AURA – Sativa (aka Aura). Cicadelic Records CICD 1076. NEW CD, this item does not come factory sealed. Originally issued in 1976. This remastered edition issued in 2011 with the addition of 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks. MEMBERS:  Paulette Collins, Eddie Weiss, Robin Kutulas, Rick Kutulas, Cobe Haskell, Al Taylor, Jeff Ervin, and Jean Hintermann with Tom Poote, Phil Scoma, and Jacquie Weiss. TRACKS:  You Got Something, Clap Your Hands, First Taste Of Love, It’s A Feeling, Gonna Make It, Sativa, Mess Up Your Mind, Don’t You Worry, Trying To Hold It Down, and Skyrocket. BONUS TRACKS:  Catch A Falling Star, Evil That Brings You Down, and It’s A Feeling (early version). DESCRIPTION:  Aura was a San Francisco based psych-funk band that formed in 1974 and played extensively throughout Northern California. Not the same band as the LA based Aura whose horn-jazz-rock album was issued in 1971 by Mercury Records. By 1976, the band recorded their first and only album at Pacific Recording Studio in San Mateo. Their sound employed the use of a horn section on many of the tracks along with some great guitar work (which is where the psych edge comes in) and the smooth soul vocals of Paulette Collins; similarities to Tower Of Power (for the funk & horns) and Champaign (on the smoother soul rock numbers with an added rock element which is more than either of the aforementioned bands. The original title of the album was meant to be Sativa, but out of fear that promoting the joys of marijuana would be too controversial, the band omitted the title and just left it as Aura. Over the ensuing decades, the Aura album has grown in stature to become a major soul/funk collector's item. In 1991, the Oakland hip-hop band,“Oaktown’s 357”(MC Hammer’s Salt-N-Pepa type band) sampled Mess Up Your Mind for their song Turn It Up, which also helped to raise the profile of the Aura album to cult status. As a strange side note, it was the producer of underground psychedelic band the Lemon Drops, Reggie Weiss, who wrote the psych-funk title track, Sativa (a parody of The Champs hit song Tequila, with water pipe sound effects and blistering guitar leads by former Lemon Drops guitarist, Eddie Weiss) and Skyrocket (with manic fuzz guitar). The lead singer of Aura was Paulette Collins, who still performs around the Bay Area today with an all-girl group called The Taylor P. Collins Band. Replete with rare band memorabilia and three previously unreleased bonus tracks, the lone album of Aura is now available for the first time on CD, (thankfully) from the original master tapes. The album is a heavy slab of Bay Area history, as well as a psych funk masterpiece that cannot be denied. 

THIS ITEM IS NEW AND UNPLAYED. Used items will include condition details for inserts, disc, and jewel case/digi-pak/mini-jacket.

NOTE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS:  If the tray card, bar code, jewel case, insert, or digi-pak is punched, marked, or cut in any manner, denoting a promotional/review copy, I will state that as part of the item description. Also if an issue is a "music club" edition, that will be noted in the item description.

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me. I particularly enjoy when an artist, band member, or someone who has personal background knowledge of a particular album/artist and offers their insight/information of that recording, which I will include with the description for future listings of that release. As a collector of many years, part of the hobby side for me is to learn about the background of the artists and music that I collect. Hopefully, sharing some of this information in my descriptions will help educate and enhance your listening experience.     

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TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS:

Unless noted, all CDs come sealed in standard jewel cases. Mini-Jackets, digi-paks, and variable packaging will be noted. Any item that does not come sealed will be placed inside of a clear resealable outer sleeve at the time it is received by me. All items that do not come in an outer packaging wrap are inspected by me prior to shipping. It is not unusual to find small imperfections in the CD disc, especially on European manufactured CDs; these small imperfections do no affect the play of the disc. If, for any reason, a disc does not play it is fully guaranteed by me and is returnable for refund or replacement (see my return policy below for more details). Also an unsealed jewel case may show light signs of warehouse/transit storage wear on the outer surface of the jewel case. If an unsealed jewel case is received by me broken, it will be replaced with a new jewel case before shipping; sealed CDs received with minor cracked/damaged jewel cases will be noted as such in the item’s description and will be shipped as is.

