One of our records of 2023.
Plastic People of the Universe
Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned (LP)
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Formed in 1968, The Plastic People Of The Universe – named after a Mothers of Invention song and heavily influenced by Frank Zappa and The Velvet Underground – were iconic figureheads of the Prague Underground, a loose collective of Czech poets, philosophers and artists considered a threat by the Communist government. Banned and jailed under Czech communism The Plastic People Of The Universe are a true story of artistic perseverance, Authorities claimed their music would have a "negative social impact", and they were banned from playing for the public, having to play secret shows in remote locations. The raw DIY sound of their recordings escaped to Europe on tape and was released without the band's knowledge, their first album being a document of artistic defiance against the control of a stringent political environment they lived under.
Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned, PPU's debut LP, was recorded in 1974-75, but not released until 1978 (and even then, only in France). A beguiling album of lo-fi experimental rock that falls somewhere between Can and Canterbury psych-folk with Ayler-esque sax solos. First-time vinyl reissue and it is limited. Essential.
One of the best band you never heard of
This edition
ltd 700 copies on black vinyl housed in reverseboard printed sleave with printed inner sleave. Comes with lyric booklet, poster and postcard inserts
Format
This record exists of home made tape recordings from 1973 and early 1974 [*].
The record was produced without knowledge of the band in France.
Recorded in Czechoslovakia, produced in France ; pressed in Ireland, printed in England
Co-production : LTM and Boží Mlýn Productions (Unlimited). [on cover]
Production : S.C.O.P.A. Invisible & Boží Mlýn [on labels]
Co-ordination : I.Q. 153 1 / 2.
©and℗ : The Plastic People Defense Fund, London 1976 [on cover]
Copyrights © & ℗ The Plastic People Defense Fund, London, 1976 [on labels]
Gatefold sleeve (glossy outside), with a 12" x 12" 60 page book included.
Front cover has band as: The Plastic People … Prague, labels say: The Plastic People Of The Universe.
[*] The correct recording date is December 1974 at the Houska castle, Czechoslovakia.
Track titles and lyrics are given in English, Czech and French inside the gatefold.
Error: Track B5 is not listed on the LP Side B label, but is credited inside the gatefold.
Tracks: A2, A4, B2, B4, B6 are different mix/edits to the later remastered CD versions.
LTM [LTM (2)] and Boží Mlýn [Boží Mlýn Productions] catalogue numbers are on the cover spine only.
Invisible Record [Invisible Records (11)] and S.C.O.P.A. are on the labels only.
Printed and made by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd., England. [on cover]
Made in France [on labels]
Release notes
This record exists of home made tape recordings from 1973 and early 1974 [*]. The record was produced without knowledge of the band in France. Recorded in Czechoslovakia, produced in France ; pressed in Ireland, printed in England Co-production : LTM and Boží Mlýn Productions (Unlimited). [on cover] Production : S.C.O.P.A. Invisible & Boží Mlýn [on labels] Co-ordination : I.Q. 153 1 / 2. ©and℗ : The Plastic People Defense Fund, London 1976 [on cover] Copyrights © & ℗ The Plastic People…
| A1 | 20 | 1:52 | |
| A2 | Zácpa = Constipation | 7:00 | |
| A3 | Toxika = Toxica | 3:54 | |
| A4 | Magické Noci = Magic Nights | 4:56 | |
| B1 | Metro Goldwyn Mayer | 0:21 | |
| B2 | Okolo Okna = Past My Window | 5:46 | |
| B3 | Elegie = Elegy | 1:14 | |
| B4 | Podivuhodný Mandarin = The Wondrous Mandarin | 4:50 | |
| B5 | Nikdo = Nobody | 3:27 | |
| B6 | Jó, To Se Ti To Spí = Look At You, All Sound Asleep | 3:04 |
- Milan Hlavsa
- Bass, Music By
- Jaroslav Vožniak
- Drums
- Josef Janíček
- Lead Guitar, Electric Piano, Vibraphone
- Egon Bondy
- Lyrics By
- Plastic People of the Universe
- Music By
- Ivan Jirous
- Producer [Artistic Director]
- Boží Mlýn
- Producer [Production]
- Invisible
- Producer [Production]
- LTM
- Producer [Production]
- S.C.O.P.A.
- Producer [Production]
- Vratislav Brabenec
- Saxophone, Clarinet
- Jiří Kabeš
- Violin, Guitar, Theremin
