GET BACK JOURNALS
11 colored vinyl LP box set
Company: TMOQ Records
Matrix Numbers: see individual records
Release Date: December 1986
Country: USA
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DISC 1 TO 3: A copy of THE BEATLES BLACK ALBUM, pressed from stampers derived from the original masters, renumbered 2R-75-A / 2R75B // 2R75C / 2R75D // 2R·76·A / 2R·76·B.
DISC 7 SIDE B matrix 2R78-B
1. “NEWS REPORT” (John reading newspaper)
2. EVERY NIGHT
3. DIG A PONY (false start)
4. DIG A PONY / WATCH YOUR STEP
5. NEW ORLEANS
6. MADMAN
7. DIG A PONY (incomplete)
8. HIGH-HEELED SNEAKERS/JAM
9. MILK COW BLUES (incomplete)
10. LITTLE QUEENIE
11. WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
12. QUEEN OF THE HOP
DISC 8 SIDE A matrix 2R78-C
1. ALL I WANT IS YOU
2. EARLY IN THE MORNING/ HULLY GULLY
3. JAM (with Paul reading newspaper)
4. JAM/THIRTY DAYS
5. TOO BAD ABOUT SORROWS/JAM
6. DIG A PONY (incomplete)
7. I’M READY
8. PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG
9. DIG A PONY (incomplete)
10. SHOUT!
11. DIG A PONY
12. THE WILLIAM SMITH BOOGIE
13. JAM (with Paul talking)
14. DIG A PONY (intro only)
15. YOU’VE GOT ME THINKING
16. I’VE GOT A FEELING (incomplete)
DISC 8 SIDE B matrix 2R78D
1. SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM
WINDOW
2. DON’T LET ME DOWN (incomplete)
3. I’VE GOT A FEELING (incomplete)
4. OCTOPUS’S GARDEN
5. GET BACK (rehearsals)
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DISC 9 SIDE A martix 2R-79A
1. I’VE GOT A FEELING (incomplete)
2. HELP!/PLEASE PLEASE ME
3. INSTRUMENTAL (guitar solo)
4. GET BACK/SATISFACTION (guitar solo)
5. INSTRUMENTAL
6. INSTRUMENTAL / OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA
7. GET BACK
8. SOLDIER OF LOVE (LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS)
9. SOLDIER OF LOVE/CATHY’S CLOWN/
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN
10. LOVE IS A SWINGIN’ THING
11. ON THE ROAD TO MARRAKESH
12. TWO OF US
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DISC 9 SIDE B matrix 2R79-B
1. LET IT BE (during mikes set-up)
2. MAXWELL’S SILVER HAMMER
3. INSTRUMENTAL
4. WHEN I’M SIXTY-FOUR
5. (THERE’S A) DEVIL IN HER HEART
(incomplete)
6. DON’T LET ME DOWN (incomplete)
7. THIRTY DAYS (incomplete)
8. ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC
9. I ME MINE (practices)
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DISC 10 SIDE A matrix 2R-79C
1. LET IT BE (incomplete)
2. TO KINGDOM COME
3. DON’T LET ME DOWN (incomplete)
4. INSTRUMENTAL
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DISC 10 SIDE B matrix 2R-79-D
1. TEDDY BOY
2. TEDDY BOY (fast)
3. TEDDY BOY (practice)
4. TWO OF US (intro only)
5. POLYTHENE PAM/INSTRUMENTAL (guitar
solo)
6. INSTRUMENTAL
7. TWO OF US (incomplete)
8. MAGGIE MAE/INSTRUMENTAL (guitar solo)
9. TEDDY BOY (playback; incomplete)
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DISC 4 SIDE A matrix 2R-76-C
1. TWO OF US (rehearsals)
2. ON THE ROAD TO MARRAKESH
3. I SHALL BE RELEASED
4. SUN KING (instrumental)/DON’T LET ME DOWN
(incomplete)
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DISC 4 SIDE B matrix 2R-76D
1. SUN KING/DON’T LET ME DOWN (reprise)
2. DON’T LET ME DOWN
3. “THE TEACHER WASN’T LOOKING”
4. SUN KING (instrumental)
5. INSTRUMENTAL (with dialogue)
6. TEA FOR TWO
7. CHOPSTICKS
8. WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON
9. CRACKIN’ UP
10. ALL SHOOK UP/YOUR TRUE LOVE
11. BLUE SUEDE SHOES
12. THREE COOL CATS
13. BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND (incomplete)
14. LUCILLE (incomplete)
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DISC 5 SIDE A matrix 2R77-A
1. I’M SO TIRED
2. OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA
3. THIRD MAN THEME (with dialogue)
4. NEGRO IN RESERVE
5. DON’T LET ME DOWN
6. ONE AFTER 909
7. “WAKE UP IN THE MORNING”
8. ONE AFTER 909 (incomplete)
9. “IF TOMORROW EVER COMES”
10. “TICKLED THAT YOU LOVE ME”
11. “WON'T YOU PLEASE SAY GOODBYE”
12. BRING IT ON HOME TO ME (incomplete)
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DISC 5 SIDE B matrix 2R-77-B
1. HITCH-HIKE
2. YOU CAN’T DO THAT
3. THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE
4. TWO OF US (incomplete)
5. ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
6. INSTRUMENTAL
7. SHORT FAT FANNY
8. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
9. WHAT’S THE USE OF GETTING SOBER (WHEN
YOU’RE GONNA GET DRUNK AGAIN)?
10. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT
ME FOR?
11. MONEY (THAT’S WHAT I WANT) (instrumental)
12. GIMME SOME TRUTH
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DISC 6 SIDE A matrix 2R77-C
1. GET BACK
2. BAD BOY
3. SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN/ AROUND AND AROUND
4. ALMOST GROWN
5. SCHOOL DAY (RING! RING! GOES THE BELL)
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DISC 6 SIDE B matrix 2R77-D
1. GET BACK (incomplete)
2. INSTRUMENTAL (incomplete)
3. LADY JANE / INSTRUMENTAL
4. INSTRUMENTAL
5. INSTRUMENTAL
6. WOMAN
7. THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR
8. THIS SONG OF LOVE dialogue (w/ Peter Sellers)
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DISC 7 SIDE A matrix 2R78-A
1. TAKE THIS HAMMER
2. INSTRUMENTAL
3. JOHNNY B. GOODE (incomplete)
4. DRUM SOLO
5. I SHALL BE RELEASED
6. INSTRUMENTAL
7. I’VE GOT A FEELING(rehearsals)
DISC 11
The "GET BACK ACETATE" (various masters were used, they are listed in the description of the releases)
Source: Twickenham and Apple Studios, January 1969.
Sound Quality: VG mono, noisy pressing with hiss, ticks and pops, varying among the discs.
COMMENTS
It's difficult to comment on this release. Musically, it is today by far surpassed by the various CD releases, that give us the complete coverage of the January 1969 sessions. The idea of releasing it in a film case was surely good, particularly considering that it features the sessions that originated the Let It Be movie, so it's a fascinating collector's item. However, on critical analysis, this huge box has many flaws. First of all, it is unnecessary long. In particular, there was no reason to include the three BLACK ALBUM records, from the original masters, which were unquestionably perfectly known. The majority of the other material had already been released on VEGEMITE and in the European records I HAD A DREAM, ALMOST GROWN, SINGING THE BLUES, HER MAJESTY, despite the fact that the tapes are almost complete here, with extended versions and longer dialogue bits. Anyway, the producer who had the tapes was not aware of these previous releases. In fact, he told us "... and though I was a big Beatles fan, I didn’t pay much attention to those tapes. I listened [to] part of them and didn’t enjoy them. I do remember putting them together though, and getting all the pictures for those". It's not surprising that he did not enjoy them, because some of these takes are indeed quite boring and barely interesting. Despite this, he transferred the entire content of the tapes into the LPs. In addition, there was the useless "bonus" LP, the already well-known GET BACK ACETATE. The major flaw is, however, the poor pressing. Many of the discs, pressed on colored 125-gram vinyl, are in fact marred by unpleasant ticks and pops, even in the first pressing, that render listening rather unpleasant.
