Yesterday’s mix tape did NOT feature a cut my Tudor Lodge, but that’s because I wanted to highlight the group’s eponymous record from 1971 and highlight a killer track contained therein. How fucking good is “The Lady’s Changing Home,” right Tyler? You’re the prog guy around here, surely you have an opinion on it!
So, I think it goes without saying that the market for Vertigo Swirl records has EXPLODED in the past few years. Back in 2010 I helped sell a ridiculous psych/prog record collection, and the prices we asked for relative to condition were mere pennies compared to what some of these albums sell for today. Affinity ($500 in 2010, it topped $1000 twice last year), Gracious! ($150 in 2010, $400 in 2011, $920 this year), Catapilla ($175 in 2010, $1200 in 2013)…God, I wish I could get another crack at that collection. Cressida was $650 (now it’s over $1000), Dr. Strangely Strange was $750 at the time and now one’s sold for over $3000. So much money.
Tudor Lodge is such a rare record it didn’t turn up in that collection, which netted us about 30 original Vertigo Swirls. Dr. Strangely Strange was probably the rarest of the bunch, with the Still Life record, the Affinity Record, the Cressida Record, Freedom, and Patto rounding out the most collectible of the highly collectible LPs. And though I’ve SEEN Linda Hoyle and Dr. Z, Ben and Gravy Train albums before…I’ve only ever seen one Tudor Lodge in the flesh. I guess there’s a reason that in August one sold on eBay for $3300. You really don’t see ’em all that often. Original UK swirlies, that is. You can find Akarma knock-offs and the like, but the OG? That’s a rarity. Even by my lofty standards.
According to the venerable swirlie website, “This extremely rare folk album balances precariously on the edge of coyness. The danger to present an attitude overly meek is ever-present on this album. Unfortunately most of the tracks do fall into this abyss of unassumingness. On the other hand there are at least two tracks that are just short of brilliant: the audaciously harmonized Willow tree, a spookily arranged lesson in surrender which alone makes the ownership of this LP worthwhile, and also The lady’s changing home with lush vocal parts and an unexpected fuzz guitar. It all comes back to me is nice too, with the crystal voice of Steuart to the fore. Otherwise this is more like, say, The Seekers, than like Comus.”
Enjoy guys!
Tudor Lodge
Tudor Lodge
(Vertigo, 1971)
MediaFire DL Link
01. It All Comes Back To Me
02. Would You Believe?
03. Recollection
04. Two Steps Back
05. Help Me Find Myself
06. Nobody’s Listening
07. Willow Tree
08. Forest
09. I See A Man
10. The Lady’s Changing Home [MP3]
11. Madeline
12. Kew Gardens
