Beatles ‘RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS volume II’ (a WCF copy, # 726)

Many copies exist without the added ‘#726’ number on the insert.

 

Apparently, the original WCF pressing with printed labels (matrix:  GM 726 A / GM 726 B) is in stereo but the white label reissue (GM 726 B(crossed out) A / GM 726 B; alt. matrix for side B; GM R6 B) was reduced to mono, derived from the right channel of the earlier pressing. The reissue also runs slightly faster and the sides are reversed compared to the original, as indicated by the crossed out B.   

USA: End of 1971/early 1972

According to Beatlegmania Vol. 2, a copy of this pre-TMOQ release (and pendant to their Reedy River LP, sticker version):

• Matrix (Side A): Side-2-B  (starts with “The Walk”)
  
• Matrix (Side B): Side 1-A  (starts with “Across The Universe”)
  

A collection of Get Back sessions stereo mixes taken from the various 1970 bootlegs, while side two is copy of officially released material (at least in the UK, when looking at the Wildlife benefit album version of “Across The Universe”).

Someone (Ken?) continued with volumes 3 & 4, which became 100% pirates copying solo-Beatles tracks. Even WCF/pre-Berkeley released their own copy of vol. 3 as 2033.

A later TMOQ-branded version was  produced in 1972 but this must be very rare:

The Beatles ‘RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS volume I’ (more WCF #-ing confusion: # 725 (repeat) w. # 729 on label + # 728 for the RE)

I have received the following information from a Japanese collector regarding this title:

725 BEATLES – RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS I (1st press RENAISSANCE RECORDS I labels)
Matrix ; 725 A / 725 B 

However, showing 729 on the label, as seen here. Why 729 when the previous WCF release (Leon Russell) was # 724? Someone obviously made a mistake.

 

*2nd press: Plain white label
Matrix : 728 SIDE I / 728 SIDE II

For the date, it all depends on who was the originator of this series, WCF or Dub & Ken.

The TMOQ wiki states:

71025 – Beatles – Renaissance Minstrels – September 1971 – Renaissance Records labels (“Homogenized Stereo”) – RR – 1002 (matrix)

What puzzles me a bit is that they had not done a title label since Blueberry Hill and now after almost one year they went back to creating one? On the other hand, Beatlegmania Vol. Two states that Renaissance Minstrels II (WCF # 726) was a copy of TMOQ’s Homogenized Beatles 71026 and the pressings differ in the tell-tale areas, so there is little doubt that is correct.

In addition, is “Homogenized Stereo” (I assume that’s what it is supposed to say on the original TMOQ label) really correct? Isn’t it supposed to be “Renaissance Live” as shown here?

But where is the TMOQ-typical ‘deep groove’ in the label area above? This does not look like a TMOQ pressing to me. I have looked at a lot of different versions of this title – and there were a ton – but apart from the large 1/2 label with outer border and the pig-branded later ones, I have found no labels that fit the description of the TMOQ wiki.

To complete the picture, here is the cover that came with the green label:

If you can answer these questions, please leave a comment, thanks.

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For some reason & pointing to compounded confusion at WCF during this time, this reissue of volume 1 used the matrix markings of 728 SIDE I  /  728 SIDE II

 

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Here is the folder cover reissue with a blank white label, made ca. 1973/’74 – I currently do not know the matrix #’s:

 

 

 

 

Leon Russell ‘Live At Anaheim Calif’ (a WCF copy, # 725) / at anaheim 12-11-70 (Rubber Dubber 70-010)

I don’t recall too many bootleg inserts/covers showing an official release – in this case his May 1971 release Leon Russell And The Shelter People but they obviously did not want to put a hole in this beautiful image they had selected.

 

Matrix: 725A /  725 B X

 

USA: Last quarter of 1971 / 1972

A copy of sides 3 & 4 of Rubber Dubber’s at anaheim 12-11-70 (70-010) with its pop art cover design:

 

 

 

Inside of the gatefold

 

 

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‘TMOQ mk2’, i.e. Ken (due to the 4-digit matrix, here 1859 A/B) would later release their own version as well, making it the fourth title “borrowed” from a Rubber Dubber original, following their copies of the Rolling Stones – European Tour 1970, Jimi Hendrix –  Live At the Los Angeles Forum and Neil Young – Los Angeles Music Center – June 1971 :

Shown here in what appears to be a first pressing, ca. 2nd half of 1972. It exists in many different cardboard & vinyl color and label variations.

 

 

LEON RUSSELL ‘THE MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME’ (a WCF copy, # 724 – 2 diff. inserts) and ‘RECORDED LIVE FROM AN EARLIER BROADCAST’ (ditto, # 730)

WCF’s earliest ‘wrap-around’ insert?

Also exists with the following rarer insert:

 

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For comparison, this is the label of the original Zerocks Records 1971 release:

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USA: Last quarter of 1971 or 1972 (for the WCF copy)

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And the Keylo/TMOQ original label:

 

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USA: 1972 (again, for the WCF copy not the Keylo original, I wish I had an approximate release date for that one though like I have for the ‘TMOQ mk 1’ releases)

Did the fine folks at WCF know and/or care that both originals contained the same material (where they overlapped)?

Source: Leon Russell & Session – Homewood Session, Vine Street Theatre, Hollywood, CA – was originally broadcast on December 5, 1970 on KCET TV Los Angeles

One of 1971’s bootleg favorite, review it here <—- link, including the full broadcast for your viewing pleasure.