BOB FRANK – Bob Frank. Light In The Attic LITA 112. FACTORY SEALED VINYL RECORD ALBUM. Originally issued on Vanguard Records in 1972. This edition issued in 2014. Remastered from the original ¼” stereo master tapes. Comes in a super heavy board stock gatefold cover, old-style tip-on construction (the original was a standard single pocket jacket) with spine-obi and includes detailed linernotes drawn from a recent interview with Frank. TRACKS:  Wino, She Pawned Her Diamond For Some Gold, Waitsburg, Cold Canadian Pines, Judas Iscariot, Before The Trash Truck Comes, Way Down In Mississippi, Jones And Me, Layin’ Around, Return To Skid Row Joe, The Deer Hunter, and Memphis Jail. DESCRIPTION:  Light In The Attic and the legendary folk/blues/roots label Vanguard Records are proud to begin a series of collaborations under the umbrella Vanguard Vault. The series will explore the vaults of Vanguard and see the reissuing of obscure nuggets, psychedelic weirdness and just some good old-fashioned seminal music. Originally released in 1972 on Vanguard Records, Bob Frank’s self titled debut album took elements of Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Ian Tyson and filtered it through a pot-smoked haze infused with Frank’s long-time friend, Memphis guru Jim Dickinson. Dickinson and Frank shared a mutual admiration that ran so deep that on Dickinson’s own 1972 debut album Dixie Fried (released on Atlantic Records) he recorded one of Bob’s songs, Wild Bill Jones. Despite the Dickinson/Memphis connection, Bob Frank’s only LP for Vanguard has remained a forgotten, hard to find vinyl relic. Until now…. Carefully re-mastered from the original tapes, historical maverick (and noted expert on the Memphis scene) Alec Palao recently interviewed Frank in detail and assembled a lengthy essay for the liner notes of this edition detailing Frank’s personal and musical journey. As Dickinson once deadpanned, “Bob went to Vietnam and Nashville. I don’t know which was worse.” It was also an itinerant period, when Frank spent many a stoned evening staggering alone through the mid-south urban gothic landscape of church steps and sleaze bars, with his guitar glued to his arm, if not an actual extension of it. Songs would emerge from dreams or drunken visions. But this was not artless acid folk, but a series of picaresque, well-sketched vignettes delivered in a clearly-enunciated vernacular, and all very much in Frank’s own style. On these 1972 recordings, session men Charlie McCoy and Eric Weissberg (both known for their work with Bob Dylan via Blonde On Blonde and Blood On The Tracks, respectively) came along for the ride. Since Lawrence Welk’s son took over Welk Music Group operations and ownership of the Vanguard catalog, myself and a small cadre of collectors have waited for this album to show up on reissue with dwindling expectations, but, with a little outside push, it’s finally here. An essential addition to any decent collection. Now…..if you dig Bob Frank’s music I highly recommend tracking down Bob Martin’s 1972 RCA album Midwest Farm Disaster, reissued in 2007 on CD on Bob’s own Riversong Records. What’s with all these great musician/songwriters named Bob?!

 

For your further reading enjoyment and enlightenment I offer the following description I put together in 2002 for the only other original copy, besides my own, of Bob Frank’s album I’ve ever run into:

 

Bob Frank, the album, came out in 1972. It was all about Bob Frank singing twelve Bob Frank songs. Some of New York and Nashville's finest musicians were playing on it -- Eric Weisberg, Charlie McCoy, Buddy Spicher, Russell George -- guys like that. But you'd never know it by looking at the album cover. There aren't any credits on it. This unique piece of Americana was produced by Gary Walker and Cletus Haegert, two icons down on Music Row in Nashville. It's almost impossible to get a copy of that old album now. It's what they call a collector's item. People that have it don't seem to want to let go of it. Or else they can't find it. Back in the pre Bob Frank album days, people were comparing Bob Frank to Bob Dylan. But then, they've been doing that ever since he first appeared in a coffee house down in Memphis (that’s where he started out), way back in the sixties. Bob used to write songs for Tree Publishing Company in Nashville and that story deserves a website of its own. All the characters. Like Hoover (still haven’t added that one to the collection, but I’ve got a space waiting). Hoover was the first of the Outlaws. He was a music outlaw, as far as Nashville was concerned. And he hung out with other outlaws like himself. Bob sort of disappeared after his sole album for Vanguard. He relocated to the San Francisco Bay area, but continued writing and performing. It took him nearly 30 years to produce a follow-up release, but he now has a few, self-issued, CD releases under his belt. Strangely, Vanguard Records has not seen fit to issue this album in its CD catalog. Copies of this album have fetched upward of $100. How I came to know about this album is hazy at best, but I must have played this six times through when I first brought it home back in the mid-70s. I’ve been hooked ever since, but always wondered who this man was and if he had any other recordings. Over the last 27 years I’ve set up at countless record shows and never ran into anybody whose light popped on when I asked for Bob Frank albums, let alone actually finding another copy. That is until this past January in Indianapolis when I spied a copy in a dealer’s crate. He immediately asked me if I knew anything about Bob, as I gazed unbelievably at the front cover. Without having touched the copy before me I replied, “She Pawned Her Diamond For Some Gold”, the title of track two on side one. We both smiled, I bought the copy. This is one of the top 25 albums in my collection (and there are thousands)!  

 

Post Script:   The copy I listed back then never sold, but it was sometime later at another record/cd show that I got back the same smile I gave when I bought that copy and I knew Bob Frank had another fan and that album would be in good company.  

 

 

 

 

THIS ITEM IS NEW AND UNPLAYED. Used items will include condition details for the cover, disc, inserts, etc.