ABBREVIATIONS:

SS or SLD:  Still Sealed or Sealed. Short abbreviation that will appear in the title line of my listings. This item is new and unplayed. Also appears in the listing description as Sealed CD or Factory Sealed CD.

NEW CD:  This item is new and unplayed, but was received from a supplier without being shrink wrapped or cellophane wrapped; more common on imports but also many of the smaller independent US labels do not seal their CDs; some have it both ways (for which I have no prior knowledge of or choice when placing my orders). Other companies use resealable clear outer sleeves which are used on some import and domestic releases. If I receive an item this way it will be shipped as I received it and not opened up. Items received unwrapped are placed inside of a resealable clear outer mylar sleeve at the time they are received.

GFC or GF:  Gate fold cover, refers to a style of mini-jacket CDs.

S/T:  Self-Titled

2/1:  This denotes that 2 albums are on 1 single CD.

REMAST:  Remastered. More specific sourcing will follow within the item’s description when available.

OOP:  Out Of Print.

MIX:  This sometimes appears in my title line and refers to a group's/artist's music having a mix of styles such a rock track with jazz then followed by a straight rock track followed by a psych rock track, etc., as opposed to a blues album with the album's tracks having predominantly one style.

XT, XTKS, or #XTKS:  Usually in lower case type as part of the title line, denotes bonus tracks on this release (extra track, extra tracks, or the number of extra tracks).

ULC, LRC, etc.:  Upper Left Corner, Lower Right Corner, etc. used in referencing the area of a defect or blemish to the jewel case or packaging.

MULTIPLE ITEM PURCHASERS: 

My automatically generated invoices do not apply discounted shipping for multiple items purchased. I recommend that you wait until you receive my invoice with the proper discounted shipping total before making your payment. If you make your payment with full shipping/handling charges per item I will issue a refund for the overage to your Paypal account or however eBay’s upcoming Managed Payment program works it. If you are outside the US you can e-mail me prior to your purchase for a shipping total; as weight does vary, include the specific titles you are interested in purchasing. US customers whose purchases include CD(s) along with LP(s) will be shipped via media mail. Single purchases of 4 or more CDs and/or packages (box-sets as one example) that exceed the first class weight limit (15 oz.) will ship via media mail. Please e-mail me with any questions you may have.

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

US and INTERNATIONAL shipping rates are as of July 28, 2020. Any subsequent increase in shipping costs will take precedence over the below rates.

U.S. Shipping: 

$4.00 via USPS first class mail for the first single or double CD set.

$1.25 for each additional single CD set and/or

$1.50 for each additional double CD set.

All US packages are processed for shipping via eBay and include a tracking number. You will receive confirmation of shipping via eBay with your tracking number.

Payment for all customers will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service (effective the earliest in mid-July of 2020). Make sure your payment preference meets eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping your purchase.

Priority mail is available upon request, please wait for my invoice with the appropriate shipping total via Ebay before making payment.

Payment must be received within 5 days from the close of an auction item or date of set sale purchase. If you can not meet my payment schedule please e-mail me with your needs. I only ask that you keep me informed. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers. If there are any other needs of your purchase please e-mail me before you make your payment and I will do my best to accommodate them.

INTERNATIONAL Shipping:

I ship worldwide. All packages listed prior to July 20, 2020 will ship via First-Class Package International Service (this is the cheapest method available to me); multiple item purchases of 4 pounds or more must ship Priority Package International Service).

