The B. TOFF BAND on Wizardo LP "Laguna Xmas Fest 1970"

$

743

Maybe a few saw this auction recently.  It was removed because it was said to be in "copyright violation".  This may have happened because the title had b ootleg in it.  In rebuttle, I'd put a hefty wager that this was never "officially" recorded and released.  Even in the 1 in a million chance itwas, it is so transformative in nature that it now is at the point of being a piece of art.  It's just it sounds good in your record player too.  This does not violate any copyrights or trademarks. 

Up for auction is the 33 rpm record "Laguna Xmas Fest 1970" with the B. Toff Band on Wizardo Records.  This is a hand made piece of hippy art.  If you would like to read up a bit on this historic, yet obscure festival, the best article is found here, from a 1970 article from the OC Weekly, entitled "Laguna on Acid".http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/laguna-on-acid/24148/ (thanks oc weekly!).  This album has a hand made cover, very clean vinyl, a picture of the B. Toff Band (with contact info and intro), handmade sleeve, and catalog of unofficial recordins.  First I'll describe all this strange stuff, then I'll tell you why I think it's real Wizardo stuff.  Also, I am not going to transcribe as much this listing.  If you would like a scan and are serious about bidding, I can send you a high resolution picture/scan of your request.  So how did this record get here?  I purchase records on a regular basis from garage sales.  One had about 2000 records that obviously came from a defunct record shop being half were unopened.  There was also a lot of promotional stuff you would see on display at old record stores.  There was some good ole acid rock mixed in, also some of it still sealed.  This little album really stood out, especially with Fat Freddy on the cover. 

This is what I've found about it.  This is the only example of this album I have ever seen for sale. 100% UNKNOWN FIBERS-Smoke It-private(U.S., '70)-Heavy psych album apparently recorded live at an event called the Laguna Beach Christmas Festival according to 3001 Record Collector Dreams. This album has baffled collectors and dealers for years. Comes in a plain white cover that is hand-stamped in one corner with one hand-stamped label. (S1 EX+,S2 M-/VG++,RW,FSPS) $4000.  I've also been told that John Wizardo had association with The B. Toff Band, but have not been able to verify that. I have not had an opportunity to read about it in the book "3001 Record Collector Dreams". 

The vinyl.  Condition is EX, it is almost NM.  It has slight storage scuffs and sounds excellent.  There are no signs of play.  It is stamped "100% Unknown Fibers Odd-Lots".  Then "Wizardo Records" is drawn onto side one, as is Made in Cuba.  The other side has the Wizardo logo and says "Buy More Bootlegs".  On it is also a hand drawn wizard, baked-out guy, a joint held by roach clips, and maybe a tab of acid or something.  "Smoke-It" is also stamped on one label.

• The cover.  The front cover has a 10x10" paste-on pic of Fat Freddy and his pharmacist (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers/ Fat Freddy's Cat) and says "LIVEr than you'll ever be at the christmas celebration in Laguna.  Also stamped Odd-Lots.  Backside has the following track listings.  Side 1:  1.  Opening Jam  2.  Another Jam  3. Can You Feel It? (by the B. Toff Band)  Side 2:  1. Man Will Live And Die And Honk  2.  Noyse  3.  "Untitled"  4.  Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix)  5.  Cherry Jam  .                   Backside also says "Full Dimensional Stereo", PEACE 1970, and has a one page description of the Laguna Beach Christmas Festival.  It comments on the performers being unidentified (except for the B.Toff Band in this case).  Cover is getting seam split on top and has 1" split on bottom outer edge.  Still very sturdy, a little dirty.  In between a VG and an EX.  Has been stored well.
• The Sleeve. The sleeve is hand drawn, has the track listings, a peace sign stamp and says "Jimi Hendrix appears through the courtesy of Reprise Records.  The B. Toff Band appears through courtesy of Dot Records.  Cover Illustration copyright 1972 by Gilbert Shelton.  The other side has some cool things in it like "lick dick in '72" (as in Richard).
• The Photo.  There is a 2x3" photo mounted on cardboard of the B. Toff band (black and white on high quality 35mm film) with them jamming with towels on their heads.  It lists the band members as Little Freddy, Mr. Wizard, The Toad, and Joe Schmuck. The backside state they play at orgies, weddings, auto accidents, riots, etc.. 
• The Catalog  The catalog is just a memo paper with 30 or so different artists "top quality recordings"  They were $2.99 then.

So this is a very rare live recording, with only a couple of copies ever to have been known to exist.  How many copies have you seen like this one also?  It has an unknown history that no one has figured out, but I think this album links it to John Wizardo and members of the B. Toff Band.    Same stamps, with some extras.  When I listed it previously, an ebayer commented that he thought this may not be an genuine Wizardo recording, since it was copied so much in the mid to late 70's.  I believe it is an early example of a Wizardo rarity, or modified by Wizardo in the case John attended the Laguna Xmas Fest.  (I think you would have had to been there to be able to make this album).

