APHRODITE’S CHILD – 666. Missing Vinyl MV 032. Greek distributed; pressed in The Netherlands. FACTORY SEALED 2-LP SET. Originally issued in 1972. This edition issued in 2012; remastered from the original analog tapes.  Pressed on 180g vinyl in a limited edition of 1000 copies, includes original gatefold cover artwork. MEMBERS:  Vangelis Papthanassiou, Demis Roussos, Lucas Sideras, and Silver Koulouris with Harris Halkitis, Michel Ripoche, John Frost, and Irene Papas. Text written by Costas Ferris. TRACKS:  The System, Babylon, Loud Loud Loud, The Four Horsemen, The Lamb, The Seventh Seal, Aegian Sea, Seven Bowls, The Wakening Beast, Lament, The Marching Beast, The Battle Of The Locusts, Do It, Tribulation, The Beast, Ofis, Seven Trumpets, Altamont, The Wedding Of The Lamb, The Capture Of The Beast, ∞, Hic And Nunc, All The Seats Were Occupied, and Break. DESCRIPTION:  666 was Aphrodite’s Child’s magnum opus, their third and last album. Late in 1970, the band began to record a musical adaptation of the biblical Book of Revelation, to be titled 666. Essentially, it was Vangelis' concept, created with an outside lyricist, Costas Ferris. The music that Vangelis was creating was much more psychedelic and progressive rock oriented than anything the band had done before, which did not sit well with the other band members, who wished to continue in the pop direction that had brought them success. Furthermore, Roussos was being groomed for a solo career, whereas Vangelis had recorded the score for L'Apocalypse des animaux. The double album 666 was finally released in June 1972, and sold over 20 million copies, but by then the band had already split. Vangelis and Roussos pursued successful solo careers, Roussos as a pop singer and Vangelis first in electronic music, then in movie soundtracks. This Missing Vinyl release was pressed in a limited edition of 1,000 copies on deluxe 180g vinyl, sourced from the original analog master tapes. The jacket and labels reproduce the original artwork from the first pressing with the Vertigo swirl labels; audiophile edition pressed by Music On Vinyl Records (Netherlands).

 

For your further reading enjoyment and enlightenment I offer the following description that I put together for an earlier CD edition:

 

The landmark 1972 album by the Greek act led by Vangelis, a concept album about the Bible's Book Of Revelations, it contains all 24 tracks from the original release on Vertigo, including the near hit Break. This is an album not easily pigeon-holed. If an American or British band tried to create something "mystical" on this scale it probably wouldn't work. But take a pack of Greek expatriates living in Paris in 1970, who had previously shown that they were far too bizarre to create anything remotely pop or mainstream (though they were obviously trying with previous Aphrodite's Child singles), and something of the mysteries of their homeland created a template into which some truly ancient musical, lyrical, and philosophical ideas flowed. It's clear when listening to this album that there is nothing contrived about it. It sounds as if, for a brief moment in time, a common subconscious urge drove everyone involved in the project toward a common goal. There are some familiar elements--excellent rock guitar by Silver Koulouris, powerful drumming from Lucas Sideras, excellent production values that still stand head to head with today’s crop of releases, and some excellent early synth work. All the Mediterranean percussion and various stringed instruments do not come off as an attempt to make the recording "exotic." Rather, it is those instruments and vocals that, as good as the rock playing is, seem most natural to the players. Without getting too far out there, it sounds like some troubadours from ancient Athens jumped up 2500 years and plugged in. This album is dense (All The Seats Were Occupied), varied (studio effects; narration; jamming; "outside" playing), frightening (Seven Trumpets; the orgasmo vocals on Infinity), beautiful (Break), and often simply stunning (The Four Hoursemen). This album is "progressive rock" only to the extent that some very ancient ideas are being expressed with some modern tools. Nothing in Aphrodites Child's previous recording showed any signs that this album was coming, and nothing Vangelis did later (with the exception of his first solo album Earth) carried these ideas any further. It's like Athena sprung full-grown from their collective heads in the studio, then split. Don't let the title scare you off--it ain't devil music, and it sure ain't Christian music either. It seems older than that; a true one-of-a-kind, for those that can handle it. This was their third and final album. The band members were not on speaking terms during its recording in late 1970 into early 1971, and had already split up long before its release in 1972, perhaps the reason for its delayed release. Despite this, 666 remains their most memorable album and has cultivated its own following as an acknowledged psych classic. The original storyline of text-writer Costas Ferris concerned a circus troupe that throws a show in a circus tent based on the Apocalypse of the Book of Revelations, filled with spectacular lights and sounds. However, while the show is going on in the circus tent, the real Apocalypse begins to occur outside, the audience believing it to be part of the show. At the end, the big tent disappears, and the two 'shows' unite in a melding of illusion with reality. No proper review of this album can close without mention of its piece de resistance, the infamous "∞," with guest vocals by famed Greek actress Irene Papas accompanied solely by improvised ritualistic percussion by Vangelis. This track was deemed blasphemous by parent label Phonogram Records because of Papas' simulated orgasm, as she chants away cyclically "I was I am I am to come" with a level of fierce possession that later created a window of opporunity for Diamanda Galas. However, you can’t help being impressed by, dare I say “in awe” of, Papas' emotional abandon in delivering her alpha-omega mantra, constantly varying with astonishing creativity parameters of intonation, volume, rhythmic accentuation. 666 is and remains an essential classic that belongs in any decent collector’s hoard.  

