CROWLEY, Aleister, & Chakra ( Janice Ayers, Kenneth Grant, and Mike Magee ) .

A 45rpm record: 'The Voice of Aleister Crowley: "Pentagram" & "La Gitana"' [and] Chakra performing "Scarlet Woman"

London: Forum Group Agency / Marabo, ND [ 1975 ]. First Edition Thus. A 7-inch vinyl 45rpm mono record, in original black-printed red paper sleeve. This example form the collection of Tarot expert Stuart Kaplan (see further below) and still housed in the original mailer in which it was sent to him. The "a side" of the record comprises recordings of Crowley reading his poems "La Gitana" and "Pentagram" while the "b side" has a recording of a performance by "Scarlet Woman" described as a "Rock Invocation of the Goddess … made by modern devotees of the magical Current …" (Janice Ayers, Kenneth Grant, and Mike Magee) performing under the name "Chakra." The music was by Bob Ponton, and the lyrics by Mike Magee. The sleeve design on the front (the Crowley material) was by Steffi Grant, and the rear by Jan Bailey. The Crowley material was part of a group of readings, recorded mostly at HMV in London onto acetate "transcription disks" between 1936 and 1942 (not on "wax cylinders" between "1910-1914" as a common "internet fact" has it). As far as we can determine, this Forum Group Agency / Marabo record was the first public release of any of the recordings. From the collection of Stuart Ronald Kaplan (1932-2021), long-term head of tarot card company U.S. Games Systems, renowned for his interest in, and massive collection of, tarot cards, and his books which included the massive "The Encyclopedia of Tarot" Volumes I-IV. The back of the sleeve has one the business cards of "Yucca Records" of Clwyd, Wales, who apparently were the promoters of the record, glued to the bottom right corner. The Steffi Grant design on the front of the sleeve, and the rest of the rear sleeve, are in Fine condition. The record appears to us as unplayed, however, we don't know much about vinyl and are not used to grading records, nor do we have any equipment on which to test it, so it is sold "as is." The record and sleeve are still in the original card mailer, addressed to Kaplan, and with five franked UK stamps on it. The mailer somewhat worn. As noted record and sleeve very nice condition, with interesting provenance. Item #70184

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