I think this was pressed in 1972, even though recorded in December 1970.  The Fat Freddy pic is from 72, and the sleeve says lick dick 72'.  The Fat Freddy pic is on a newspaper type of print, there may possibly be print on the backside but it would get destroyed if removed.  I'd bet it was cut off of the media, or printed as is, and pasted on soon after. I have another theory, all copies are known to have the 100% Unknown Fibers and Smoke It stamp.  I think the Smoke It stamp was from the maker, and then distributed in a small batch to a record store where they ended stamped with the 100% Unknown Fibers and then in a bin of random unknown stuff.  I'd also bet all copies originated from a store or maker in Southern California.

As an early Wizardo, John may have not known any better than to put his adress on the album.  There is an adress for Wizardo Productions in Santa Ana.  Also has phone numbers, (714) area code, which was accurate for a very large part of Southern California up unto the 1980's.  Now the B. Toff Band photo and contact info (which has the same phone numbers as for Wizardo Productions) in there says to me that it was released by the B. Toff Band.  I've seen in older auctions that the B. Toff Band was involved with Wizardo Records..  I've seen Wizardo Records hand written on the plain white label in a very similar fashion on a  Pink Floyd.  Any connection yet?  My wild assumption is that this was pressed a few times, with most of the copies ending up in bumfuck egypt.  A couple survived, one of those highly detailed and customized.  But he world may never know.  If for some reason this auction gets shut down again, you'll be able to find it on GEMM for an exorbanant fee.

I found a little bit more info this morning.  The album "100% Unknown Fibers , Odd-Lots" had a very limited release of 10 pressings, which came witih the box set "Little Indians/ Shadoks".  This was a bonus album in the box set.   This box set was selling for $1350 when you actually were able to buy it.  The strange fact that very personal B. Toff Band memorbilia was found in the record, and that they are one of the bands on the album, says to me that this album passed through the hands of one of their members.  Maybe there really was more than 10 pressed, with a few escaping into the hands of a few who attended the event.  It was beleived to have been pressed possibly in 1971, but is not confirmable.  The 1972 dated material on the album may beg to differ with this theory. 

If you know anything else about this album, please feel free to share as it is kind of mysterious.  I will post any relevent facts in the item question section.  Thanks and happy bidding.

Please look at our catalog of other records we have available for sale at inlandvinyl.gemm.com . Any records purchased from our catalog can be combined with shipping charges from ebay auctions.  Please notify us if you plan on combining shipping from GEMM and Ebay.  Vinyl records are shipped via USPS media mail, unless you prefer a different shipping method, such as USPS priority mail.  Please contact me for a shipping quote via a different method.  Payment is through paypal or with a cashier's check or money order.  All shady looking money orders will have to clear the bank before your item is shipped.  I am more than happy to combine shipping for multiple 33rpm records won.  The first 2 are shipped at the flat cost of $3, shipping for each additional record is $0.50.  Please note that for the most part, media mail shipping takes 7-10 days, and occasionally longer.  Please contact me if you need a faster shipping method.

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Grading

We try to grade conservatively.  Any record you may consider VG-, we will consider G.  Something you call a VG++, we call EX+ or VG+.

Mint (M) - Absolutely perfect in every way.  Never played or still sealed.  Your'e not going to see this one much from me, as most records are not mint. 

Excellent + (EX+)( or NM, near mint) - A nearly perfect record, with no obvious signs of wear.  A 45 or EP sleeve can only have the most minor defect, such as almost invisible ring wear or slight signs of handling.  LP's will still have inserts, posters, etc.  LP's should look like they came straight from the record store. 

Excellent(EX) (or VG+, very good +) - Can show some signs it was played and handled, but has been taken care of well.  Record surfaces can have slight scuffs or scratches that will not affect sound quality.  Very minor warps that do not affect sound are ok..  Label can have a very small amount of ring war, center hole not funked up from play.  The cover can have a cut-out hole, indentation or corner cut indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good (VG) -  Defects found in a VG+, only more pronounced.  Surface noise may be evident upon playing, but will not overpower the music.  Some play wear may be noticable.  Scratches that you can feel with a fingernail may be present.  The label can have a small amount of writing, tape, or stickers on it.  Same with the covers.

Good (G)-  A playable record, but significant noise.  May have  scratches or visible groove wear.  A cover will have seam splits.  Tape or writing can overwhelm the cover.

Poor - This record is suitable for target practice, unless this is some incredibly rare record that you just have to have.  Not worth playing.  As I once read on a label for a made in china product "not food, for seeing only".