 

 

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me.   

All LPs are removed from their jackets and placed outside of the jacket for shipping. If an album comes sealed (and will be noted as such in the above description), it will be shipped whole unless you request that I open it up to place the disc outside of the jacket for shipping. Both jacket and disc are placed inside of an outer plastic sleeve before packing for shipping. I use professional corrugated record mailers.

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER CURRENTLY LISTED ITEMS AND EBAY STORE. There is also a section of additional LP titles in my eBay Store 

 

TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS:

 

SS or SLD:  Still Sealed or Sealed (or some variation of sealed depending on how many characters I have left in the title line). This item is new and unplayed. Also appears in the listing description as Sealed LP or Factory Sealed LP.

 

NEW LP:  This item is new and unplayed, but was received from a supplier without being shrink wrapped or cellophane wrapped; more common on imports but also many of the smaller independent US labels do not seal their LPs.

 

GFC:  Gate fold cover.

 

LTD EDT:  Limited, as in limited edition. If I know the press run number it will be included in the above description.

 

#'D:  Numbered edition. I will include the number of this item if it is visible to me.

 

CV:  Colored vinyl.

 

S/T:  Self-titled.

 

RE:  Reissue

 

OOP:  Out Of Print.

 

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

 

Shipping rates are as of January 30, 2014; any subsequent rate increase will take precedence over the listed rates.

 

U.S. Shipping: 

 

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INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: 

 

I have been shipping records and CDs around the world for over 25 years, so purchase with confidence. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers. Payment using credit cards can be made via Paypal or pay direct from your Paypal account to mine. If this is a problem please e-mail me for acceptable alternatives before you bid or purchase. All international payments are due in US $ only. Payment must be received within 7 days after close of bidding or date of purchase. If you can not meet my payment schedule please e-mail me with your needs. I only ask that you keep me informed. All packages are shipped via first class mail international (air); this is the least expensive method of shipping internationally, but does not necessarily meet all the conditions of Paypal’s buyer/seller protection plan. First Class Mail International does not offer tracking. If security is a major concern then please request Registered Mail, available upon request and at your expense, this is the least expensive method of meeting the conditions of Paypal’s buyer/seller protection plan; actual postal charge for registration is $13.65 in addition to the shipping total (required on all bids/purchases totaling $100 or more; this will be included with the invoiced shipping total). Priority Mail International and Express Mail International are available upon your request and at your expense. If you have any special needs of your purchase or you have any questions please e-mail me. 

 

*ALL CUSTOMERS*  

 

HANDLING TIME:  

 

Packages are usually shipped in less than 72 hours. NOTE:  This is not the same thing as delivery time, which begins once a package is turned over to the post office; averaging 3-7 business days for US delivery and 5 days to 3 weeks for international delivery (Italian customers it is not unusual for your package to take 4 weeks for delivery). International delivery is largely determined on how long it takes your local customs to process its mail. I will confirm receipt of payment and shipping date via my personal e-mail, adjust your filters accordingly. If you do not hear from me within the first three days after your payment, most likely my attempts to e-mail you have failed. Please keep me posted on your payment plans or any special requirements/needs of your purchase. 

 

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INTERNATIONAL Customers:  Please wait at least 3 weeks from my confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. If security is your concern please have your package registered (see above for fee). I do my best to quickly post packages, but once the package is in the hands of the world’s postal systems it is beyond my control. With first class mail international my only option for investigating the loss of your package is to verify that it left this country to its destination country. Most all delayed/lost packages have disappeared/been delayed after they have reached their destination country. NOTE:  Based on recent buyer feedback, International packages have been moving much slower these days; it is not unusual for a package to take over three weeks for delivery (especially to Italy), though normally packages should arrive in 7 to 15 business days.  

 

 

MULTI-ITEM PURCHASERS:

 

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