previously been a band called the Laughing Wind. The SMOKE album is highly concentrated in American psych-pop at it's best. The instumentation is dense and the songwriting and arrangements are also impressive. Although very original, Brian Wilson's influence can be heard in "Self-Analysis" and several moments on the album are very Zombies-esque...The Smoke dedicated this obscure release to Stuart Sutcliffe and the band cannot help but pay homage to their obsessions, the Beatles and the Beach Boys. There are no dull tracks on this  masterpiece which was housed in a beautiful white jacket that recalled the Beatles Yellow Submarine album artwork.

- Cowboys And Indians
- Looking Thru The Mirror
- Self-Analysis
- Gold Is The Colour Of Thought
- The Hobbit Symphony
- The Daisy - Intermission
- Fogbound
- Song Thru Perception
- Philosophy
- Umbrella
- Ritual Gypsy Music Opus 1
- October Country
- Odyssey

         

CONDITION: The Cover: rated: MINT in factory shrink wrapper (bit missing near upper pocket but the whole thing is MINT) ...Stiff and solid with bright original colors...no bends, no writing and no split seams...has no delete marks ... Overall, for sure, a copy we would keep in our own private collection....

The Vinyl: CLEAN all over; rated: M- with loads of shine ...top levels visual with play grading at M- with no audio issues...obviously well kept over the years and both Sidewalk labels are clean. 

       

      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!