HOMOGENIZED BEATLES
(aka RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS VOL. II)
Company: Avocado Records
Matrix Number: RR-1001 A RE /RR-1001 B
Release date: mid 1970
Country: USA
Side A
1. THE WALK
2. TEDDY BOY
3. TWO OF US
4. I'VE GOT A FEELING
5. THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
6. FOR YOU BLUE (edited)
7. DIG A PONY
Side B
8. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
9. THE INNER LIGHT
10. LET IT BE
11. DON'T LET ME DOWN
12. GET BACK
13. I'M DOWN
14. INSTANT KARMA
Sound Quality: EX-stereo
source 1 to 4,6,7: from GET BACK TO TORONTO
5: from GET BACK
8 officially released version (WWF version)
9 to 14 officially released versions (from singles) (9 &13 mono)
COMMENTS
This record features a part of the "Get Back'' tape plus some tracks from official singles. The sources for the "Get back'' tracks may not be the actual LPs, but the tapes that originated them. This record was realized by the producers that later were to operate as TMOQ.
THE ORIGINAL RELEASES
Middle, 1970. There are two original releases, produced from different masters. Both had a green sticker with the title and the track listing, with, in addition, the company name "Avocado Records". Regarding this name, Mr. Pigman (one of the producers) told us: "my parents had an avocado tree in the back yard".
One release was realized by the business partner of Mr. Pigman, who later realized the Smokin' Pig records. This has a green label with «Renaissance Records», «Homogenized stereo» and the track listing. Regarding this version, this is what Mr. Smokin' pig told us:
"A friend of mine put the tapes together and I came up with the idea of the green sticker (Homogenized Beatles). We also used a similar sticker for the Donovan bootleg (only it was blue). Four or five months later we did Renaissance Minstrels I and Renaissance Minstrels ll. The same friend who made the tapes for me designed the covers using the poster I gave him.".
These are the original master tapes:
The other release was realized by Mr. Pigman. For this release these original reel tapes were copied to a new reel-to- reel tape, with a slight loss of sound quality. The records, as previously stated, have the same green stickers on the cover; they have white blank labels and the matrix number is Side 1-A / Side 2-B. The stampers used for this record were not used anymore.
2. Late 1970. This is the version that used the cover prepared by Mr. Smokin' pig's friend. The records had the same green "Renaissance Records" label and were pressed from the same stampers as the first release. The original sticker was present on some copies of the album.
INTEREST. The original releases are relatively uncommon, and have a good collectible and historical value. ****/***
THE TMOQ RELEASES
This record, along with its companion RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS volume I, was added to the TMOQ catalogue in late 1971. In late 1972 also TMOQ-Smokin' pig cut a set of stampers, derived from the original masters with the number 1823 added. After 1973, however, the two companies exchanged the stampers, so that the TMOQ LPs were pressed from the 1823 stampers, while the TMOQ-Smokin' Pig LPs derived from the original RR-1001 masters. The following records were seen:
TMOQ.
1. November 1971. Rubber-stamped cover with round "pig" sticker, white label with rings, colored vinyl, same insert as the original release.
2. Late 1972. White label with pig, insert based on the original Renaissance Minstrels one, slightly reworked, with the "pig" logo added and the track listing relocated from the sides to the bottom. New stampers with 1823 A / 1823 B added and RR-1001 erased (on side B only)
​3. 1974. Same matrix and label as #2, insert renumbered 71026, black vinyl
TMOQ-SMOKIN' PIG RELEASES
1. Early 1973. Same insert as the original release, smokin’ pig label, in various colors, colored (possibly also black) vinyl; same stampers as the TMOQ version #2. This LP had catalogue number 73002.
2. Middle 1974. Same insert as the Renaissance Records release, black vinyl, colored (light blue was seen) smokin' pig label, records pressed from the original stampers RR-1001 A RE / RR-1001 B.
Mid-seventies. A rare pressing from the original stampers was distributed with a new insert and yellow labels with side indications.
3. 1983. New insert, printed in various colors, colored Smokin' Pig label, black vinyl. The records were pressed from stampers derived from the original mothers.
INTEREST. TMOQ's coloured vinyl repressings of the original masters have the usual collectors' value; the later releases are of limited interest.***/*
LATER RELEASES
November 6, 1986. 600 copies from the original RR-1001 A RE / RR-1001 B masters were pressed for a release on the Max Hammer label, with a new printed cover titled RENAISSANCE MINSTRALS II [sic!].
INTEREST. A useless repressing. *
THE WCF RELEASES
WCF pressed its copy in mono, resulting in a decreased sound quality. The insert counterfeits the original Renaissance Records release.The matrix number is 726 A RI (with B scratched) / 726 B. We saw the following pressings:
1. Late 1971 or early 1972. Insert copied from the original one, without the word "STEREO" on top, printed black/white; purple label with silver printed "Renaissance Records II" and track listing
2. late 1972 or early 1973. New insert perfectly matching the original one, printed in dark purple, with "# 726" added on top right; dark red label with black printed titles.
3. 1973. Same insert and label, or blank labels, new stampers with the letters GM added before the number 726, black as well as yellowish monochromatic insert.
4. 1974. Folder-type cover, with the same drawing as #3, printed in black and white or monochromatic pale yellow. The disc had plain white labels.
INTEREST. The first pressing has some interest **/*
THE WIZARDO RECORDS RELEASES
Wizardo Records pressed a mono version of RENAISSANCE MINSTRELS VOLUME II, using various stampers.
1. Summer 1976. Mono master numbered 358 A / 358 B, black vinyl, Old Glory label, green insert reproducing the TMOQ-smokin' pig one, including the logo, with the catalogue number 358 added on bottom (cut-out in the copy here depicted)
2. Summer 1976. Same insert as # 1, multicolored vinyl, Wizardo Reissue Series label. This was from a new master, numbered MID 2022-1 delta 58559 / MID 2022-2 delta 58559 X. These masters were cut at the same plant where the masters of LET IT BE on Underground Sound label were cut.
3. Late 1976 or early 1977. Same matrix as #1, insert with the number 358 deleted and K.O. 402 added on top, together with the track listing, K.O. labels or white blank labels. The record was also released with a different insert, similar to that used for Wizardo's copy of Renaissance Minstrels 1.
INTEREST. A rather uninteresting release **/*. The version on multicolored vinyl is often overrated, but it is simply an uncommon special release, appealing to collectors, particularly because of its quite strange matrix number ***.
FURTHER RELEASES
1986. The European company Straberry Records copied the version #2 of the Wizardo Records for their series. It had matrix number MID 2022 RR A / MID 2022 RR B and was pressed on red vinyl.
INTEREST. Only interesting for collectors seeking the entire Strawberry Records series.**
1975. The Japanese company JL records released their own copy with printed cover reproducing the original one.
INTEREST. Scarcely interesting. **