 

NOTE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS:  If the jacket or disc (unless sealed) is punched, marked, or cut in any manner, denoting a promotional/review copy, I will state that as part of the item description. Also if an issue is a "music club" edition, that will be noted in the item description.

 

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me. I particularly enjoy when an artist, band member, or someone who has personal background knowledge of a particular album/artist and offers their insight/information of that recording, which I will include with the description for future listings of that release. As a collector of many years, part of the hobby side for me is to learn about the background of the artists and music that I collect. Hopefully, sharing some of this information in my descriptions will help educate and enhance your listening experience.     

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.

 

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. These items are placed inside of a clear poly outer sleeve upon their receipt by me

 

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.

 

MIX:  This sometimes appears in my title line and refers to a group's/artist's music having a mix of styles such a rock track with jazz then followed by a straight rock track followed by a psych rock track, etc., as opposed to a blues album with the album's tracks having predominantly one style.

 

MULTIPLE ITEM PURCHASERS: 

 

My automatically generated invoices do not apply discounted shipping for multiple items purchased. I recommend that you wait until you receive my invoice with the proper discounted shipping total before making your payment. If you make your payment with full individual shipping/handling charges I will issue a refund for the overage to your account. If you are outside the US you can e-mail me prior to your purchase for a shipping total; as weight does vary, include the specific titles you are interested in purchasing. US customers whose purchases include CD(s) along with LP(s) will be shipped via media mail. All LPs are shipped via media mail in the US. Please e-mail me with any questions you may have.

 

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

 

Shipping rates are as of September 01, 2020; any subsequent rate increase will take precedence over the listed rates.

 

U.S. Shipping & Payment: 

 

$4.50 via USPS media mail for the first single LP or double disc LP set (excluding box sets); this also includes tracking. Add-on items ship for an additional $1 to $1.25, depending on weight. Request an invoice total on multiple item purchases and I will send an invoice with discounted shipping total. If you pay from the automatically generated invoice with full shipping charges per item I will refund the appropriate discount amount to your account. Check your Seller Hub for tracking and shipping information.

 

Payment for all customers is expected within 5 days of the close of auction bidding or date of set sale purchase and will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service (effective as of August 4, 2020). Make sure your payment preference meet eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping your purchase.

Priority mail or additional needs of your purchase are available. Please forward your request prior to making your purchase. All items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers.

 

INTERNATIONAL Shipping & Payment:  

 

I ship worldwide; all packages shipped via first-class package international service and include a tracking number. NOTE:  Check with your local post-office to see if your country participates in scanning US first-class package international tracking numbers upon arrival in your country. Because of the recent pandemic and labor shortages many country’s postal systems, as of July 1, 2020, no longer scan the arrival of first class international packages for tracking. The service is still available for all International Priority Mail and Global Express (at a much higher postal rate). Ebay is now offering Standard International Shipping Service, this is a joint service between eBay and the USPS to offer tracking for first class package international mail for a small additional fee to the regular shipping prices. The idea is to continue to make available tracking for international packages for eBay international shippers. This is a new service which I am learning about. I suggest those considering this shipping method to read further about the service on eBay. In any case, due to the recent pandemic the arrival of international packages via first class international is averaging 8-10 weeks from posting.

 

Shipping prices will vary slightly due to the weight of the disc(s), cover, and enclosures. The amount listed in the shipping details is for this item only. On multiple item purchases the shipping total will be based on the current rate, please request an invoice with the discounted shipping fee. If you pay the full shipping price total for each item on a multiple item purchase I will refund the discount amount to your account. I have been shipping records and CDs around the world for over 35 years, so purchase with confidence. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers with inside packing.

 

Payment for all customers will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service. Make sure your payment preference meets eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping. All international payments are due in US $ only. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of bidding or date of purchase.

 

If you would like to know the shipping total before you make your purchase please e-mail me with your request; be sure to include the specific title(s) that you wish to purchase.

 

NOTE:  First Class Package International Service has a 4 lb. weight limit, if your purchase exceeds that weight limit the next cheapest option is Priority Package International Service (usually up to 4 LPs will have a total weight less than 4 lbs.). If security is a major concern then please request Registered Mail, available upon request and at your expense (required on all bids/purchases totaling $100 or more unless shipped via priority or global express with tracking; this will be included with the invoiced shipping total). If you have any special needs of your purchase or you have any questions please e-mail me before you make your purchase; an additional charge may apply.. 

 

RETURN POLICY:

 

Please e-mail me with specific details and I will get back to you with your options. I ask that if there is a problem with the item that you contact me as soon as possible after receiving it. Any item that must be returned is done so at the buyer’s expense unless it is defective or not as described; you can initiate a return request and get a prepaid mailing label through your eBay account of the sale to post the return. Any refund, exchange, or substitution/credit will be at the buyer’s choice, but not made until the original item is received back by me; in the condition as stated in the item description if applicable. 

 

NON-ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES:

 

US Customers:  Please wait at least two weeks from my confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. All packages are shipped with confirmation/tracking via eBays shipping program, you will receive an automatically generated shipping notice via eBay with your tracking number or check your “My eBay”.

  

INTERNATIONAL Customers:  Please wait at least 8 weeks from the confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. If security is your concern please have your package registered (at your expense). I do my best to quickly post packages, but once the package is in the hands of the world’s postal system it is beyond my control. Most delayed/lost packages have disappeared/been delayed after they have reached their destination country. Keep in mind there remains a backlog and delay of mail due to the recent pandemic so your understanding and patience in this matter are appreciated.

 

ALL CUSTOMERS:  If there is a problem with your purchase please e-mail me first with details before filing a resolution.

 

 

 

  

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