(radio-active III) RADIO BROADCAST/INTERVIEWS 1993-2012

Radio Sessions, Live Broadcast/Recordings & Interviews 1993-2012

(Through The Past Darkly Revisited)

Let me present to you something that goes unsolved for such a long time....

Last year, January 2011 (see link: through-past-darkly ) I published a post on the "Big Hits" prototype picture discs made ​​in (probably July/August ?) 1969, rarely seen and mentioned by collectors... Recently, I had the good fortune to share some exclusive info with two new friends, curious about how I knew about these less-known prototypes. Personally, I knew little more than what I´ve published, and I was surprised when contacted with all accuracy of the details, the correct number of pressings/runs (to believe in GOLDMINE guide) and, especially, by their professional CV. I'm going to transcribe some relevant shared info so that there is no doubt about what we are describing in here:

Goldmine © 1996 by Neal Umphred - all rights reserved

According to Tmanblues who owns these prototypes;

"(...) there were actually two runs of these picture discs, first run has the Stones Big Hits - Green Grass picture on one side and Ten Yearts After´Ssssh on the other side with various cuts of non-Stones music to test the sound quality...This was the first run. After the test was done a second run that has the Through the Past Darkly music on both sides. I have one of the first run and one of the second run (...)

(...) I believe there were a total of 15 between the first run and second run. The problem was that it was basically a cardboard picture under the clear vinyl and the clear vinyl did not hold the quality of the music, which is why the project was scrapped (...)"

Goldmine © 1996 by Neal Umphred - all rights reserved

"(...) I originally had 3 discs or 20% of the original 15. As I noted one was prototype 1 and had Green Grass and Sssshh on the two sides for pictures and various cuts of music (non-Stones) just to test the vinyl with country western, classical, jazz etc... I had two (discs) of the Prototype 2 which had the entire Through The Past Darkly music on both sides with a Stones picture on one side and Ten Years After on the other. Here is where we get sketchy, I only had three, that is all I ever had, so I can't tell you about the other twelve (discs). If I recall correctly the one I gave to sixtiestoyguy was one of the prototype 2's and it has Green Grass with the Sssshh pictures on the two sides but the Through The Past Darkly music on both sides. Since I had the prototype 1 with the Green Grass/ Sssshh picture, I kept the prototype 2 with the Through The Past Darkly/Stonedhedge picture and the Through The Past Darkly music on both sides. No serial #'s numbers to my knowledge, they were just tests copies to see if the idea would work. I don't even think you can play them any more as the music deteriorated off (...)"

"(...) I can not tell you what the picture/music was on the other twelve (discs). Never saw them, just the three I got. Now as far as the company manufacturing them and my Dad's work at that time, if I remember correctly my Dad was working for the custom manufacturing department for CBS records and they were being manufactured for Atlantic Records. I believe that to be correct, but my Dad could have been working for PRC Manufacturing who did custom manufacturing (they did the manufacturing of Zappa's Barking Pumpkin labels) as the record they produced was slightly higher grade than average manufacturing and Zappa was a freak about the quality of the disc, but I think that was a couple of years later. After Zappa sued Warner Bros and got the rights to his WB catalog back, he put them out in three (or was it two, me thinks it was three) different 10 record box sets. I have set 2 autographed saying "Merry Xmas Frank Zappa"). So I believe it was his CBS Records custom pressing days (...) PRC Manufacturing was also a leader in introducing the CD to the American market place. PRC stood for Phillips Recording Company, part of Phillips in the Netherlands ????...not sure, long time ago (...)"

"(...) I am no expert on matrix numbers and it is sorta hard to read but on prototype 1 various cuts of music,

High Tides and Green Grass 

39351 WS171,1A .ID or 39351 WS1741 .ID

This one is hand inscribed hence the question of either or...

Ssssh

XSM150221 -1C

Stonedhenge

This one is block number/letters on prototype 2; Stones-music on both sides

ZAL 9134

Through The Past Darkly

This one is harder as it is partially cut off at the top but I am going to assume it says
ZAL 9133 - these are both hand inscribed (...)"

"(...) has already checked out the matrix and agrees on the Through The Past Darkly music picture disc are London Records #'s and also agrees that the numbers on the prototype 1 are useless since they are just various cut of music thrown together (...)"

According to sixtiestoyguy:

"(...) Tman knows of which he speaks. His father would frequently come home with test discs, new artists, etc... and he gave one of those first run Stones discs to me, too. However, I sold mine during the hey-day of picture disc collecting. My memory says that we were told seven discs in total were made, not fifteen. Apparently, these were created to test a way to graphically imprint the disc, negating the need for costly exterior packaging. Unfortunately, the lamination technology was not up to the task at that point in time; it would be a decade before picture disc technology was mastered (...)"

Hold on now, you freaky Stones maniacs;

Tmanblues says:

"(...) I am willing to sell at this point (...) They need to be sold as a set, so in answer both (...)"

