Roger Nichols & The Small Circle Of Friends

Roger Nichols & The Small Circle Of Friends

Universal Music Group | CAT #: PROT-7446

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Est. Shipping Date: November 6, 2026
Packaged with care in Whiplash Mailer or Equivalent

$69.99 USD

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Format LP

Color Clear Purple

DESCRIPTION

Landmark of soft rock
Newly remastered from original US master tapes and pressings
Album produced by Tommy LiPuma, renowned for his work with numerous legendary artists

A landmark of soft rock, presented here with a striking and immersive monaural sound. An absolute masterpiece, where refined melodies intertwine with vibrant and colorful choral arrangements.

Originally released in the US in 1968, this is a rare audition pressing manufactured and distributed in limited quantities exclusively for radio stations. At a time when radio was the primary medium for promotion and many AM stations had yet to support stereo broadcasting, only a small number of these “lost mono mix” editions were produced. This release stands as a valuable document preserving that original sonic image.

Highlights include “Don’t Take Your Time”, featuring the distinctive pizzicato strings, and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” with its vividly resonant harpsichord refrain. Also included is a beautifully arranged rendition of The Beatles’ “I’ll Be Back.” A standout track is “Love So Fine,” where the brass section drives the song forward with powerful momentum, sparked by an expressive drum pickup fill.

The album was produced by Tommy LiPuma, renowned for his work with numerous legendary artists. The arrangers include Nick DeCaro, Bob Thompson, and two additional contributors, forming a formidable creative team. Notably, Randy Newman and Van Dyke Parks are also credited—across label boundaries—as morale boosters, adding a charming touch to the project.

Text by Kenjiro Tsutsumi (223 Music Lab.)

Newly mastered using high-resolution 96kHz/24bit WAV sourced from the original US master tapes and original US pressings.

DETAILS

ARTIST: Roger Nichols & The Small Circle Of Friends
LABEL: Universal Music Group
CAT NO: PROT-7446
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2026
EST. SHIP DATE: November 6, 2026
GENRE / STYLE:

Soft Rock
Soft Rock
Pop

TRACKLIST

1. Don’t Take Your Time
2. With a Little Help from My Friends
3. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
4. I Can See Only You
5. Snow Queen
6. Love So Fine
7. Kinda Wasted Without You
8. Just Beyond Your Smile
9. I’ll Be Back
10. Coconut Grove
11. Didn’t Want to Have to Do It
12. Can I Go

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CREDITS

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Let customers speak for us

from 45 reviews

The Best Thing We've Heard in a Long Time

I absolutely LOVE this soundtrack! I'd asked an AI for some chilled-out pieces or soundtracks based on my taste for Sigur Rós and Low Roar, and Volker Bertelmann's score for All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the suggestions. I fell in love with it the minute I heard that repeated, haunting melody. He keeps coming back to it, and the moments he chooses to bring it back are what make it so powerful. The rest of the music is brilliant too. The whole thing just works, and it was worth the trouble it took to track down a new copy and the money I paid for it.
My wife works from home in an open loft upstairs, so she hears everything I play. When I got home from work, this had been delivered, so I logged it, put it on, and turned it up to a serious level. When it was time to flip to side B, she yelled down, "What was that? It was amazing!" After it was over she came downstairs to look at the cover and ask more about it. We both agreed it was the best thing we'd heard in a long time.
If you like atmospheric, emotional music that stays with you, get this one. Five stars, easily.

Mark Schminke

10/11/2026