Trademark of Quality bootleg

[DublinTrader]

I dropped into a record store today and picked up a couple of LPs. One was on a label called Trademark of Quality and is titled Jeff Beck's Beck-fast. Anyone heard of this label? I'm not at home so I can't listen as yet but be assured I will.

 

[George O.]

It was one of the most famous bootleg labels.

 

[Wally Swift]

Original TMOQ records are usually good quality. There are boots of boots that use the TMOQ name though that are hit or miss. I have the Hot Wacks guide if you need any specific info.

 

[DublinTrader]

Original TMOQ records are usually good quality. There are boots of boots that use the TMOQ name though that are hit or miss. I have the Hot Wacks guide if you need any specific info.

Is there a way to discern the original vs. a repro?

 

[hjames]

You mean, an "original bootleg" vs a "pirate bootleg"
... grin ...
Go read "Bootleg" by Clinton Heylin - it'll tell you all about the whole TMOQ/bootleg era -
from the legendary '69 Stones recordings "Live'R than You'll ever Be" on down ...
(you can get it used from Amazon for under $4) ...

 

[Wally Swift]

Is there a way to discern the original vs. a repro?

According to Hot Wacks the boot that you mentioned "Beckfast TMOQ 8204 w/Deluxe Red Cover" is from the original plates of a K&S product called "BeckElectric: At O'Keefe: White Like Me K&S 005. K&S was a second generation bootleg label whereas TMOQ, the original TMOQ was a first generation bootleg label. So Beckfast is definitely not an early TMOQ original release. Whether or not it was done by the TMOQ guy or someone else is anybody's guess. The sound quality on the original K&S LP is listed as excellent mono. Chances are the LP you saw, if it's the 8204 w/deluxe red cover version mentioned in Hot Wacks from original plates would have similar sound quality. If it's some other configuration of "catalog" numbers and cover type/color then you could have anything, probably lesser quality.

Boots are funny. I remember buying a Genesis live Lamb boot years ago called "Swelled and Spent" that had a great deluxe colour cover with artwork mimicking the original LP. A very nice packaging but it sounded like crapola. Sometime later I happened upon another copy with a cheesy insert for a cover. Turns out that this was the original and authentic TAKRL first pressing. Whoa! The record sounded amazing. An audience recording yes but I still have that LP because it kicks the crap out of that live Lamb recording in the Genesis boxset with Gabriel's rerecorded vocals.

Enter the world of bootleg collecting: expect heaven or hell:yes:

Also: There is a site called Record Collectors Guild that has a long thread written by Ken who founded TMOQ with his friend "Dub". It's titled something like "It Could Have Happened This Way". It's a fascinating read. If you have trouble finding it contact AKer CactusCowboy, he's an Admin. over there.