The first Beatles as a group CD release from the Vigotone camp albeit a subsidiary that they used for all their 1991 releases , and what an absolute cracker. Whilst it remains of core status after over 14 years this is now in respect of the John Demos.
This is a very rare title , I have only seen it for sale once at silly prices and only a few more listings for it.
The cover artwork was also used for the 1993 Vigotone reissue, but NOT the 1994 Howdy reissue. See images below.
The tray artwork is unique to this German pressed original.
None of the artwork variations list track 26 , Happiness Is A Warm Gun recorded at John and Yoko's Montreal Bed In during May 1969 ,could this be why it is not listed? This has been lifted from a Home Video, which has no doubt now been copied to budget DVD, which should be your source, to include the visual aspect.
The disc has two clear parts ' Esher Demos' recorded at George's house in May 1968 and a collection of Johns Demo's including Solo only efforts. The 'Esher material was originally core material but this material can now be found on Vigotone's From Kinfauns to Chaos , in better quality and it is suggested that within trade circles there are improvements on this source; so why oh why NO official release?
As of 2004 Tracks 17-21 retain their 'core' status and the final listed tracks are as unremarkable and just as good here as anywhere else.
The Bootleg Zone review has track 26 including 'Because' also from the Montreal bed-in , but I have yet to confirm the existence of this version , or whether this is an error that has crept into this open database.
Some sources also list only a 25 track version, again it is unclear whether this is due the artwork track listings just been copied or if there has been a pressing error on one version, similar to Vigotone's earlier title Arrive Without Aging .
The Italian Label, The Genuine Pig has reportedly cloned this title and used the artwork as a base for their 1994 release. Whilst they should have been able to produce an audio clone, their past history is not good and I wouldn't be surprised if there has been a loss of quality. |
CD 555-04 1.1387-A2 
