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Re: New Galactic Ramble book

More info-

What is Galactic Ramble?
Edited by Richard Morton Jack, Galactic Ramble features several thousand reviews of British and Irish pop, rock, folk and jazz albums issued between roughly 1963 and 1975. It is by far the most comprehensive critical guide of its sort in existence.

The first edition of 3000 paperbacks quickly sold out upon publication in 2009. Second-hand copies have since sold for many times the original cover price of £30.

This revised and expanded second edition is more than twice as long, totalling well over a million words, and has taken a decade to put together. It contains a massive amount of new information and imagery, and completely supersedes the first edition.

What's the aim of Galactic Ramble?
The period covered by the book saw a massive increase in the number of LPs released, on both major and minor labels. Many sold poorly and change hands for huge sums today. The aim of Galactic Ramble is to evaluate the music they contain and place them into context with each other, as well as offering accurate factual information about them.

What is included in Galactic Ramble?
The book covers the vast majority of UK rock, pop, folk and jazz albums released in the period, including major labels, independent labels, private pressings, library music and more. It also covers albums by British artists that were only released abroad.

What isn’t included in Galactic Ramble?
Greatest hits albums have largely been excluded, as have label samplers (unless they contain unique tracks) and most film and TV soundtracks. Certain genres - ska, easy listening, trad jazz and trad folk come to mind – have not been covered exhaustively, though all are well represented. Finally, most albums that didn’t come out at the time but have since appeared as archival releases are not included.

Who wrote Galactic Ramble?
Galactic Ramble contains reviews by a dozen music enthusiasts / experts: Simon Crisp, Richard Falk, Giles Hamilton, Tony Higgins, Patrick Lundborg, Austin Matthews, Aaron Milenski, Richard Morton Jack, Julian Leigh Smith, Dominic Stinton, Harvey Williams and David Wells.

The long and detailed introduction is by record producer David Hitchcock (Caravan, Mellow Candle, Genesis). In it he describes the British music industry in the period covered by the book, and discusses that part of his career. It has been greatly expanded from the version in the first edition.

Is Galactic Ramble illustrated?
Yes - the book contains over a thousand rare or previously unseen images, as well as two sections of colour plates depicting collectable LP sleeves.

Are all the reviews in Galactic Ramble new?
No - wherever possible, new reviews have been juxtaposed with old ones culled from a vast range of vintage British newspapers and magazines, so that both contemporary and modern perspectives can be gained.

What other information does Galactic Ramble contain?
Galactic Ramble dates most albums to their month of release, rather than just the year. All catalogue numbers are given, as well as details of any custom inner sleeves, lyric sheets or other inserts or curiosities. Also included are numerous top tens and a list of recommended LPs by each contributor.

How many copies are available?
Five hundred copies are available as a privately published limited edition hardback, in a slipcase.

Where can I buy Galactic Ramble?
It is available from this website. It will not be sold on Amazon. When it sells out, that’s it. There is no date set for a paperback edition.

How will they be sent?
They will be posted in protective cardboard mailers, using trusted couriers.

What are the shipping charges?
Postage within the UK will be 12 GBP. Within the EU it will be 16 GBP. To the rest of the world it will be 35 GBP.

When will they be sent out?
They are due in mid-January 2019 and will be despatched immediately upon arrival.

Re: New Galactic Ramble book

Thanks Paul, looks most interesting. I think I'll stick with my original paperback copy which is great. Good that an expanded version will at least be available for anyone who doesn't have the first ed which can sell for as much as this new one on line. Not cheap but I would imagine it won't be be around for long.

PM:slightly_smiling_face:

Re: New Galactic Ramble book

No problem Paul,

Galactic Ramble is the one book I seem to go back to all the time. Thanks for the heads up on I’m A Freak 2 Baby, I enjoyed No.1 a lot more than I expected.

Re: New Galactic Ramble book

I too have the original and can't see myself coughing up a 100 quid for an update.

Re: New Galactic Ramble book

Yes WW,
I’m sure the hardback is noce and all, but I haven’t tracked down all the goodies in the paperback. I’m on the fence. I’m sure it’s a nice new edition..,🤔

Re: New Galactic Ramble book

*noce should be nice in previous...