RELEASES - THE ORIGINAL PRESSINGS
December 1986. For the first three discs the producers used new stampers derived from the original mothers of the Black Album. The old matrix numbers of five of the six stampers were erased, and the new numbers 2R75 B // 2R75 C/D and 2R76 A/B were added. The stamper of disc 1, side A, was renumbered 2R75A without erasing the old numbers. We could have access to this stamper, which allows us to date the first releases.
1. December 1986. Five hundred copies were pressed on December 16 (and probably the following days, since a total of 5500 discs had to be pressed). This version was packaged in the film case (see photo below the title), with closing straps, a collage of photos on the cover and the list of the discs on the back; a history of the recording session was added to the inner part of the lid; much care was taken to the layout of the 11 LPs, which were pressed on colored, often transparent, vinyl, had custom labels with an approximate track listing, the matrix number and the disc and side reference. Unfortunately, the same care was not paid to the pressing quality. The packaging also included a full-size poster (the same already added to the BLACK ALBUM), which had a collage of photos on the front and some of the dialogues from the Get Back book on the back.
January 1987. Almost simultaneously, a second release was distributed, with 375 copies pressed at the end of December 1986 (December 30, 1986 for Disc 1 Side A). This version was not packaged in the film case, but in a cardboard container, with the same photos on the cover and the history of the sessions added to the list of discs on the back. The 11 LPs were enclosed in two black cardboard boxes and the packaging did not contain the poster. The discs inside were pressed from the same masters as the version in the film case, in different colors, and with the same labels. A further reissue of 200 copies was made in late February 1987 (Disc 1 Side A pressed February 23, 1987). A few copies were seen that had the Get Back Album with the orange generic TMOQ label and were pressed on black vinyl.
The following pressings, distributed throughout 1987 and the first half of 1988, used a new stamper for Disc 1 Side A, with the old Black Album numbers erased [this was also indicated by a writing on the sleeve of the stamper (change for new mother side A only)]. The Get Back Album was from a new master, PCS-7080-2 A / PCS-7080-2 B GEORGE + GEOFF, with a better pressing, even though the sound has less dynamics, is mastered slightly slow and has reversed stereo channels. The packaging used the film case, and possibly also the cardboard container; at least some copies lacked the poster. The discs had the same labels as the previous releases and were pressed on colored vinyl. The discs of the later copies were often on full color vinyl, and some had the Get Back Album inserted in the cover used for the single LP titled GET BACK WITH DON'T LET ME DOWN AND 9 OTHER SONGS. In some copies, when the company ran out of the custom labels, some of the records had plain white labels. Some of these boxes had the Get Back Album on a custom orange label, but others had the label used by the company at the time of the release, such as Hawk/McLen in early 1988, and often the vinyl of this disc was black.
INTEREST. Despite its many flaws in sound quality, this is a top production, that, especially in the version packaged in the film box, is a must-have for any Beatleg collection. It is still relatively available in the market. *** (film case), ** (cardboard version).
THE SUMA RELEASE AND THE DERIVED RECORDS
In early 1987 a new edition appeared under the SUMA label. This producer cut a new master for the Get Back Album at the Greg Lee plants, numbered BCS-8080-A L-27206 / BCS-8080-B L-27206-X, in decreased quality, with more ticks and pops and a worse sound. Checking the list of the masters cut at the Greg Lee plants, it is possible to date this master to March 1987. The first three records were pressed from stampers derived from the mothers of the last versions of the Black Album (those that were already renumbered 2R75A to 2R75F), whereas the remaining discs were pressed from stampers derived from the Get Back Journals masters. All these stampers were renumbered with the original numbers scratched. The overall sound quality is slightly inferior to the original records, with more ticks, pops and hiss. The new numbers were in the sequence from 8081 A / 8081 B to 8090 A / 8090 B. The discs were on colored vinyl, with custom SUMA labels with the track listings and were packaged in two black boxes put inside a cardboard container with front, spine and back photos and text identical to those used for the usual Get Back Journals. The Get Back Album was either on SUMA labels with the track listing or on generic Black Bird red labels.