Items listed after July 20, 2020 for international destinations may ship via eBay’s Standard International Shipping Service, though the shipping category will display First Class Package International Service. This is a new service implemented by eBay in conjunction with the USPS. As of July 1, 2020 the USPS is no longer offering tracking to many countries for First Class Package International Service (those countries that do will continue being shipped via First Class Package International Service). This will be the only way to get tracking to most international destinations unless you want to pay the higher rate for Priority or Global Express. Tracking for this service can only be monitored through your eBay account (not direct through the USPS website). As we transition to this program I will adjust the shipping charges as necessary and would appreciate any customer comments on this service. The plus here is having tracking available without the expense of higher class mail rates, though this does involve an additional step in handling. This is also new to me so check with eBay for further details on this international shipping service.

Shipping Price for Single or Double CDs via First Class Package International Service (does not include box sets or non-standard packaging). Standard International Service will ship at the same below rates; adjustments will be made as I become more familiar with this service:

Canada:  $11.50

Europe:  $14.45

Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand:  $16.85

Mexico, Central and South America:  $36.00 via Priority International Small Flat Rate Box Service with tracking (up to 3 standard jewel case CDs will fit in one small flat rate box with no additional shipping fee).

NOTE:  Multiple item shipping charges will be determined by weight. Based on the latest international postal rate increase for multiple item packages weighing 9 oz. to 16 oz add an additional 62% of the base rate to estimate the total shipping cost. If the total weight of your package is 8oz. or less you will be charged the base rate for a single item (most digi-paks and some jewel case releases will ship two for 8oz or less). This also applies to packages weighing 9oz to 16oz. For example 4 standard jewel case CDs usually weigh just under 16 oz. (this includes the standard corrugated mailer), if you lived in the UK your shipping cost would be (approx) $14.45 + 62% = $24.90 for shipping. I will gladly estimate your shipping costs before you make your purchase. Include the specific titles you are considering with your request.

Payment for all customers will now be handled by eBay's managed payment service (effective the earliest in mid-July of 2020). Make sure your payment preference meets eBay's payment options before you purchase to avoid any delays in shipping your purchase. All international payments are due in US $ only. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of bidding or date of purchase.

I have been shipping records and CDs around the world for over 35 years, so purchase with confidence. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers with additional inside packing layer. If security is a major concern then please request Registered Mail, available upon request and at your expense (required on all bids/purchases totaling $100 or more; this will be included with the invoiced shipping total). Priority Mail International and Global Express Mail International are available upon your request and at your expense. If you have any questions please e-mail me. If there are any other needs of your purchase please e-mail me prior to making your payment and I will do my best to accommodate them.

*ALL CUSTOMERS*  

HANDLING TIME: 

Packages are usually shipped with in 24-hours, excepting weekends and holidays. NOTE:  This is not the same thing as delivery time, which begins once a package is turned over to the post office; averaging 3-7 business days for US delivery and 5 days to 3 weeks for international delivery. International delivery is largely determined on how long it takes your local customs to process its mail.

RETURN POLICY:

Please e-mail me with specific details and I will get back to you with your options. I ask that if there is a problem with the item that you contact me as soon as possible after receiving it. Any item that must be returned is done so at the buyer’s expense, unless it is defective or it not as described; you can initiate a return request and prepaid mailing label through your eBay account of the sale to post the return. Any refund, exchange, or substitution/credit will be at the buyer’s choice, but not made until the original item is received back by me; in the condition as stated in the item description. 

NON-ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES:

US Customers:  Please wait at least two weeks from the confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. All packages are shipped with confirmation/tracking via eBays shipping program, you will receive an automatically generated shipping notice via eBay with your tracking number or check your “My eBay”.

INTERNATIONAL Customers:  Please wait at least 3 weeks from the confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. If security is your concern please have your package registered (at your expense). I do my best to quickly post packages, but once the package is in the hands of the world’s postal system it is beyond my control. Most delayed/lost packages have disappeared/been delayed after they have reached their destination country.

ALL CUSTOMERS:  If there is a problem with your purchase please e-mail me first with details before filing a resolution.