The Uncirculated Rumours Project

mikebise · #1 05-29-2011, 07:30 PM

In Summer 1988, a 3-record (vinyl) set of Stevie rarities was released, with the titles:

Uncirculated Rumours
More Uncirculated Rumours
Last Of The Uncirculated Rumours

The original set of all 3 Uncirculated Rumours came on black vinyl, and the second release was on coloured vinyl (red, orange and green), and all front covers were of Stevie's Rhiannon painting with a different inset photo of Stevie on each one. Another batch of Stevie's demos and outtakes had previously been bootlegged ten years earlier on the Almanac album, which was released in November 1978. This set featured "Sorcerer", "Cathouse Blues", "Candlebright" and many more.

Uncirculated Rumours had a wide spectrum of sound quality for the songs, ranging from abysmal ("Blue Lamp", "Julia", "Battle Of The Dragon") to sublime ("Maker Of The Birds", "Leather And Lace", "Rhiannon"). Despite the disappointing sound on many songs, the collection was still an impressive selection of Stevie's unreleased work to that time.

Last week, Mathew (KarmaContestant) and I were talking about Uncirculated Rumours, and he mentioned his desire to have a complete set of Uncirculated Rumours in terrific sound quality. In the intervening 23 years since the vinyl release of Uncirculated Rumours, most of the songs have been massively upgraded in sound quality, whether through the Master Reels or other outlets.

I started this thread to see if we could make this dream a reality. I'm not at my DSL tonight, or I'd start posting links to upgrades or links of songs that need upgrading. There are several songs that I do not have on my computer, so I'd need to hear them again to determine if that version has been upgraded or not.

Some thoughts:

"Maker Of The Birds" - The version on Uncirculated Rumours sounds very good, and I still think it is the best. Maureen Loftus put out a "remastered" version in 1998, but I think it sounds muffled, whereas the Uncirculated Rumours version is loud and clear. There is also an audible gasp by Stevie after she sings, "He thought 'Maybe I'm going insane'..." that is not on Maureen's remastering. Does anyone have the Uncirculated Rumours vinyl version?

"Forest Of The Black Roses" - I do not have the second version, only on vinyl which I can't hear (no turntable).

"Think About It" - The Uncirculated Rumours version is on the Master Reels; However, on UR, there is an added electic guitar which kicks in about a minute into the song that is not on the Master Reels.

"Castaway" - This demo version is very different from Stevie's many takes on the Master Reels, incorporating a different second verse in this take (as well as in the piano demo). This is a great version, but the sound is terrible.

"Smile At You" - This take does exist on the Master Reels, but in an edited form, chopping out the second round of "What you did not need was a lady who was stronger..." part. The longer version on the Master Reels has Stevie singing the first verse twice! Is there a good sounding complete version of this take with the correct verses and vocals?

Uncirculated Rumours
Castaway - Demo Version - Not on any of the Master Reels; contains a different second verse
Silver Springs - Piano Demo 1976
Rhiannon - Piano Demo Version 1 (Where Stevie talks about the birds rising)
Forsaken Love - Piano Demo Version 1 (Listed here as "Mistaken Love", but copyrighted title is "Forsaken Love")
Rhiannon - Piano Demo Version 2 (Softer version)
Forsaken Love - Piano Demo Version 2 (Listed here as "Mistaken Love", but copyrighted title is "Forsaken Love")
Sleeping Angel - Demo
Sara - Piano Demo
Castaway - Piano Demo

More Uncirculated Rumours
Forest Of The Black Roses - Version 1
Forest Of The Black Roses - Version 2
Blue Water - Piano Demo March 1978; On Master Reels, flawless
Think About It - Outtake; Recorded/Mixed at Record Plant, Sausalito, California, February 4th, 1976-April 9th, 1976
If You Ever Did Believe - 1978
Smile At You - Tusk era studio recording, unedited (Master Reels versions are edited or have different vocals)
Leather And Lace - Early Demo with Don Henley
Julia (unlisted) - Version commonly believed to be from The Wild Heart (and confirmed to me by Gordon Perry in 1996 in Dallas)
Maker Of The Birds (listed here as "For You On The Three Birds Of Rhiannon")