The twenty sides of the ten records were jumbled and used for five double LPs, distributed in deluxe laminated jackets, with the print on the back of three of them having a rather nonsense aspect; these three appeared under the SHOGUN label, with custom labels on the discs, the remaining two had the original SUMA labels. They were titled: MAGTRAX (SUMA labels, Disc 2B / Disc 4A, Disc 5B / Disc 10B), GOLDMINE ( SUMA labels, Disc 6A / Disc 5A, Disc 9A / Disc 1B), KOOL WAX (SHOGUN 13111 labels, Disc 2A / Disc 8B, Disc 7A / Disc 6B); COMMONWEALTH (Shogun 13112 labels, Disc 1A / Disc 4B, Disc 3A / Disc 7B); Y’ORITE WACK (Shogun 13113 labels, Disc 10A / Disc 3B, Disc 8A / Disc 9B). The entire collection of the five 2-LP sets was also distributed in a box.
INTEREST. This version of the Get Back Journals is probably the worst one in terms of sound quality, and the opaque vinyl color is less attractive. The five derived LPs are only interesting for completists. **
THE VIGOTONE RELEASES
VIGOTONE made his own version of the GET BACK JOURNALS. For his release he replaced a few sides with new masters, bearing the same numbers, but whose stampers were cut at a different plant, and whose pressing marks are a ring at 12 mm from the spindle hole and another, shallower ring, at 32 mm from the spindle hole. The curious result is that some LPs have one side with a single pressing ring at 33 mm and the other sides with two pressing rings. The pressing quality of these new stampers is excellent, without ticks, pops or hiss. Vigotone had the original tapes available, so in some cases there are slight differences. These are the remastered sides: Disc 2 side A, 2R75C: 23" longer at the start. Disc 3, Side A, 2R76A: 7" longer at the start, 15" longer at the end. Disc 5 Side B, 2R77B: 9" longer at the start, 6" longer at the end. Disc 6 Side A, 2R77C: 17" longer at the start, with the indication "Roll 1052 camera B", that's missing from the original master; end clearer. Disc 6 Side B, 2R77D: same length. Disc 7 Side A, 2R78A, Disc 7 Side B, 2R78B: same length. Disc 8 Side A, 2R78C: 3" shorter at the start. The original stampers were (unfortunately) used for the other sides. Also the Get Back Album was pressed from a new master, numbered PCS 7080-A / PCS 7080-B, in excellent stereo and a very good pressing. All the records were on colored 150-gram vinyl.
Two different versions exist, a deluxe one with the film case packaging and another one with the cardboard container.
Film case packaging, probably 1993. This version had a limited run of 240 numbered copies. It included the same poster as the original TMOQ release, or, alternatively, a copy of the poster used for the fake promo Get Back Acetate AS NATURE INTENDED, and a reproduction of the Get Back book. The bonus Get Back album was inserted in its custom jacket, the usual jacket titled GET BACK WITH DON'T LET ME DOWN AND 9 OTHER SONGS. Part of these copies had the discs with the original white custom TMOQ labels, whereas the majority of them had generic labels with the drawing of an Apple, and a handwritten record number. The Get Back album of this last version had a custom label with the Apple and the GET BACK indication.
The PEGBOY version, 1995. Vigotone repressed the Journals on his label Pegboy, and released this version in a laminated cardboard container. The discs were placed inside three black cardboard jackets. This reissue lacks the poster and the Get Back book.
INTEREST. The first numbered VIGOTONE release, in the film case, is surely the best version of the GET BACK JOURNALS, both for the increased sound quality of part of the discs and also for the inclusion of the reproduction of the Get Back book (***). The Pegboy release is for completists only (**).