Master Tape Master List?

[Ryan L.]

Every time a CD or LP is reissued I always wonder about the sources used, and recently I got to thinking about the masters of the relatively obscure 45s we all love.

I know that there is a whole network of really serious collectors, and that said collectors often possess impossibly rare copies of great records, but are master tapes also collected and preserved? How common is it to run across master tapes from some of these "one-and-done" groups? Of course, I'm mostly talking about releases on the smaller indie labels, as my understanding is that many great garage masters on the majors (or their subsidiaries) are still known to exist.

I think it would be great for the garage/teenbeat community to have an unofficial master list of extant master tapes. Would this be worthwhile? Too big an endeavour for something that is mostly academic? Have they been copied safely to analogue and hi-res digital? I would be interested (and a little comforted) to know that they are being taken care of.

 

[Frantic]

Every time a CD or LP is reissued I always wonder about the sources used, and recently I got to thinking about the masters of the relatively obscure 45s we all love.

I know that there is a whole network of really serious collectors, and that said collectors often possess impossibly rare copies of great records, but are master tapes also collected and preserved? How common is it to run across master tapes from some of these "one-and-done" groups? Of course, I'm mostly talking about releases on the smaller indie labels, as my understanding is that many great garage masters on the majors (or their subsidiaries) are still known to exist.

I think it would be great for the garage/teenbeat community to have an unofficial master list of extant master tapes. Would this be worthwhile? Too big an endeavour for something that is mostly academic? Have they been copied safely to analogue and hi-res digital? I would be interested (and a little comforted) to know that they are being taken care of.

Every time a CD or LP is reissued I always wonder about the sources used, and recently I got to thinking about the masters of the relatively obscure 45s we all love.

I know that there is a whole network of really serious collectors, and that said collectors often possess impossibly rare copies of great records, but are master tapes also collected and preserved? How common is it to run across master tapes from some of these "one-and-done" groups? Of course, I'm mostly talking about releases on the smaller indie labels, as my understanding is that many great garage masters on the majors (or their subsidiaries) are still known to exist.

I think it would be great for the garage/teenbeat community to have an unofficial master list of extant master tapes. Would this be worthwhile? Too big an endeavour for something that is mostly academic? Have they been copied safely to analogue and hi-res digital? I would be interested (and a little comforted) to know that they are being taken care of.

Almost All the Ikon Records master tapes were found in a closet in L.A. by Alec Palao. And they were used on the IKON RECORDS STORY.

 

[Ryan L.]

Almost All the Ikon Records master tapes were found in a closet in L.A. by Alec Palao. And they were used on the IKON RECORDS STORY.

Indeed! I remember hearing about that very important find. If there is a detailed account of how it came about I'd love to read about it. I suspect that there are a lot of master tapes out there that are ripe for discovery if only the right people knew who to ask.

 

[massb]

Indeed! I remember hearing about that very important find. If there is a detailed account of how it came about I'd love to read about it. .

Check out here:

https://webstore.ugly-things.com/ugly-things-23-p39.php

 

[Ryan L.]

Check out here:

https://webstore.ugly-things.com/ugly-things-23-p39.php

Thanks!

 

[Hallucalation]

Seek out anything from Alec Palao on Big Beat. Almost all of his garage compilations are from tapes and original multitracks.

 

[Ryan L.]

Seek out anything from Alec Palao on Big Beat. Almost all of his garage compilations are from tapes and original multitracks.

Yes, his name is definitely a mark of quality on a release. I have lots of his work. But the salient point of my first post was about the collection and preservation of master tapes, and the possibility of creating a list of tapes known to still exist.

Does that idea interest people?

 

[Hallucalation]

Yes, his name is definitely a mark of quality on a release. I have lots of his work. But the salient point of my first post was about the collection and preservation of master tapes, and the possibility of creating a list of tapes known to still exist.

Does that idea interest people?

It's impossible to compile list like that (and frankly pointless) - tapes are always getting discovered.

 

[Ryan L.]

It's impossible to compile list like that (and frankly pointless) - tapes are always getting discovered.

Thanks for your response, but I feel compelled to point out that lists can be updated. And I don't think it would be pointless, even if it was never complete. For example, the fossil record isn't complete, but it's still fascinating and helpful.

 

[bosshoss]

Yes mastertapes are collected and preserved. Some of the shine wore off mastertape collecting when it was discovered that certain tape formulations rotted away even when stored carefully. And the cost and effort of maintenance of tape machines and tapes is another turn-off for a lot of people. But other people get a kick out of it. Also, the number of tapes available is not sufficient to support a collector scene of any magnitude. Values have not been established, due to the general irregularity of trading. Obviously many hundreds of mastertapes do exist, as a list of releases by Big Beat, Sundazed and Collectables would confirm. I have all the Fine Recording Studio (Rochester, NY) tapes, some are in rough condition because the studio was burned and flooded in the '70s. But at least the tapes are not rotten.

