SUPER STUDIO SERIES
In late 1976 CBM, almost reaching the end of his activity as a bootlegger, released two series of repressings of some of his records, often combining one side of a record with one side of another record. One of the series was named SUPER STUDIO SERIES, the other was named SUPER LIVE CONCERT SERIES. The former included 5 titles, and only the first one was pressed from new stampers. Four out of the 5 records had a custom slipsheet with title, track listing and the Godzilla or King Kong logo, often added to a generic slipsheet derived from the NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS, indicating SUPER STUDIO SERIES.
The records were realized at the plant that produced good quality vinyls, with inner pressing ring at 7 mm from the spindle hole, and the labels were big Godzilla on red background, light blue Shalom and orange Instant Analysis.
These are the five volumes of the SUPER STUDIO SERIES.
HI HO SILVER!
SUPER STUDIO SERIES 1
Matrix Number: WEC S-4438-A GT-8410-A / 4438-B GT-8410-B
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SIDE A
1. GET BACK
2. TENNESSEE
3. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
4. COMMONWEALTH
5. GET OFF!
6. I THREW IT ALL AWAY/MAMA YOU BEEN ON MY MIND
7. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
SIDE B
8. HONEY HUSH
9. SUZY PARLOUR
10. NO PAKISTANIS
11. DON'T LET ME DOWN
12. I'VE GOT A FEELING
13. FOR YOU BLUE
14. MOVE IT/GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT
15. TWO OF US
16. LET IT BE
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Source:
1 to 5, 8 to 13, 16: from SWEET APPLE TRAX VOL. 1
6, 7, 15: from SWEET APPLE TRAX VOL. 2
COMMENTS AND RELEASES
This is the only record in the series prepared from newly made masters. It includes a compilation derived from the SWEET APPLE TRAX volumes. The only known release came with a slipsheet with approximate titles and the King Kong logo, printed on light yellow paper. The record had the big Godzilla labels on red background and the back cover had another insert with a Beatles picture printed on blue paper.
DECCA AUDITION OUTTAKES
SUPER STUDIO SERIES 2
2-LP SET
Matrix Number: WEC 3640-A / WEC 3640-B (disc 1) WEC 3641-A / WEC 3641-B
COMMENTS AND RELEASES
The second volume is a direct repressing of the two LPs STUDIO SESSIONS VOL. 1 and VOL. 2. Of course, there is no relation with the Decca tapes, these are BBC recordings.
The first pressing had the usual slipsheet printed on light yellow paper, in this case with the Godzilla logo. The discs had the big Godzilla labels, with A/B/C/D side indications, and the generic insert, printed in blue to red colors, was added to the back cover.
As far as we know, this is the only volume of the series that had versions with different covers or disc labels.
One version had the first disc with the orange Instant Analysis label and the second with the C/D Godzilla labels; this version had the insert printed on a bright yellow or orange paper.
More interesting, and extremely rare, is a version with a faint rubber-stamp saying DECCA AUDITION OUTTAKES VOL. 1&2, with a xerox titled STUDIO~SESSIONS VOL: 1+2 on the back. This version had the Godzilla labels, with A/B side indications for both discs.
REISSUE FROM NEW MASTERS
New masters were cut probably in 1977, numbered 3640-A2 / 3640-B2 for disc 1 and 3641-A2 / 3641-B2 for disc 2. The records were released in a black jacket in strong cardboard. The disc labels were plain black / plain red (disc one) and both plain black (disc two), or all plain black, or all plain white. It is not known if this is a counterfeit or a different version always released by CBM. The pressing plant is the same as the other volumes of the series.
BUMBLE WORDS
SUPER STUDIO SERIES 3
Matrix Number: WEC 3624-A / WEC 3626-A
COMMENTS AND RELEASES
The third volume was realized with a repressing of the original master of side A of HAVE YOU HEARD THE WORD for side A and the original master of side A of L.S. BUMBLE BEE for side B.
All the records seen had the orange Instant Analysis labels; the insert was printed on light blue paper, with title, track listing and a giant drawing of Godzilla. Some copies were distributed with a red strong cardboard, lacking the back cover insert, other copies used a yellow jacket, and more had a white jacket; the latter included the generic back cover printed in blue to red colors.
YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD
SUPER STUDIO SERIES 4
COMMENTS AND RELEASES
This is a version that was pressed from the stampers used for the 1976 repressings of YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD by CBM. Also the insert was the original CBM one, printed in light blue paper and with the indication SUPER STUDIO SERIES 4 added on top. On the back cover it featured the slipsheet from the New Musical Express. The disc had the Shalom label. This is a very rare release of the CBM Yellow Matter Custard.
Matrix Number: CBM 2-C1 RI 3316C / CBM2-D1 RI 3316D
CAVERN DAYS
SUPER STUDIO SERIES 5
Matrix Number: WEC-3906 A / WEC-3907 A
COMMENTS AND RELEASES
The last volume in the series includes, on side A, side A of CAVERN CLUB and, on side B, side A of ABBEY ROAD REVISITED. The only known version had the insert printed on pink paper, with track listing and the small Godzilla; the back cover had the New Musical Express slipsheet in blue to red color, and the disc had the bluish Shalom label.
INTEREST
Obviously, these bootlegs have exclusive interest for collectors. The entire series, excepting perhaps the regular versions of DECCA AUDITION OUTTAKES, is quite rare, or at least rather uncommon. The rubber-stamped copies of DECCA AUDITION OUTTAKES are extremely rare. */**/***