So to summarize, we have four basic theories so far:
1. Hoax
2. Superfan Shrine/tape library
3. Legit Safety Copies
4. Audio/Soundsystem Setup
Before I dig into my opinions on each one, I'd like to establish a few things:
* I've concluded the photo is from 1973 for a few reasons. Regardless of how the events that created this photo came together, every single released record by the group from Surfer Girl through Holland is shown in the photo. Whether hoax, superfan, sound system, or legit copies ... surely the "In Concert" album (and the albums that followed if applicable) would have been included.
Additionally, there are something like 50 white-box Scotch reels pictured ... these reels date from late '60s-early '70s and Scotch switched to different style boxes by the mid-'70s.
Further, the Polaroid comes from Ed Roach so we know it dates back to the pre-internet era at least. All of this leads me to comfortably say this photo must be from 1973.
* I'm going to go through each box in the photo and attempt to identify what they appear to be (all appear to be 10.5" reels, some are 1/2" and some are 1/4"):
TOP SHELF -
1. CONCERT LA/NY - 1/4" reel
2. HOLLAND - 1/4" reel, possibly minus fairytale?
3. SO TUFF - 1/4" reel,
4. SURF'S UP - 1/4" reel
5. SUNFLOWER - 1/4" reel
6. 20/20 - 1/4" reel
7. FRIENDS - 1/4" reel
8. WILD HONEY - 1/4" reel
9. SMILEY SMILE - 1/4" reel
10. PET SOUNDS - 1/4" reel, Duophonic version?
11. PARTY - 1/4" reel
12. SUMMER DAYS - 1/4" reel
13. TODAY - 1/4" reel
14. CHRISTMAS - 1/4" reel
15. ALL SUMMER LONG - 1/4" reel
16. SHUT DOWN VOL II - 1/4" reel
17. CONCERT - 1/4" reel
18. LITTLE DEUCE COUPE - 1/4" reel
19. SURFER GIRL(?) - 1/4" reel
presumably SURFIN USA and SURFIN SAFARI are in there but out of view
BOTTOM SHELF -
1. ADD SOME MUSIC TO YOUR DAY - 1/4" reel, unknown
2. LONDON - 1/4" reel, LIVE IN LONDON album
3. TRACKS - 1/4" reel, STACK-O-TRACKS album
4. PET SOUNDS - MONO -1/4" reel, mono version
5. SPRING - 1/4" reel
6. BELLIAGO / HOLLAND - 1/2" reel
7. VEGETABLES - 1/2" reel
8. SUMMER CONCERT - 1/2" reel
9. SURF'S UP - 1/2" reel
10. SUNFLOWER - 1/2" reel
11. REMOTE ST. PAUL - 1/4" reel
12. MISC BEACH BOY MATERIAL - 1/4" reel, single-only tracks, B-sides, etc?
13. BRIAN - 1/4" reel,
outside productions? who knows
14. BRIAN / DUMB ANGEL - 1/4" reel, S M I L E comp?
15. WOULDN'T IT BE NICE - 1/4' reel?
To summarize, we have what appears to be a complete archive of Beach Boys released albums on 10.5" 2-track 1/4" reels from SURFIN SAFARI to HOLLAND, plus SPRING.
We also have 1/2" tapes for all of the Brother-era albums (coinciding with the period in which the group began retaining physical ownership of their own mulit-tracks and masters), except SO TOUGH, and along with tapes labeled VEGETABLES and SUMMER CONCERT.
We also see a single tape for individual songs "Add Some Music" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Interestingly, these are both songs that we know multiple mixes were made of.
Additionally, we see two concert tapes (REMOTE ST PAUL and CONCERT LA/NYC), two possible comps (MISC BEACH BOY MATERIAL and BRIAN), along with a SMILE comp.
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Let's consider each theory:
1. HOAX -
I don't see this being an elaborate hoax for the reasons HeyJude pointed out above. Being that I believe it to be an authentic photo from 1973, this would be a crazy and expensive thing to do for a Polaroid opp. It's possible, but would have been done by a very organized crazy person.
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2. SUPERFAN TAPE LIBRARY -
I'm open to the superfan theory. This would make sense because all of the officially released albums are there, organized in order and looks similar to how a record collection might be organized.
This would have to be a super audiophile/recording/radio industry type for sure though. 1/2
But some of the tapes look pretty weird for a fan ("VEGETABLES" 4-track?).
How many fans at that time knew that Mt Vernon was Mike's childhood home? I ask because I believe there's a mistake on what appears to be a 1/2" reel for Holland: "BELLAGIO/HOLLAND" -- whoever was labeling the tapes might have mixed up the streets (Brian's vs Mike's ... i.e., it should say "MT VERNON/HOLLAND"). Was this info in the '71 Rolling Stone article?
How many regular folks would have a 1/2" recorder in 1973? The answer is very few. By the early '70s, 1/2" was used for 4-track tape dupe masters, private "demo"/cheap studios, and quad masters.
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3. LEGIT SAFETY COPIES -
I don't believe the presence of the SPRING album suggests any particular theory being more likely. If this is a legit archive, it is not for Capitol or Warners, it's for BRI and BRI would have been in possession of the tapes for this record at some point (or could have leased it to make a copy).
Elements supporting this theory:
* Concert LA/NYC is exactly in chronological order where IN CONCERT would be, but why is it labeled this way? This would make sense if the album was still in-progess. Possibly a safety copy of the original single LP IN CONCERT album that was shelved.
* The presence of 1/2" tapes. My best theory here is that these were some kind of quad experiments for the Brother albums (and "Vegetables" for some reason).
* "BELLAGIO"
Some tapes may have been included that someone in the group (Carl?) or working for the group deemed important, aside from the released material.
Things that don't add up: If these were real safety masters, you'd have two tapes for each album (side one and side two). For some kind of "backup of a backup" archive, I suppose it's possible that they used 1.0 mil tape and combined the two sides onto one tape. The only album this would not work with is Holland (including Fairy Tale -- it runs more than the approx 45 minutes you'd get on one 10.5" 1.0 mil reel at 15 ips).
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4. AUDIO/SOUND SYSTEM SETUP
I think this is plausible. The plaques sort of support it.
If this photograph does indeed show a collection or archive of Beach Boy safety-copies of some guy named Paul Bramsen who lived, or still lives, in St. Paul, Minnesota; is there any way of finding out if this person still owns this physical collection of tapes at his place?