A BBC TV 1971 Bootleg Report, featuring Peter Grant, Pink Floyd & Yoko “power to the people” Ono (re-upload)

Speaking of Kustom Records (as mentioned in my previous post) … a holiday present to us all (thank you, Karl!).

 

I guess the transmission date is 8th of April’71, after all.

The concert Peter Grant’s talking about was Led Zeppelin’s appearance at Munich’s Circus Krone on 08 March 1970 (no recording has ever appeared of this concert).

It feels like we are watching the moment Pink Floyd’s hatred for bootlegs started.It’s quite remarkable that what is likely their first encounter with one of their bootlegs was the incredibly rare Pinky, pressed in a first pressing run of just 50 copies (matrix: DJ3003),

a UK copy of this Dutch release:

 

Matrix: XA44332/YB44332 – first edition with the misspelling “LIFE” on both sides. Second & third corrections had “LIVE/LIFE” and finally “LIVE/LIVE” on front and back.

“Atom Heart Mother” on side 1 and “Embryo” and “Interstellar Overdrive” on side 2, recorded at the Audimax in Hamburg 1970-03-12

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Re. Kustom Records: This is the US cover for the Beatles pirate JUDY

It’s preposterous to claim these tracks were copied directly from the original masters from the Abbey Road vault, as the BBC reporter sets up the story and Mr. Collins willingly indulges him (although the claim may of course originated with him).

I still believe that Kustom was mostly a US label and they were only to happy to sell Collins a few hundred records and he had his own b&w knock off covers printed based on the original designs.

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Jimi Hendrix ‘GOODBYE, JIMI’ (a WCF copy, # 723) plus the UK original receives bad press (pun intended) on both sides of the Atlantic

Also exists with red&white and b&w inserts.

USA: 2nd half of 1971 to early ’72

 

Sources:

The Infromthestorm site states: “BBC Sessions, London 1967 / […] / Atwood Hall, Clark University, Worcester, MA 15.03.68; 2nd Show / “Happening For Lulu”, BBC TV Centre, London 04.01.69″

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The Kustom Records US copy, # 005, released between late 1970 and April of ’71:

 

Kustom Records still confuses me a bit. It’s almost as if they were active on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously (A Jeffrey Collins can be seen in a BBC report from 1971, stating he imports the discs from the USA and sleeves are added in the UK).

This particular release looks like a US release to me, compared to their European ones, which had printed covers, and was only sold by US-based sellers on eBay.

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The UK original live experience 1967 – 68 (‘VOODOO CHILE’), matrix: JHBL A1 / JBHL B :

 

It came with a leaflet that Kustom Records (and Berkeley) would use for their inserts.

 

This unauthorized UK release received quite a bit of flak in the mainstream press, likely helping prompt a good deal of financial concern and the BBC report shown below.

Above: Melody Maker, UK, 12/1970 – below: Billboard magazine, US, 26 November 1970:

In April 1971, Billboard reports that 13,944 copies were pressed.

 

 

Finally, the (velvet) hammer came down – from Melody Maker, April 3rd, ’71:

We know from the BBC report that Jeffrey Collins imported Kustom Records discs without covers from the US and it seems obvious that he passed Kustom a copy of the UK bootleg, which then ended up as their release # 005, shown above.

However, in the end it was all for naught:

[thanks to jimihendrixcollector.com for some of these articles!]

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Also copied by TMOQ in the US and released around June of 1971 as 71019 (matrix: JH107A/B):

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CBM copied part of Kustom’s insert for their first version of their RAINBOW BRIDGE release (# 3213) from 1972:

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Patti Smith and a copy of Goodbye, Jimi:

 

 

 

The Elusive Procol Harum (a WCF original, # 718)

 

USA: 1971/2

Pressed in larger quantities than the preceding three titles in WCF’s 700 series.

Source:  WPLJ-FM radio broadcast from the A&R Studios in New York, 12 April 1971 during their North American tour. The date confirms my placing of the 700 series in the months between mid-1971 to early 1972.

Unfortunately, this pressing did not come out well, only earning a “Gm” rating in HOTWACKS “with the exception of ‘Fare Thee Well’, which is very poor.”.  HOTWACKS continues that this is also available on CBM 718 “from original plates”. I have never seen the CBM copy and without having compared the matrices, I would not make this claim and suggestion that there was a relationship between the two labels (other than CBM copying several of WCF’s titles, as we have seen so far).  Previously, we saw another case of identical matrix numbers for their respective copies of Led Zeppelin’s Blueberry Hill.

