Esther - 2012 2012 USA/German First Impression Music/ATR label 12-track LP Box

Rare original 2012 USA/German First Impression Music/ATR label 12-track LP - an audiophile issue of Safed, British Palestine, born singers 1972 album '1. Album' - recorded as a comeback album after the short break that followed after the divorce from Abi Ofarim. '1.st Album' is recorded in Munchen - accompanied by the Munich Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and guitarist Erich Ferstl - and subsequently released on the Israeli Agum Portrait/German Hör Zu labels.

'Esther' features a "highly sophisticated cross-section of international folk music - timeless songs in different languages without regard to short-lived trends"*.

Vinyl is manufactured limited to 1000 copies - mastered by Mastering Lab's Doug Sax directly from the original analogue master tape and transferred to vinyl by Quality Record Pressing, USA.

Vinyl is pressed on 200 g vinyl with custom picture labels - comes complete with 4-page illustrated booklet combining liner notes and lyrics - packed in a textured, embossed, gold printed and partially lacquered top lid. Bottom and top are held together by picture and tracklisting sticker - stylish.

Condition: VG++ (Vinyl and Labels)/M- (Insert)/VG++ (Box)
Vinyl is in superb condition - hardly any signs of play - just a touch of faint sleeve inflicted wear, really next to nothing. Mint labels.
Insert is mint - box itself is mint - sticker is perfect on front and spine but has a lower corner bend on back -box is - like the vinyl - graded near mint.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1 Kinderspiele 3:13
2 Rataplan 3:33
3 El Rey Nimrod 2:49
4 Hayu Leiloth 4:02
5 Nique Nac No Muse 2:23
6 Una Matica De Ruda 3:04

Side 2:
1 La Vezina Catina 2:57
2 Tziyunyanai Haderech 2:37
3 La Scillitana 2:02
4 Leil Galil 3:41
5 Pamparapam 2:24
6 Pavane 2:46

Recorded at Trixi Tonstudios, Munich, Germany.
Pruduced at ATR-Audio Trade GmbH, Germany
Pressed by Quality Records Pressing, Salina, Kansas 67401

Credits:
Esther Ofarim - Vocals
Erich Ferstl - Guitar
Kammerorchester Der Münchner Philharmoniker - Orchestra

Technical Credits:
Erich Ferstl - Production, Arrangements (Original Album)
Günther Zipelius - Engineer (Original Album)

Technical Credits For The ATR/First Impression
Reissue:
Peter Muhlmeyer - Production
Winston Ma - Excecutive Production
Michael Bishop - Mastering Consultant
Doug Sax - Mastering Engineer
Artwork:
Chi Ho Young/Touchcom, Vancouver, Canada - Album Design, Liner Notes

The label wrote: "If you like the sweet voice of Ayako Hosokawa, the sexy voice of Mari Nakamoto, the unique voice of Patricia Barber and the tender voice of Jacintha, then you must listen to Esther. Ofarim, an Israeli female vocalist, was in the 1970's a part of the duo Esther and Abi Ofarim and later she persued her carreer as a solo artist. Ofarim put out records in several styles throughout her career, including folk music (of Israel and other cultures and countries), folk-rock, novelty, and orchestrated folk-pop-classical-rock in the style of Judy Collins. Ofarim often released records in English, with virtually no trace of an Israeli accent, and also performed and recorded for a while with her one-time husband Abi.
Although not too well-known to the English-speaking audience (particularly in the United States), Ofarim has impinged on the pop and rock consciousness from time to time. In 1968, she had a British number one hit (also a big seller in other countries, though not in the U.S.) with the novelty "Cinderella Rockafella," recorded as part of a duo with husband Abi| Esther and Abi had another British hit, "One More Dance," later that year."

*Bear Family website