East of Underground & Soap-Self-Titled 2Lp CEC LP 11 Start Price USD 799.00 Current Price USD 799.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 Location Ventura, CA See more about 'East of Underground & Soap-Self-Titled 2Lp CEC LP 11' Description This auction is for the Original EAST OF UNDERGROUND SOAP FUNK SOUL 2LPs. United States Special Services Agency Europe presents the winners of the first annual original magnificent special services entertainment show band contest (1971)"   East of Underground: C: Higher Smiling Faces Hell Below People Get Ready Getting Over D: Bet'ya Never Lose My Love - California Dreamer Popcorn - Santana I Love You Java Girl Walk On By   The second LP is a psych rock band (Soap),   Soap: A: I Just Want To Celebrate You've Got a Friend Southern Man Medley: Will the Circle Be Unbroken - I Don't Know How to Love Him Ticket to Ride B: I Feel the Earth Move Uncle Albert Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves Never My Love Walk Away Get Together   This self-titled 1971 debut from East of Underground, an amateur seven piece band of U.S. Army soldiers, recorded at the height of the Vietnam War in Frankfurt. No word on how many of the unit made it back home safely, but ad-libs from "California Dreamin'" testify they dreamt of returning to St. Louis, L.A., and Detroit. "Smiling Faces" is sublime, and "People Get Ready" has a rawness even the great Curtis Mayfield couldn't convey.   Back in the early 1970s, the U.S. Army sponsored a talent contest for servicemen stationed overseas in Germany, the "Original Magnificent Special Services Entertainment Show Band Contest."  The winner and runner-up during the first year, in 1971, ended up recording an album in Frankfurt, using some exceptionally good studio equipment since this album has surprisingly great fidelity. Then it promptly vanished from popular consciousness for the next three or so decades until Dante Carfagna dug up a copy and made its existence known in high-end collector circles. I'm not exactly sure how many copies of this are "known" to exist at this point (at least a few) but it's the type of LP whose obscurity explains why it commands so high a price.   The album is all covers so in essence, the band was one really; really impressive tribute band in a sense but for a bunch of amateur musicians, recording away from the States, the quality of the arrangements and production is truly awesome. It'd be like a bunch of Marines in Iraq getting together in the Green Zone and whipping out something that sounded as good as the recent UGK album. It's just not what you'd expect and it's so much better than what anyone would anticipate given the circumstances.   If this could be considered a "stage band" album, it'd rival most of what I've heard out there, including the almighty Kashmere Stage Band. Heck, the price of admission might be worth it for the group's ultra-funky medley of James Brown's "Poppin' Popcorn" and Santana's "Oye Come Ve" alone but if that wasn't enough, the group also covers early '70s soul classics like Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces," the Impression's "People Get Ready," Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By," and I was especially impressed to see them covering "I Love You For All Seasons" by The Fuzz. Sounds like the kind of stuff you only find on 45's.   The second LP is a psych rock band (Soap), desirable in its own right! It features covers of Get Together, Ticket to Ride, and more.   The quality of the recording is superior, as is the musicianship: the falsetto harmonies, the gritty guitar, and the devouring drums. But song choice is just as responsible for the success of this album.   Unlike other obscure-funk and soul compilations, East of Underground is immediately familiar, instantly gratifying and endlessly playable. Only a handful of original copies are known to exist.   The jacket is in very good condition and the albums are in very good ++ condition. Contact the seller for more information.   Free shipping offer is for United States only.  International buyers will use calculated shipping rates.     Place a Bid!