Neil Diamond - Tap Root Manuscript (1970) Vinyl LP •PLAY-GRADED• Cracklin' Rosie

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Condition Details:

Vinyl plays with crackles and some clicks (play-graded). Gate-fold cover has a few creases near edges; light-scuffing on inner-gate; heavier scuffing, tiny surface abrasions, and surface impressions (front/back/inner-gate); name written near top-center on right panel of inner-gate; rippling and bubbling on front; more noticeable abrasion near center-left on back. Inner-sleeve is original (discography); bottom seam partially split. Spine shows wear. Shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Split near right of both edges. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. 1971 pressing with black label and beige gate-fold with no text on gate-fold or front. Booklet not included. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Cracklin' Rosie
2. Free Life
3. Coldwater Morning
4. Done Too Soon
5. He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother
6. The African Trilogy (A Folk Ballet)

About The Record:

Tap Root Manuscript, by Neil Diamond, was one of the most experimental albums he ever recorded, featuring prominent African sounds and instruments. The album ended up being a commercial success, with a string of top 40 hits. This album predates many Western artists' interest in world music by more than a decade, from Peter Gabriel's 1980's solo albums, to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (David Byrne with Brian Eno) in 1981, to the Graceland album recorded by Paul Simon in 1986. It was one of the most novel experimental recording projects of its time, and the Uni label, to which Diamond was then under contract, initially was not sure whether it would be commercially viable. It turned out to be one of Diamond's most successful albums up to that point in his career, including one of his three No. 1 hits in his career, Cracklin' Rosie.