FraKcman's blog - "Moonlight in Vermont"

18/11/2005 - Is this the same tape that was found in 1985?

Posted by Tony Masiello

Hi Mike,

This is very exciting news for those of us that have grown up hearing about Stars but never getting to hear a single note. Hopefully the tape will see the light of day in some form. I am curious about a statement that had been posted on the Spaceward website (but is not there now).

*Addendum by Mark Graham, studio manager

I think it was during the Summer of 1985 when we were clearing out the space
above the Control Room roof that I came across the Syd Barrett All Stars
tape. It was just one among hundreds that were languishing there, pretty
much forgotten that Owen Morris and I were sorting through - our task was to
phone the bands or record labels concerned and get them either to collect
their tapes or allow us to wipe them.

I admit that it was with a trembling hand that I descended the ladder
clutching the tape and then threaded it on the Revox. We listened to it
once, all the way through, and, though it pains me to say so, it was an
absolute load of old shite.

It was awful. Truly. The sound itself was poor and the onstage tuning was
non-existent. It was painful to listen to. Stoned, out-of-key noodlings -
remarkable only for how dreadful it was. If I remember correctly parts of
the Pink Fairies and Hawkwind sets were also on the tape.

What my response would have been had the recording been brilliant, or even
good, of course we'll never know (might I have stolen a copy?) but it was
clear to me that this could only ever be of historical (or forensic)
interest - you'd NEVER want to actually listen to it - so, not having Syd's
phone number to hand, I rang EMI.

The very next day a big car swished into the yard and out stepped a suit. I
don't remember the gentleman's name - only his suit. He was from EMI and
he'd come to listen to the Syd Barrett tape. I explained the history to him,
made him coffee and then played him the tape.

He said nothing until the end.

"This recording can add nothing to Syd's legend - it can only detract from
it. It must never be made public".

He took the tape away in his big car and, as far as I know, no copies exist.

So is the recently found tape the same one that Mark Graham found in 1985? Is the performance as poor as his statements indicate? Thanks for your efforts!

-Tony Masiello
http://tonymasiello.com

Mark replies...

Hi Tony. I've tried to give a fuller explanation in my latest entry (19/11/05) Hope this explains things :)

Edited by FraKcman on 20/11/2005 at 7:26 AM

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