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John Marks Discovers an Ultra-Rare Collectible LP...

71.117.186.146
Posted on January 5, 2020 at 08:25:30
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7806
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000



An audio-dealer friend bought all the audio equipment from an estate sale (he was not the selling dealer--that had been Ocean State Audio). The family asked him to offer them something, anything, for all the LPs, and he could not resist. Turns out it was a very eclectic collection.

He looked them over, a then a local LP maven put a few of the low-hanging fruit up on eBay (early pressing Wilson Audio pipe organ recordings, and other audiophile "usual suspects"). He then asked me to give a final look before donating the bulk to a community library for them to sell at a book sale.

One LP stuck out as being a very amateur attempt at being gothicly grotesque. I decided to research it. Turns out that it is the "Holy Grail" of Beatnik (or, perhaps, "Beatsploitation") spoken-word (and two musical cuts) LPs. It seems fewer than 24 copies are accounted for, and some might be counted more than once, so it is possible that 12 or fewer copies now exist. I convinced the owner to donate it to the Brown University Library as an example of 1959 atomic-age/beat culture.

My friend (no relation) Ben Marks of Collectors' Weekly wrote it up, and outdid himself.

Café Bizarre is in all the record history books for another reason. Andy Warhol took a shine to their house band circa 1965, which was led by Lou Reed. Warhol produced and art-directed their first LP, "The Velvet Underground and Nico." Some LP issues of which go for thousands of dollars.

A fascinating article!

jm

 

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The Velvet Underground & Nico, posted on January 5, 2020 at 17:33:47
blues4ever
Audiophile

Posts: 1004
Location: New Mexico
Joined: May 28, 2003
Contributor
  Since: June 22, 2010
 I attended the University of South Dakota in the late sixties. During the 1968-1968 school year, I lived off campus in a trailer house with two other guys, one of whom owned a copy of Velvet Underground & Nico with the original peel-off banana album cover. I liked the album at the time and bought a reissue sometime in the early seventies if I remember correctly (which I may not remember correctly).

I seem to recall reading a review of the album, in which the reviewer noted that he liked the first song on side 2 called "Heroin", which has a long section of pretty screechy viola (the liner notes credits John Cale playing the electric viola). The reviewer said "Heroin" was good song to listen on cassette tape in a car on a long road trip in order to stay awake. Very well could be.

I think I'll give it a listen tomorrow and see how I like it now.

For perfect tone use Columbia Needles
For Best results use Victor Needles
For best results use OKEH Needles

 

Genuine early LPs with the peel-off sticker intact are worth a pretty penny today, posted on January 5, 2020 at 18:10:27
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7806
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
 The wiki is pretty good on the history of the production.

jm

 

Thanks for the wikipedia link, posted on January 5, 2020 at 19:42:49
blues4ever
Audiophile

Posts: 1004
Location: New Mexico
Joined: May 28, 2003
Contributor
  Since: June 22, 2010
 I quickly scanned it this evening; I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

I took a quick look at popsyke and you're right about the going market price. Too bad I didn't talk my roommate out the record. I hope he still has it or sold it for a tidy sum.
For perfect tone use Columbia Needles
For Best results use Victor Needles
For best results use OKEH Needles

 

What does John Marks have in common with Hercule Poirot and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?, posted on January 8, 2020 at 15:13:52
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 Referring to himself in the third person (Illeism)

Can you smell what John Marks is cooking?

Just teasing:)

13DoW

 

Bob Dole would've been proud (nt), posted on January 9, 2020 at 07:36:36
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16018
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 nt
all the best,
mrh

 

Sorry...., posted on January 9, 2020 at 17:06:58
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 We didn't even notice.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: What does John Marks have in common with Hercule Poirot and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?, posted on January 13, 2020 at 05:21:17
nvinyl66
Audiophile

Posts: 151
Location: Canada
Joined: December 8, 2005
 I was going to say the same thing. Suggests a rather grandiose self-image.

 

RE: John Marks Discovers an Ultra-Rare Collectible LP..., posted on March 16, 2020 at 07:38:12
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Nice! score- JM.

 

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