Lifemask - Original 1973 UK Harvest label 6-track LP

Original 1973 UK Harvest first issue stereo LP. 'Lifemask was written by Harper during a period of illness when HHT, which leads to polycythemia, threatened his health and incapacitated him. With thoughts of life and death upon his mind, side two of the album features a lengthy 23 minute track entitled "The Lord's Prayer" which Harper described as "my last will and testament".'*

Vinyl has the generic dark and lime green company labels with 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd....' rimprint. Vinyl has machine stamped matrix information

Matrix numbers are:
Side 1: SHVL 808 A-4, mother/stamper 1 GO
Side 2: SHVL 808 B-3, mother/stamper 1 GM
we have never seen a copy with a master matrice earlier than the 4rth for Side 1, third for Side 2... basically same set of masters as mentioned in Yuri Grishins book on the Harvest label. This is to the best of our belief manufactured from the first set of master matrices, the first mothers, and relatively early stampers.

Vinyl is held in a Hipgnosis designe 'Roy Harper deathmask' motif picture cover which open in the mid-front allowing the viewer to see an intensely alive Harper.

Condition: VG+(+) (Vinyl and Labels)/VG+ (Cover):
Vinyl is superlustrous and has a single superficial mark combined with a touch of sleeve wear. Side 1 label is mint, Side 2 label has a couple of slightly complex spindletraces - labels are graded close to perfect, vinyl overall close to near mint/excellent.

Cover has faint vinyl outline and a little edge wrinkling - back has just a little mid-lower age spotting. Seams are intact with just a touch og edge rubbing - spines are clear and readable. Cover would be close to perfect or at least excellent, but a mild humidity or water damage which causes nothing else but light uneveness or waving - no discolouration - lower the grading to straight VG+. Still a very decent copy.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:

1. Highway Blues 6:34
2. All Ireland 2:52
3. Little Lady 4:19
4. Bank Of The Dead 3:13
5. South Africa 4:06

Side 2:
1. The Lord's Prayer 22:55
a) Poem
b) Modal Song Parts I To IV
c) Front Song
d) Middle Song
e) End Song (front Song Reprise)

Credits:
Roy Harper - guitar, bass, synthesizer, harp, bell and vocal
Jimmy Page - lead guitar (on Bank Of The Dead and The Lord's Prayer)
Ray Warley - flute
Brian Hodges - bass, electric bass
Laurie Allen - drums
Tony Carr - drums, bongos
Brian Davidson - drums

Technical credits:
Peter Jenner - production
John Leckie, Phil MacDonald - engineers
Nick Webb - assistent engineer

Artwork:
Storm and Po (Hipgnosis) - coverart

*Wikipedia