The correct track list is:

1 Memorial Drive
2 Still There’ll be more
3 Nothing that I didn’t know
4 Simple Sister
5 Luskus Delph
6 Shine On Brightly
7 Whaling Stories
8 Broken Barricades
9 Juicy John Pink
10 A Salty Dog
11 Whisky Train
12 Power Failure

Gary Brooker (voice & piano)
Chris Copping (Hammond organ, bass)
Robin Trower (guitar, bass)
BJ Wilson (drums)

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TMOQ later released a significant quality upgrade of the first 10 tracks with the matrix # 1844 A/B. The four digit TMOQ titles are seen as Ken’s part of the output following his ouster from TMOQ by Dub and his father.

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ROLLING STONES ‘STONED AGAIN’ (a WCF copy / pirate, # 717) + STONED AGAIN? (RS 121), “STONED” (HL-A/B) and STONED AGIN? BY THE ROCKERS (VAT-1110)

Usually found with a b&w or purple&w insert and with “Good Time”, orange title or blank white labels.

 

Update: I have since received a comment that calls into question that the orange label version is a real WCF release.

 

USA: 1971

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Around April of 1970, someone created this pirate compilation, as dbboots reports with unusual accuracy, and we have two contenders for the original version:

1. Stoned Again (by the Rockers)

Not to be mistaken by a Swedish 1970 RS bootleg named Stoned Again as well.

Single album in a white gatefold sleeve, also found with orange labels. Matrix: RS 121-A-1 / RS 122

Another reported matrix has RS-727 A-7 and RS-722

 

2. “STONED” with the matrix HL-A/B, produced in the Chicago area.

 

 

 

Label design copied by WCF, as seen in the second image. The differences in pressing are also clearly visible in this side by side presentation.

The label designer was trying hard to fool those not hip to the Stones while still very much recognizable by their fans and bootleg buyers.

Someone compiled this album using: Their first 45 DECCA F 11675 “Come On / I Want To be Loved” (“Come On” was not listed on WCF’s insert); the B-side of “Paint It Black”, “Long Long While” from 1966; took the version of “Poison Ivy” that was unique to a Saturday Club V.A. UK release (LK 4583); copied another 45: Decca F 11764 / London 45-9641 “I Wanna Be Your Man / Stoned”; grabbed two tracks off of the British EP Decca DFE 8560, “Bye Bye Johnny” & “You Better Move On”. 

Side 2 starts off with their raw take of Barett Strong’s “Money” as recorded on 14 November 1963 at De Lane Lea studios in London from their The Rolling Stones EP (DFE 8560); “I Can’t Be Satisfied” (I could not confirm if this is the same take/from the same recording session as the Rolling Stones No. 2 album) and finally what appears to be four Got Live If You Want It EP tracks: “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love”, “Pain In My Heart”, “I’m Moving On” and “I’m Alright”.  Unlike claimed by HOTWACKS, there were no outtakes on this release.

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While researching the origins of this pirate release I came across this version and thought it might be a ‘lost’ pre-TMOQ release due to a. the sticker similarity with their February 1970 release Donovan – A Gift From the Underground To a Flower – Moonshine Superman sticker version and b. the very TMOQ-like matrix of RS 121/122.

I’ve since been informed that this version likely from the UK as the same type of sticker can be found on UK versions of LiveR Than You’LL Ever Be , Dylan’s Great White Wonder & Isle Of Wight

and The Beatles – Kum Back (better quality images needed, please leave a comment if you can provide them):

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Later versions of STONED AGAIN include:

STONED AGIN! BY THE ROCKERS  – with a Robert Crumb cartoon cover and two different matrix markings: VAT-1110-A/B (blue insert- white labels) or RS-121/2 (green color insert):

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and a version released in Japan that copied the WCF insert:

“Blimp Records”and “EV 5004” being nods towards TMOQ’s Led Zeppelin – Live On Blueberry Hill release.

Also available with what looks like a deluxe cover copied from THE ROLLING STONES UK EP, DFE 8560 or may just be a home made owner job:

 

 

DONOVAN – LIVE AT THE REEDY RIVER JUNCTION (a WCF copy, # 715)

I have only found it with these ‘avocado-colored’ labels; another very limited WCF pressing.