(...If U R tuff enuff 2 make an offer, just let us know...)

*The Rolling Stones: 50*

The Rolling Stones 50th anniversary photography exhibition called The Rolling Stones: 50 is set to open at London's Somerset House this summer.The free exhibition will be held from July 13-August 27, from 10am – 6pm daily and selected late night openings, in the landmark venue's East Wing Galleries, London's Somerset House. The exhibition will show a host of unseen and rare photographs, including more than 70 prints, with live shots, studio images and reportage pictures on display as well as contact sheets and negative strips.This event coincides with the release of the book The Rolling Stones: 50 and visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to purchase copies of the book as well as limited edition prints and other merchandise.

A statement posted to the band’s website reads: ‘This is our story of fifty fantastic years. We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we’ve filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago’

Mick, Keith, Charlie & Ronnie

(start me up)

The Rolling Stones' Start Me Up has been selected as timepiece firm Omega's Olympics anthem.

Omega's official time-keeper of the Summer Games in London and Start Me Up the soundtrack for their official Olympics ad campaign.

Omega President Stephen Urquhart: "Just as the Beatles represent the Liverpool scene, the Rolling Stones represent the London scene of the 60s, 70s and beyond. We're really tapping into London and its musical heritage."

Start-Me-Up

For Demo Only

WARNING:

Some fake acetates/test-pressings appeared in the market in the last years, and its getting worse with fake promo
CD-Rs some with nice printed labels looking like an original, like the following examples pictured below 
My advice is to confirm all the details, such as labels and matrix numbers

and record companies with collectors before buy any of those

Diddley Daddy  (Emidisc) fake 1-track 10" acetate

Andrew´s Blues (Regent Sound) fake 1-track acetate

Carol/ Walking The Dog (DECCA) fake 2-track 7" acetate

Out Of Time (DECCA) fake 1-track 7" acetate

Child Of The Moon (DECCA) fake 1-track 7" acetate

Sticky Fingers (TRIDENT STUDIOS) fake 12" acetate

We Were Falling In Love ( ) bootleg record

Used as bonus single in a compilation album this 2002 bootleg reproduces the real acetate label

Terrifying/Rock And A Hard Place ( ) fake NL/US 2-track promo CD

At least 2/3 counterfeit "promos" were made from this edition,

at the left the fake Dutch CD, on the right the fake US CD

Terrifying/Rock And A Hard Place (CBS) original US 2-track promo CD

(from Andre Verhoeven collection)

Angie/Dead Flowers/Sweet Virginia (live) ( ) fake US 3-track promo CD

(from Andre Verhoeven collection)

STILL LIFE 2009 Remastered Sampler ( ) fake US 12-track promo CD

Produced in US and sold as originals, these promo series have two incorrect releases, the

STILL LIFE and the NO SECURITY albums which weren´t released as UNIVERSAL promo issues ever

"Fourty Licks"

Love Is Strong/(other artist) ( ) fake pict sleeve

This and others late 80´s/90´s Italian jukebox singles were housed in white paper sleeve only

(fake 60´s Italian "Gettone D´Oro" jukebox singles sleeves do exist also)

Forty Licks ( ) Holland bootleg 3-LP box set

Unauthorized numbered 3-LP box set includes fold-out pict and "Tongue" logo shaped record cleaner

Note the misprinted FOURTY LICKS on label

Also exist Rock And Roll Circus double LP set sold as original (officially there´s no LP edition for these releases)

Shine A Light ( ) bootleg pict disc

Unauthorized 2x12" pict disc sold by mail order only

Sympathy For The Devil/YCAGWYW ( ) bootleg 12" record

Fake 12" promo maxi-single w/ repro RSR label circa 2010

Plundered My Soul/All Down The Line ( ) fake pict sleeve/record

Fake red-brown marbled vinyl with similar labels as original w/ add notes "Radio Mix" and "Alternate Take"

If You Can´t Rock Me

An Interview With Mick Jagger By Tom Donahue  fake pict sleeve/record
On the left side the original, the counterfeit´s on right side

Another chance to compare the original with the brighter and blurred fake label on the right

Hot Stuff/Crazy Mama  bootleg 12" maxi-single

Counterfeit red & white, "splash" B&B vinyl and some similar labels,

with or without "TM" under Stones tongue logo

SEE LINK ON RollingStonesVaults

HotStuff

If You Can´t Rock Me/Get Off Of My Cloud/ Brown Sugar

Jumping Jack Flash/Hot Stuff (live)  bootleg pict disc
Note: don´t be fooled, don´t matter what´ey say, never existed an authorized
pressed promo Dutch, US or UK pict disc of this one!

Fake promo picture disc

Beast Of Burden + Before They Make Me Run ( ) fake pict sleeve
Perfect repro-counterfeit copies of rare 1978 45s