The 1968 Demos Label: Howdy Catalogue No.: CD 555-04 Format : CD & Jewel case Matrix: CD 555-04   1.1387-A2  CD ID: 8310ac1a (Howdy 1994) Origin: US Availability : Sept 1991 Duration: 71:10 (Howdy 1994)

Comments:

The first Beatles as a group CD release from the Vigotone camp albeit a subsidiary that they used for all their 1991 releases , and what an absolute cracker. Whilst it remains of core status after over 14 years this is now in respect of the John Demos.

This is a very rare title , I have only seen it for sale once at silly prices and only a few more listings for it.

The cover artwork was also used for the 1993 Vigotone reissue, but NOT the 1994 Howdy reissue. See images below.

None of the artwork variations list track 26 , Happiness Is A Warm Gun recorded at John and Yoko's Montreal Bed In during May 1969 ,could this be why it is not listed? This has been lifted from a Home Video, which has no doubt now been copied to budget DVD , which should be your source, to include the visual aspect.

The disc has two clear parts ' Esher Demos' recorded at George's house in May 1968 and a collection of Johns Demo's including Solo only efforts. The 'Esher material was originally core material but this material can now be found on Vigotone's From Kinfauns to Chaos , in better quality and it is suggested that within trade circles there are improvements on this source; so why oh why NO official release?

As of 2004 Tracks 17-21 retain their 'core' status and the final listed tracks are as unremarkable and just as good here as anywhere else.

Whilst I have not been able to do a direct comparison of the musical content , I think it is fair to say that whilst not reported anywhere that the mastering is likely to vary between the various issues . If you own an original could you please confirm the CDID and provide either a cue sheet or the timings of each track, Using Exact Audio Copy , this is as simple as saving the database

The Bootleg Zone review has track 26 including 'Because' also from the Montreal bed-in , but I have yet to confirm the existence of this version , or whether this is an error that has crept into this open database.

Some sources also list only a 25 track version, again it is unclear whether this is due the artwork track listings just been copied or if their has been a pressing error on one version similar to Vigotone's earlier title Arrive Without Aging .

The Italian Label, The Genuine Pig has reportedly cloned this title and used the artwork as a base for their 1994 release. Whilst they should have been able to produce an audio clone , their past history is not good and I wouldn't be surprised if there has been a loss of quality.

Track Listing:

May- December 1968 (Actually May 1968-9)-Various John Home Demo's
		Song	Version	Comments	Date
16	2:55	Julia	IR135
17	2:58	Julia	IR134
18	2:56	Don't Let Me Down	IR164
19	2:10	Don't Let Me Down	IR165
20	1:40	I've Got A Feeling	IR166	Listed as 'Everyone Had A Hard Year '
21	2:54	A Case Of The Blues	IR163
22	1:25	Oh My Love	JL
23	1:21	Oh My Love	JL
24	3:10	The Maharishi Song	JL
25	5:56	I Want You	JL
26	0:44	Happiness Is A Warm Gun	JL	Not listed on any artwork. Toronto Bed - In , incomplete	May 1969

Reissues

	Vigotone 1993 Issue Matrix No.: : VIGO 100*     Slip Case
	1994 Howdy Reissue   Matrix No.: CD-555-04    No Slip Case
	1997-8 Gold CDR Reissues CDR Data: GOLD Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Inc 650 MB
	1998-2001 CDR Reissues CDR Data: Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Inc xxx MB
	Wanted details of: Kodak Gold CDR or White label versions Late 2001 Mitsui Issues without barcode on CDR 2001 SKC printed CDR

FAKES

Reported Clone

The 1968 Demos The Genuine Pig Alternate mastering. Artwork based upon Original Howdy release

Artwork

First Issue Cover/Insert same as Vigotone Original - with colour images. Cover Title justified to the Right Hand Side Artist and Title 'S' aligned Unique tray artwork - NO Slip Case	Reissues Cover/Insert same as Vigotone Reissues- with B/W images. Cover Title NOT justified to the Right Hand Side Artist and Title 'S' not aligned No Howdy Logo or German Pressing Details John's image now has a white background, No CD Logo

Inserts

1991 Howdy and 1993 Vigotone First Pressings

1994 Howdy and 1995 + Vigotone Reissues

ALL Pages, Data and Images are for REFERENCE PURPOSE ONLY.

The collated information is from hundreds of sources, I am unable to verify the accuracy of any information implied or provided .

I neither own these discs or know how to obtain them , so any Corrections or New material is always appreciated.

This pages is a working document, last updated on the 17-Oct-2006