USA: ca. 1971

Source: US TV broadcasts (Smothers Brothers 1968 and ’69) and as claimed by HOTWACKS, supposedly cuts from a Canadian concert. This is not backed by any information found on either WCF’s or TMOQ’s insert (created for their reissue), shown here, in fact it is contradicted:

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Originally only the fifth release by Ken & Dub, pre-TMOQ when they made up a new label name for each release (here: Seagull Records).

Likely the first ever bootleg on colored vinyl (colors: Green, red & gold), released ca. February 1970:

The early days of bootlegging and its copyright disclaimers. Contraband would a couple of years later try a different route and use stickers stating: “Notice of intent to use and all applicable royalties have been paid by CBM Music Norfolk, Va.” (found on British Blue Jam) or a variation found on  their copy of the Beatles – Get Back To Toronto

plus their stamp used on the Beatles – Don’t Pass Me By:

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Another version came with a different title and sticker:

 

This was later reissued as a branded TMOQ product # 71004 with an insert, stamped title and stickers.

 

 

CBM Colored Vinyl Releases Part 2 + JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE ERIC CLAPTON – GINGER BAKER – JOHN MAYALL – JACK BRUCE (WCF copy; # 707)

Based on the extra info I received yesterday – many thanks for that – here’s part two to round out the list.

While Catnip on blue PVC is not that hard to find and the other blue ones appear occasionally, the red ones seem to be much rarer and I have never seen a purple CBM record nor was I able to find one on discogs or popsike. All have in common that the pressings are on the thin side.

First up:

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
ERIC CLAPTON – GINGER BAKER – JOHN MAYALL – JACK BRUCE

“Microgroove”, a term CBM liked to put on their labels around this time, as these 1972/3 releases show:

Shown above are # 3316 (Beatles – Don’t Pass Me By), # 3426 (John Lennon/Rolling Stones – British Blue Jam), # 3552 (Beatles – Live Concert Atlanta) and from 1973 # BD 1011 (Bob Dylan – Seventy Dollar Robbery)

 

This is a pirate album containing the following tracks:

A1 –The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice
A2 –The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Highway Chile
A3 –The Graham Bond Organization – Hear Me Calling Your Name
A4 –The Graham Bond Organization – Camels And Elephants
B1 –John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – No Reply
B2 –John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – I’m A Stranger
B3 –John Mayall – Sonny Boy Blow
B4 –John Mayall – Don’t Kick Me
B5 –John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Stand Back Baby

Easily identifiable by the stamp:

but usually only identified as a CBM title in its reissued forms years later, known as CBM 4 with matrix  markings XCQ-4A / B:

The red cardboard version is WCF’s first issue of this title with its distinct WCF-style labels (for a change also using the term “Microgroove”, which makes me think the red PVC copy shown first was also the original issue):

Matrix list: XCQ-4 – MB-1 – MB-2 / 707, 707 A /B and XCQ-4-B 707

Reissued ca. 1973 in WCF’s typical folder-style cover with blank white labels and a 707 A/B matrix:

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Second: radiocord / elton john

The blank back above. Also exists on black PVC:

This did not really look like a CBM release to me when I first came across it but their version with the pirate logo on the insert has the same matrix number (35-4000 A/B).

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allman brothers / duane allman – statesboro blues (# 3910, released 1973)

Also exists in purple.

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Finally, the missing colors for these two titles:

• Cat Stevens – Catnip  (# 3275, rel. 1972) – > on red vinyl
• Jethro Tull – ticketron (# 3436, rel. 1972) – > on red and purple vinyl

 

If you have images of any of these, please leave a comment, thanks.

 

 

Another CBM colored vinyl title surfaces – and it’s red!

That’s what I love about researching this topic: There are still so many details that we don’t know.

In this case, we knew the that Contraband had released four titles on colored PVC and they were all blue:

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So, today, I come across this eBay auction (still active for another 5 days at the time I’m writing this):

I thought maybe it’s a trick of the light (to quote The Who)…

… but no, there’s no doubt, that record is RED!

What else may be out there?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rod-Stewart-The-Faces-Plynth-Contra-Band-Music-CBM-3A-NOT-TMOQ-EX/272962318086?hash=item3f8dd26f06:g:Ng8AAOSwsI9aIFQc