Last Of The Uncirculated Rumours
Battle Of The Dragon - With Tom Petty 1984
After The Glitter Fades - Demo 1975
Crying In The Night - Electric Mix 1973 (Single Remix)
Kind Of Woman - Piano Demo 1975
I Sing For The Things - Demo 1984
Blue Lamp - Outtake 1981 (On the Master Reels)
Silver Springs - Live 1977 Kansas City
Violet And Blue - 1982; Soundtrack Version (released 1984)

I'll be posting links starting tomorrow, but anyone else can join in!!!

jeffd8382 · #2 05-29-2011, 07:50 PM

Oh wow! Very interesting, Mike.. I never even knew that someone had released demos/outtakes on a vinyl format. I think I had seen the title "Uncirculated Rumours" thrown around here or there but never exactly what that referred to.

mikebise · #3 05-29-2011, 08:12 PM

Yes, Jeff, it was very exciting to be at that record show in Houston in August 1988, rifling through the Stevie/Fleetwood Mac bin, to see the three Uncirculated Rumours records there ~ and with ALL these titles I'd never even heard of! The first time I ever heard "Julia", there was no title listed for it!!

There were many LIVE vinyl bootlegs of Stevie and Fleetwood Mac on vinyl in the old days, but only Almanac (November 1978) had demos & outtakes, and they were all Stevie's songs (plus a few live songs: "Landslide", "I'm So Afraid", "Spare Me A Little" and "Rhiannon" from a 1975 radio show). This is where those songs came from first, long before Master Reels or anything.

Almanac
Watch Chain - 1978 Living Room demo
Spare Me A Little - Live 1975
Secret Love - 1978 Living Room demo
Without You
Storms - 1978 Living Room demo (2 takes)
Landslide - Live 1975
Candlebright
I'm So Afraid - Live 1975
That's Alright
Garbo
Silver Springs - B-side version
Sorcerer
Goldfish and Ladybug
Rhiannon - Live 1975
Cathouse Blues

PenguinHead · #4 05-30-2011, 02:20 AM

I have all three Uncirculated Rumours albums, as well as Almanac, and several other vinyl bootlegs. I obtained them in the ancient past (mid-eighties) when the terms such as"downloads" and "internet" didn't exist.

Getting unreleased stuff wasn't so quick, direct and simple then. You had to scour the classified sections of magazines such as GoldMine or Rolling Stone to find traders. Some would show long tiny print lists of what they had to offer. With others you had to write/call them to request a list. Once you got the list in the mail, you would write/call them with your order -- tedious and slow compared to the instant gratification/accessibility we've grown accustom to with computers and social media.

If you were fortunate to live near an independant record store, you might stumble upon some rare bootlegs. I think that is how I got my Uncirculated Rumours collection. The covers are very cool because they feature Stevie's artwork.

Back then, it was very special to get rare live/unreleased material. Note: the Silver Springs on Uncirculated Rumours isn't the studio b-side. It's a rare live performance from 1976/77. The song was very obscure then, and it was only performed one or two times.

mikebise · #5 05-30-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Note: the Silver Springs on Uncirculated Rumours isn't the studio b-side. It's a rare live performance from 1976/77. The song was very obscure then, and it was only performed one or two times.

Right. That's how I have it marked on Uncirculated Rumours, as the 1977 Live perfromance from Kansas City. Almanac has the B-Side version, as I listed.

