About the SOT Label and the First Real SMiLE Boot

[The Heartical Don]

...if this is too risky, then the administrators may take it off at once. But since I'm not asking to purchase, or offering for sale any item, I thought: let's give it a try.

1. How and when did the first lengthy (I mean the Japanese ST-2580 one) SMiLE bleg leak out and hit the record fairs?
2. How could the ultra-long series of SOT Unsurpassed Masters session material ever see the light of day?

Just for historical reasons, no gain/profit intended.

[dogear]

ad 1. First version 1983, 2nd edition 1985 (I doubt that they were of Japanese origin)

[Andrew G. Doe]

ad 1. First version 1983, 2nd edition 1985 (I doubt that they were of Japanese origin)

Those two LPs owe their existence to one Brad Elliott (along with the first Bambu vinyl boot). The Japanese Smile CD boot (which was actually the 2nd CD of this material - but the first was of such dire audio quality that it has been deservedly forgotten) owes its origin to a tape Mark Linett put together to show Capitol the potential of a Smile archival release. I hasten to add that Mark is in no way directly responsible for the boot - I've heard that the leak came via a UK DJ and a collaborator on Brian's first solo album.

[sockittome]

Didn't the SOTs come about during production of American Band?  Or am I mixing up the facts here?

[Bicyclerider]

The rumor was that during the American Band video, the producers were allowed access to the tape vaults to find background/incidental music for the video, and that someone (supposedely Ron Furmanek) copied all the tapes he could get his hands on at that time.

Alan boyd has said that this could not have happened because the tapes had to be signed out and I bleieve listened to in the presence of someone, and so could not have been copied at that time.  So that makes me think someone who worked for Brother and had tape vault access as part of his/her job did the deed. 

[maxfrost]

ad 1. First version 1983, 2nd edition 1985 (I doubt that they were of Japanese origin)

Those two LPs owe their existence to one Brad Elliott (along with the first Bambu vinyl boot). The Japanese Smile CD boot (which was actually the 2nd CD of this material - but the first was of such dire audio quality that it has been deservedly forgotten) owes its origin to a tape Mark Linett put together to show Capitol the potential of a Smile archival release. I hasten to add that Mark is in no way directly responsible for the boot - I've heard that the leak came via a UK DJ and a collaborator on Brian's first solo album.

Andrew,
Does this mean that Brad is also responsible for the other "Brother" bootlegs that came out around the same time (Landlocked, Adult Child, California Feeling)? 

[The Heartical Don]

ad 1. First version 1983, 2nd edition 1985 (I doubt that they were of Japanese origin)

Those two LPs owe their existence to one Brad Elliott (along with the first Bambu vinyl boot). The Japanese Smile CD boot (which was actually the 2nd CD of this material - but the first was of such dire audio quality that it has been deservedly forgotten) owes its origin to a tape Mark Linett put together to show Capitol the potential of a Smile archival release. I hasten to add that Mark is in no way directly responsible for the boot - I've heard that the leak came via a UK DJ and a collaborator on Brian's first solo album.

Andrew,
Does this mean that Brad is also responsible for the other "Brother" bootlegs that came out around the same time (Landlocked, Adult Child, California Feeling)? 

Interesting question. 'Landlocked' came in different incarnations (the French Polyphone, and the U.S. Brother ones). I'd like to know more too.

[Andrew G. Doe]

ad 1. First version 1983, 2nd edition 1985 (I doubt that they were of Japanese origin)

Those two LPs owe their existence to one Brad Elliott (along with the first Bambu vinyl boot). The Japanese Smile CD boot (which was actually the 2nd CD of this material - but the first was of such dire audio quality that it has been deservedly forgotten) owes its origin to a tape Mark Linett put together to show Capitol the potential of a Smile archival release. I hasten to add that Mark is in no way directly responsible for the boot - I've heard that the leak came via a UK DJ and a collaborator on Brian's first solo album.

Andrew,
Does this mean that Brad is also responsible for the other "Brother" bootlegs that came out around the same time (Landlocked, Adult Child, California Feeling)? 

I'd guess so.

[shelter]

So I assume Elliott is a persona non grata in the Beach Boys camp now?

[Bicyclerider]

You are correct sir.  He wrote some liner notes (Christmas album reissue, the first mono/stereo single CD of Pet sounds) and then was "booted" himself from the Beach Boys employ.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

So I assume Elliott is a persona non grata in the Beach Boys camp now?

That's a nice way to put it. I think he's persona non grata in many different camps these days...

[MBE]

Elliot did the Brian Loves You boot.