 

[13th Floor Garage]

Count me in as also fascinated with master tapes. It's still a fantasy of mine to visit a yard sale and find old reel to reel practice tapes of a cool unknown 60's band.

I do a lot of driving and make various playlists of music. A couple of these consist of non-vinyl master tape only music (weird, I know, but I'm like that). After purchasing TeenBeat Mayhem! , I was able to (by process of elimination) better determine songs that didn't reach the vinyl stage.

I include this list - just in case someone is curious. Personally, I was rather surprised at some of great songs (or alternate versions) that never went beyond a master tape.

Barons - I'll Do Anything - 1966 Ozark, Alabama
Basement Wall - Never Existed - LA, Baton Rouge
Baytovens - Luv Look Away - CA, San Leandro
Baytovens - My House - CA, San Leandro
Beefeaters - Change My Mind
Beefeaters - Don't Hurt Me - 1966 TX
Cavemen - All About Love - 1966-11 NY, Buffalo
Chains - I Cried - 1965 PA, McKeesport
Chains - Yesterday Today Tomorrow - 1965 PA, McKeesport
Changing Times - Near You Babe - 1966 TX, Dallas
Changing Times - She Don't Know - 1966 TX, Dallas
Chaparrals - So Good - 1966 TX, Dallas
Chapparals - I Tried So Hard
Dynamics - She Just Don't Care
Eric & The Norsemen - Before - KS, Pratt
Euphoria - In Time - 1967 TX, Houston
Euphoria - Oh Dear, You Look Like A Dog 1967 TX, Houston
Faine Jane - Decembers Children - Windham, NY
First Crew To The Moon - We Walk The Rain - 1967 NY, Brooklyn
Fourth Ryke - Please Leave - CT
Fourth Ryke - You're Cutting Out - CT
Grodes - This Is Goodbye - AZ, Tucson
Hallmarks - The Only Girl - 1966 NJ, Ocean Port
Immediate Family - You're Takin' Hold Of Me - 1966 CA, Contra Costa
Jinx - I Can't Go On Loving You - TX, Fort Worth
Kings Verses - Lights - 1966 CA, Fresno
Last Word - Don't Call Me, I'll Call You - Southern CA
Lemon Drops - I Live In The Springtime - 1967-05 IL, McHenry
Lemmon Fog - Summer - TX, Houston
Lewallen Bros - If I Were You - 1966-12 AZ, Mount Lemon
Lively Ones - Too Many Lies - CT
Magpies - Never See Her Again. - MN
Michael - I'm Nobody's Man - 1967 TX, Corpus Christi
Misunderstood - Find A Hidden Door - CA, Riverside
Neal Ford And The Fanatics - For You - TX, Houston
Outer Limits - Begin Your Crying - 1966-67 NM, Las Cruces
Outer Limits - Don't Give Me Love - 1966-67 NM, Las Cruces
Pat Farrell & The Believers - Brand New Baby - PA, Hamburg
Pharohs - Rich To Rags
Preechers - Where Can You Go
Preprtuated Spirits Of Turpentine - I'm A Dubble Naught Spy
Ron Davies - Mistake
Royal Cavaliers - Was It Love - 1966 PA, Kutztown
Royal Cavaliers - I'll Try Again - 1966 PA, Kutztown
Satan's Chyldren - Don't Go - 1966 TX, Houston
Sonny Flaherty & The Mark V - Make A Woman
Sound Of Mind - Pain
Sounds Unlimited - Gotta Go Away - 1966 PA Philadelphia
State of Mind - Goin' Away - 1967-05
Swinging Epics - Run To Him
Thingies - I'm Going Ahead - KS, Topea
Things - I Dont Believe It - TX
Thursdays Children - A Part Of You - TX, Houston
Trycerz - It's Gonna Change - TX, Fort Worth
Unknown - Figures Of Clay - New England
Unknown - Palace Of Love -
Unknown Group - Stop Look & Listen
We The People - My Brother The Man - FL, Orlando
What-Nots - I Was A Fool - 1965-66 NJ, Hillside, River Edge
Wig (The) - Crackin'up - 1966 TX, Austin
Wig (The) - Forever And A Day - 1966 TX, Austin
Wordd - Keep On Walking - 1966 TX, Dallas
Young Tyrants - I Tried

 

[nadorozny2001]

i have the vandals -ballad of a loser master tape
also a 7 song master tape of danny & the seniors -oh devil and six other songs