I got all of my vinyl bootlegs at record shows in Houston or Austin. Oh, I did find Fleetwood Mac Plays The City Of Sin: Las Vegas '77 at a cool record store on Westheimer in Houston. Otherwise, it was always at record shows for me. Ah, the memories...

mikebise · #6 05-30-2011, 08:21 AM

I'll start putting in links here, and editing this post as more are added:

Uncirculated Rumours
Castaway - Demo Version - Not on any of the Master Reels; contains a different second verse (So, this one needs a major upgrade; anyone?)
http://www.mediafire.com/?p93z22d22ykkfwr
Castaway - Demo Version; Pitch Adjusted
http://www.mediafire.com/?c7i09vdnt2dg4d1
Silver Springs - Piano Demo 1976
http://www.mediafire.com/?eon6h9sxsnsmh5b
Rhiannon - Piano Demo Version 1 (Where Stevie talks about the birds rising) From the Rhiannon 03/28/1978 Master Reel (New link)
http://www.mediafire.com/?cvv9djghqy8s0v1
Forsaken Love - Piano Demo Version 1; Source: Rhiannon 2-Track Master Reel
http://www.mediafire.com/?gd5mwz4cmge54ot
Rhiannon - Piano Demo Version 2; Source: Rhiannon 2-Track Master Reel
http://www.mediafire.com/?8rcw5uk91gdjjp8
Forsaken Love - Piano Demo Version 2 From the Forsaken Love 24 Track Master Reel
http://www.mediafire.com/?7c876n7m2zz961m
Sleeping Angel - Demo; Source: Demos Reel 01/08/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?wtc9a76d4sxdhf5
Sara - Piano Demo
http://www.mediafire.com/?vp1ke9oulnml3co
Castaway - Piano Demo; Source: Uncirculated Rumours original vinyl 1988
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?9vc162mc8xi27ma

More Uncirculated Rumours
Forest Of The Black Roses - Mix 1; Source 1: China Doll compilation
http://www.mediafire.com/?29n48tn64o74g26
Forest Of The Black Roses - Mix 1; Source 2: Uncirculated Rumours original vinyl 1988
http://www.mediafire.com/?au4mnp497bjjn6a
Forest Of The Black Roses - Mix 2; Source: Uncirculated Rumours original vinyl 1988
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6d0kdwdltpjudtk
Blue Water - Piano Demo March 1978; Source: Rhiannon 2-Track Master Reel
http://www.mediafire.com/?lm1gohfk3c5sgcx
Think About It - Outtake; Recorded/Mixed at Record Plant, Sausalito, California, February 4th, 1976-April 9th, 1976; Source: Demos Reel 01/08/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?9pwui95metp3c6c
If You Ever Did Believe - Version 1; From the Gems compilation
http://www.mediafire.com/?7890bk0i9bwi1fx
If You Ever Did Believe - Version 2; From Mystery Box: Rumours Mixes (even though this song is well after Rumours)
http://www.mediafire.com/?94rrq1t5r1ck1yi
Smile At You - Tusk era studio recording; Source: Mirror Ball CD
http://www.mediafire.com/?3z3yby7bbmec3yc
Leather And Lace - Early Demo with Don Henley; Source: Demos Reel 01/08/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?9a3wimhgdik5vl3
Julia (unlisted) - Version commonly believed to be from The Wild Heart (and confirmed to me by Gordon Perry in 1996 in Dallas) Source: Master Reel Compilation Dated 01/20/1986
http://www.mediafire.com/?q0d2qq7aqc5ki34
Maker Of The Birds Source: China Doll compilation
http://www.mediafire.com/?5o8q6f4ouh5a3w7

Last Of The Uncirculated Rumours
Battle Of The Dragon - With Tom Petty 1984 (This one sounds better than on UR, but is it the same take?)
http://www.mediafire.com/?z3yopyb50uv7aa1
After The Glitter Fades - Demo 1975; Source: Demos Reel 01/08/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?yee8wzdr3dr9gx9
Crying In The Night - Electric Mix 1973 (Single Remix)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ps8sp69i3vn998g
Kind Of Woman - Piano Demo; Source: Demos Reel 01/08/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?ava27xfbsatbvb7
I Sing For The Things - Piano Demo 1982 (Am I right that this is the correct version? This is from an undated/unlabeled Master Reel.)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7xw8l3ftfm4jjk8
Blue Lamp - Outtake 1981; Source: 1/4 Reel 10/19/1980
http://www.mediafire.com/?1lnii512nnoaj7n
Silver Springs - Live 1976 Kansas City (I found this online to be from 06/18/1976 Kansas City, MO; Correct? Anyone have an upgrade?)
http://www.mediafire.com/?rmmm3khd1xv7xvi
Silver Springs - Live 06/24/1976 Milwaukee, WI.
http://www.mediafire.com/?l7r1q5t7lkt02r8
Violet And Blue - Unreleased Film Version 1982; Source: Mystery Box: Various
http://www.mediafire.com/?6z092hpx1v0nl73

