WCF got its start in 1970, likely in/around the state of Illinois and was very active from 1970 – 1974. Clinton Heylin attributes WCF to an Ian Sippen based in the UK but this must have been a misunderstanding. They did not give themselves a name until ca. 1975 when they chose Berkeley Records.
This is an attempt at classifying the earliest WCF titles based on matrix numbers, labels and slip sheet characteristics and is a work. A large number of these early WCF titles are quite scarce and must not have been pressed in large numbers as WCF was busy churning out release after release. Some of these were repressed around 1973-75 in fold-out covers that had a picture of the artist on the back panel.
Presentation-wise, their development progressed like this: (1970) A few stamped covers – (1971) inserts (double albums in gatefold covers with blank white inner panels) – adding their trademark “Compatable (sic) For Stereo)” slogan – (1971) dropping the slogan – wrap around inserts – (1973-75) folder style covers, either with inserts or printed ones, at times these were recycled from other releases) – 1975/6: Berkeley uses deluxe b&w covers only.
Each title will be presented in detail. Many releases were “copy jobs” and a few even pirates of officially released albums. WCF was responsible for a few original titles and out of all the classic first generation labels they did the most Grateful Dead bootlegs, around 1972. This series will help determine exactly how many.
If you have any further information, please leave a comment.
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Part 1: Single ‘non-fold-out’ covers
a. stamped covers
LS-1 THE BAND – LIVE BAND # ONE (+ insert, later issues?)
YB-1 YOUNGBLOODS – TURNING ON THE SUNSHINE (later repressed as: Youngbloods Hit The Live Trail 2,000 Miles From Nowhere)
(NRV-6 CHICAGO – THE WINDY CITY NOVEMBER 26 1970) – previously shown here
103 BOB DYLAN – MOTORCYCLE (released in 1971)
b. “Stereo/Compatible For Stereo” (+/or Customized Labels) Series
Labels were produced in a number of bright colors with silver writing, often using a title that related to the artist in some direct or indirect way. This led to the editors of the HOTWACKS book to christen the label with the ill-fitting name “White Cover Folks”; they were obviously not the only ones using blank white covers at this time.
LB-1 BEATLES – LET IT BE LIVE
KUM BACK #1 – WCF BEATLES – KUM BACK!
RP-23 BEATLES – GET BACK TO TORONTO
RP-24 BEATLES & ROLLING STONES – BATTLE
25/26 CSNY – LIVE AT L.A. FORUM 2 LP (rec. 26 June ’70)
27 THE WHO – UNRELEASED (pirate)
28/29 JIMI HENDRIX – LIVE AT THE FORUM 2LP’s (rec. 25 April ’70)
30/31 LED ZEPPELIN – BLUEBERRY HILL 2 LP
32/33 ROLLING STONES – EUROPEAN TOUR – 1970 – LIVE (rec. 7 October 1970)
34/35 THE BAND – LIVE IN CALIFORNIA # 2 (rec. 10 July ’70)
36 SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – GREATEST HITS LIVE (rec. September 1970, WCF orig.)
37 (39) BOB DYLAN – STEALIN’ / JIMI HENDRIX – HENDRIX LIVE HAWAII Hen 37
38 MOODY BLUES – LIVE ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON (rec. Dec. 1970, US Tour, WCF orig.)
40/41 BOB DYLAN – GREAT WHITE WONDER 2 LP
101 BEATLES – LAST LIVE SHOW
102 ROLLING STONES – STONED – M.S.G. (WCF orig.) / BEATLES – YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD
103 BOB DYLAN – MOTORCYCLE (no insert exists)
104 V.A. – FILLMORE EAST FINAL CONCERT (3304 matrix as a reissue in a folder-style cover)
c. 500 series
501 ELTON JOHN – SUPER STAR – LIVE
502 BYRDS – LIVE AT BUDDY’S IN ENGLAND (WCF orig.)
503/504 BOB DYLAN – THE VILLAGER 2 LP’s (WCF orig.)
505 ELTON JOHN – GULLIVER’S GONE (pirate)
506 CSNY – OHIO
507 BOB DYLAN – KINDEST CUT
509 BOB DYLAN – ISLE OF WIGHT
510 BEATLES – LIVE CONCERT AT WHISKEY FLATS
? ROLLING STONES – GIMME SHELTER
d. 700 series
707 JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE CLAPTON – MAYALL BAKER – BRUCE
JJ-713 JANIS JOPLIN – WICKED WOMAN (WCF orig.)
