Sold Date: December 7, 2014
Start Date: November 30, 2014
Final Price: $50.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 14057
Buyer Feedback: 118

HEADS OF OUR TIME "THE SUBTLE ART OF SELF-DESTRUCTION" LP

ORIGINAL 1970 LP ON THE US AUDIO FIDELITY LABEL, STEREO AFSD-6236

COVER IN VG+ shape, nice silverfoil jacket, some crimping/bubbling on back, light ringwear on front

VINYL plays VG+ to VG++

SUPER RARE original 1970 pressing by this one-off OVER THE TOP exploito psych band from Canada - The Heads of Our Time "The Subtle Art of Self-Destruction" on the Goodgroove label.  Totally demented, off-the-wall psychedelia where NOTHING is spared - a truly varied album where some tracks succeed and some fail - but the ones that succeed are nothing short of inspired!  This album has it all - from stereo panning effects, sound effects, acid fuzz guitar, sitar, spoken word - you name it, they threw it in.  "Airhed" starts off with groovy stereo panning shotgun sound effects into a spooky synth melody.  And just when you're being lulled into the magic mirror, out bursts an ONSLAUGHT OF DEMENTED, RIPPING FUZZ GUITAR!  The track then turns into a furious acid psych instrumental, with triple-tracked acid guitars and rollicking Hammond organ.  "W.O.R.D.S." is a fantastic exploito psych track with odd plunking sitaresque synth and ominous spoken words - reminds me of the best tracks on the Cosmic Zodiac LP, especially when the narrator warns you that he's creating "a burning desire for a woman with a blank look on her face, who will assist you in the subtle art of self destruction!"  I'll have what he's having.  "Bizarre Requiem" is a very strange demented go-go psych track with sitar-esque guitar runs and strange, otherworldly distorted vocals entering into and then disappearing back into the haze.  Out of place horns give this an odd go-go Barbarella movie soundtrack feel.  And "Listen Here" is perhaps the best track - with its phat funky bassline, cocktail lounge piano and interstellar outta space moog effects, it's a total groovy go-go funk club dancer par excellence!  "Speed Stretch" ends things off with running footsteps a la Pink Floyd's "On the Run" (which hadn't been written yet).  GREAT album, bar a few ill-advised covers, this is one of the finest headphone over-the-top exploito psych albums EVER - very rare and housed in a GREAT reflective silver foil jacket which the scan doesn't do justice to. 

HEAR IT!

PLEASE NOTE I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).  BUYERS FROM ITALY AGREE TO PAY FOR GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL INSURED ONLY!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Overseas shipping has, unfortunately, gone way up in the fast few months, which translates to $15 for the first LP to Canada ($3 each one thereafter) and $24 for the first LP everywhere else in the world, with each add'l LP an extra $5 (so it pays to buy more, nudge nudge wink wink).   I accept payments through Paypal.

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

 For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.