Compilation album from the late 1960's, New York Christian based folk rock with psychedelia influences.
Originally released in 1969 and then reissued in 1996 due to extraordinary interest in this music.
This was the 2nd album release (and then there were no more ...) the first album is HERE
It's all been done before but this Christian based psychedelic folk rock is quite something else. The "mainstream" religions can be very conservative and suffocating, particularly for young people. In this NY private catholic school (Regis) a far sighted Tony Meyer invites young members of the boys school to write songs and perform them at mass. Some musical talents became noticed and it eventuated that they ended up with 40 songs which were all then peformed at the Regis Chapel (I believe this is part of the Regis High School located Upper East Side of Manhattan), the idea being to choose the best ten from the fourty - like a "battle of the bands".
The songs voted 10 best were then compiled into this album and they were collectively known as the Holy Ghost Reception Committee #9
No further albums followed...
Credit to these talented young people:
Dennis Blair
Joe Piecora
Jose Sclafani
Mark Puleo
Bob Campbell
Holy Ghost Reception Committee #9 - The Torchbearers
Void Records
Cat# P-04426
Matrix codes(etched):
THE TORCHBEARERS A 106102
THE TORCHBEARERS SIDE B 106103
USA release
1996 reissue of the 1969 original release
Cover is in very good condition, no tears, no seam splits, no writing. This release was limited to 500 copies, each being hand numbered (on the rear, just above the VOID RECORDS information), however on this copy the numbering has been obscured (see the pink colouring in this area, that is all that is left of the number) and I do not know the number of this copy. The blue double sided, single sheet of credits and song lyrics is included.
New inner clear plastic sleeve
Vinyl is in very good condition, visually inspected and I can see just one very light scratch on one side. I then played both sides ENTIRELY, every single track, and there are no significant issues*** with surface noise or click/pops at all. Interesting album, quite into the realm of psychedelica for sure.
NOTE: *** Although clean and quite pristine in appearance, I was a little surprised that the vinyl is not "dead quiet" and suspect the vinyl used is not the cleanest around, also the edge trimming of the vinyl is pretty rough (actually it is VERY rough) as well. It could be that the pressing plant used was "low cost" and re-using waste vinyl from other pressings in an effort to reduce costs but at the same time, lowering the purity of the vinyl used.
New outer protective sleeve
TRACKS: Walk Across The Waters, Know They're You, You Think Differently, Them's-A-Comin', The Torchbearers, Hey Lord, Magnificat 70, Jesus H. Clown, What Do You Ask Of Me?, Rise Up