CC-714 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST (WCF orig.)
DD-715 DONOVAN – LIVE AT THE REEDY RIVER JUNCTION
BG-716 BUCHANAN & GOODMAN – The Flying Saucer Story Vol. One (pirate)
717 ROLLING STONES – STONED AGAIN
718 PROCOL HARUM – THE ELUSIVE PROCOL HARUM
719 KINKS – RARE
720 YARDBIRDS – ON DOWN
723 JIMI HENDRIX – GOODBYE JIMI
724 LEON RUSSELL – THE MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME
725 LEON RUSSELL – LIVE AT ANAHEIM CALIF / 725 BEATLES – RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS
726 BEATLES – RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS 2
727 CAT STEVENS – CATNIP
728 BEATLES – RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS 2
730 LEON RUSSELL – Recorded Live From An Earlier Broadcast
731/732 NEIL YOUNG – I’m Happy That Y’all Came Down 2 LP’s
731 NEIL YOUNG – Live on Sugar Mountain 1
732 NEIL YOUNG – Live on Sugar Mountain 2 or Live on Sugar Mountain February 1, 1971
734/735 JAMES TAYLOR – Tailor Made
736 THE WHO – Instant Party
737 EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – 21st Century Schizoid Rock
738 V.A. – Woodstock Nation
739 GRATEFUL DEAD – Live Dead Spring Tour 1971
740/1 JANIS JOPLIN – Get It While You Can 2 LP’s
743 GRATEFUL DEAD – Ain’t It Crazy
744 BOB DYLAN – Looking Back 1
745 BOB DYLAN – Looking Back 2
750 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – UP AGAINST THE WALL MOTHER
751 GRATEFUL DEAD – recorded LIVE in concert
752 SMALL FACES & ROD STEWART – Best of Rod Stewart and the SMALL FACES
773 DYLAN, BOB – G.W.W. “JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY BLUES”
774 DYLAN, BOB – STEALIN’
777 J.GEILS BAND – Live From Germany (Pirate)
801 YOUNG, NEIL – IN CONCERT 1
802 YOUNG, NEIL – IN CONCERT 2
804/5 DEEP PURPLE – MADE IN JAPAN (Pirate)
901 JETHRO TULL – US TOUR APRIL 1972
902 ROLLING STONES – THE STONES AMERICAN TOUR IN L.A. 1972
999 BEATLES – LIVE AT NASSAU COLLESEUM / LIVE FROM GERMANY
e. 4-digit series
1010 NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE – s/t
1806 DAVID BOWIE – in concert. 1
1807 DAVID BOWIE – in concert. 2
1973 LED ZEPPELIN – Going To California
2222 GRATEFUL DEAD – Turn On Your Love Light
2233 GRATEFUL DEAD – “Central Park, Fillmore East, Action House”
2235 JIM HENDRIX – ‘SCUSE ME WHILE I KISS THE SKY
2244 GRATEFUL DEAD – Sugaree
2253 JETHRO TULL – MY GOD
2255 GRATEFUL DEAD – DARK STAR
2266 GRATEFUL DEAD – Sugar Magnolia
2299 THE WHO – collector’s item
3304 Various Artists – Fillmore East Last Final Concert
4011 ROLLING STONES – Beautiful Delilah
4022 Harrison/Starr/Preston/Russell/Dylan – BANGLA DESH
4033 JAMES TAYLOR – November ’72
4044 JAMES TAYLOR – LIVE NEW YORK – Nov. 1972 Taylor, James November ’72
4045 Rolling Stones – LiveR Than You’ll Ever Be
4046 SANTANA – Live
4047 SANTANA – Collector’s Item
4048 MOODY BLUES – october 1972
6969 GRATEFUL DEAD – ACOUSTIC DEAD
FC-8888 JETHRO TULL – FLUTE CAKE
BD 002 BOB DYLAN – VISIONS OF JOHANNA
BD 509 BOB DYLAN – JOHN BIRCH
f. Miscellaneous
CSNY – Wooden Nickel XYZ 123 / Dittolino matrix ?
CSNY – Lid?
BOB DYLAN – Looking Back 2 blank white / Down Home
BOB DYLAN– Million Dollar Bash
PS 1/2 PAUL SIMON – Solo
31 W-A/B HM-PART – 1/2 BOB DYLAN – ISLE OF WIGHT (add. matrix; ‘BEAVER REC. 104701/2’ ‘MOTION’)