Kupferberg, Tuli; Sanders, Edward et al.

The Fugs First Album (The ESP-Disk Reissue from 1966)

New York, NY: ESP-Disk, 1966. First Edition Thus. LP in Sleeve. The 1966 reissue of The Fugs First Album, the debut effort by legendary avant-garde Folk band, The Fugs, which were famously founded & fronted by noted Mimeograph Revolutionaries, Ed Sanders (b. 1939) and Tuli Kupferberg (1923-2010). Anecdotes regarding the recording of this record can be found in Sanders’ classic Beat memoir, Fug You: An Informal History of the Peace Eye Bookstore, the Fuck You Press, the Fugs, and Counterculture in the Lower East Side, which Your Devoted VP-of-Operations here at Third Mind Books strongly recommends. As for the record itself (for those not familiar with its stylings), the band’s early sound was like a combination of various harmony-heavy, New York Folk groups (e.g., The Big Three, which counted a young Cass Elliot [1941-1974] of The Mamas and the Papas fame among its members) with the rising, electric Folk Rock sound of groups like The Byrds. One might say that The Fugs first album represents (or somewhat accurately models) that transition from coffeehouse Folk to higher-energy Rock, which was already in progress at the time of its release. A classic Fugs/Folk Rock collectible. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who was the manager of the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England founded by Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate poet, bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard, et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item No.s 8217, 8366). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but which is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been privileged to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House, including this. Third Mind Books proceeds to reverently curate & incrementally present the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy which is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. LP Record in Sleeve: a First Edition Thus (the 1966 Reissue on ESP) of The Fugs First Album. Media in strong Fine-Very Fine condition; glossy throughout and plays through flawlessly with only the occasional crackling and pops (no skips!). Jacket in Near Fine condition with only minute-to-enunciated edge-wear to front, back covers; some bumping & occasional light creasing to fine-edges & corners of same at select locales; age-toning of a similar gradation present, variously throughout; former owner signature & accompanying inscription (in thin, black pen ink) present along topmost fine-edge near/at top right-hand corner of back cover; otherwise, generally clean. Fine-Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #9295]

Price: $50.00 save 10% $45.00