The "Laurel" bootlegs

[Bilbobaggins]

The most exiting releases in the 80's came from bootleg labels. One of those labels was the "Laurel" label. In this thread I like to focus on this good ol' label.

First in line, this beauty... The Blue Hawaii Box.

Packed in a nice LP sized box containing 3 LP's and a nice booklet. For those days, 1987, it was a very luxury set, with a lot of unreleased takes. Not all takes of the session were included (as you can see on the 4th image). Apparently the producers did not have the complete session tapes. Going by the soundquality I think these were first or second generation copies of the original tapes.

The beatiful front of the box

1000014008.jpg (5.33 MiB) Viewed 180 times

1000014007.jpg (4.1 MiB) Viewed 180 times

The labels are identical on all 6 sides. Except ofcourse for A, B, C, D, E and F

1000014006.jpg (2.15 MiB) Viewed 180 times

The front and back of the booklet

1000014004.jpg (6.19 MiB) Viewed 180 times

[Bilbobaggins]

And the pages of the booklet...

1000014003.jpg (5.96 MiB) Viewed 177 times

1000014002.jpg (7.01 MiB) Viewed 177 times

1000014001.jpg (6.39 MiB) Viewed 177 times

1000014000.jpg (8.45 MiB) Viewed 177 times

1000013999.jpg (5.78 MiB) Viewed 177 times

[AfoolSuchAsI.]

Thats a great lp boxset you have a great taste , great old days i saw it on a vinyl shop for more than 200 euro s .
How will sound it the lp s ?

[Bilbobaggins]

Thats a great lp boxset you have a great taste , great old days i saw it on a vinyl shop for more than 200 euro s .
How will sound it the lp s ?

Sound is very good overall. Almost zero tape hiss, clear sound, mono. Of course by now all takes are released in (mostly) perfect sound and in stereo by FTD, but I still enjoy this set every now and then. I love the look of it, the sound of it and the feel of it!

[Bilbobaggins]

I forgot to mention that the article in the booklet was written by Elvis's no1 fan, fanclubpresident Gary Pepper. (As you can see in the booklet).

a78a5cc7d57b2e848d73c70961c71d8d.jpg (11.24 KiB) Viewed 119 times

1960-gary-pepper-elvis-presley.jpg (42.64 KiB) Viewed 119 times

[Mike C]

Thats a great lp boxset you have a great taste , great old days i saw it on a vinyl shop for more than 200 euro s .
How will sound it the lp s ?

Sound is very good overall. Almost zero tape hiss, clear sound, mono. Of course by now all takes are released in (mostly) perfect sound and in stereo by FTD, but I still enjoy this set every now and then. I love the look of it, the sound of it and the feel of it!

I think it is mentioned in the Elvis bootleg book that the tapes used by Laurel for the set were cassette copies dubbed from the mono sessions reels Vic Colonna had acquired from a former Radio Recorders engineer. Vic sent the tapes to Ger just before the FBI picked him up.

[JohnnyByeBye]

I think it is mentioned in the Elvis bootleg book that the tapes used by Laurel for the set were cassette copies dubbed from the mono sessions reels Vic Colonna had acquired from a former Radio Recorders engineer. Vic sent the tapes to Ger just before the FBI picked him up.

Was it so that the original source of these were some kind of backup tapes from the sessions, purchased from the engineer? There was the great transcript of a "book" that never was by Vic Colonna in the old forum and I seem to recollect something like being writyen in that text.

[Bilbobaggins]

I don't have the bootleg book, but if I am not mistaken I have a digital file of the book somewhere. I will try to look it up in the next days.

[Jomies]

Very nice from Ger.
We also have it in our collection.
Buy it original from a friend from Ger.
Love those old bootlegs!