SummerlongBoots · #7 05-30-2011, 08:32 AM

There's one for sale on ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Uncirculated-Rum...item1c1c0570e3

mikebise · #8 05-30-2011, 10:07 AM

As I'm uploading these, I'm only doing the ones not on the Masters nor the ones I have original CDs of (Maureen's Mystery Box CDs). Those songs I'm going to re-upload into my computer to ensure losslessness and maximum sound potential (yes, they originally were imported as the dreaded mp3s!). If anyone has better sounding copies, please post them.

Questions:

"I Sing For The Things" piano demo - Again, I'm not able to listen to my vinyl Uncirculated Rumours, but is the version on there from circa 1984, or is it really a sped up copy of the 1982 piano demo from the Master Reels? I just remember the sound was bad and Stevie sounded all Rock A Little-ish. but the poor sound and speed could have made it seem that way.

"If You Ever Did Believe" - Which version is on Uncirculated Rumours??? I'm going through mine, and there are so many early versions... or, actually, the same main one with different overdubs, backing vocals, edits, etc.

holidayroad · #9 05-30-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

I'll start putting in links here, and editing this post as more are added:

Uncirculated Rumours
Castaway - Demo Version - Not on any of the Master Reels; contains a different second verse (So, this one needs a major upgrade; anyone?)
http://www.mediafire.com/?p93z22d22ykkfwr
Silver Springs - Piano Demo 1976
http://www.mediafire.com/?eon6h9sxsnsmh5b
Rhiannon - Piano Demo Version 1 (Where Stevie talks about the birds rising) From the Rhiannon 03/28/1978 Master Reel (New link)
http://www.mediafire.com/?cvv9djghqy8s0v1
Forsaken Love - Piano Demo Version 1 From the Rhiannon 2-Track Master Reel

Do you have an upload for Forsaken Love- From the Rhiannon master reel?

mikebise · #10 05-30-2011, 12:11 PM

Just did it! I had the place holding while I uploaded. I'm redoing ALL of my Stevie CDs... a BIG project, so I started here!

StandbackStevie · #11 05-30-2011, 04:01 PM

I have this on vinly I didn't realize it was a bootleg until I played for some reason I think I paid about @ $30 for the three at a local used record shop it was sealed in plastic. that is probably when I bought them back in 1988. just had rhiannon pics with Stevie pics on back has pics and song listings no Stevie Nicks name on it so was dissapointed at first with the quality of the sound but cool to listen to love Stevie's Demos.

Macfanforever · #12 05-30-2011, 07:00 PM

I also have this collection.I got it from a seller out of the Goldmine collectable magazine around 1993.way before Ebay.Thanks for uploading them.

StandbackStevie · #13 05-30-2011, 07:14 PM

I got mine all 3 sealed for $30 for all three they were sold seperately for $10 a piece I picked mine up at Brass City Records in Waterbury the owner Walter always had great stuff and reasonable too its like a gold mine going into his store finding all good treasures. I picked mine up in 1988 or 1989.

Macfanforever · #14 05-30-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StandbackStevie

I got mine all 3 sealed for $30 for all three they were sold seperately for $10 a piece I picked mine up at Brass City Records in Waterbury the owner Walter always had great stuff and reasonable too its like a gold mine going into his store finding all good treasures. I picked mine up in 1988 or 1989.

Maybe I should take a ride over to Brass City Records to see what he has available.

Aussie W/Heart · #15 05-30-2011, 08:03 PM

Thanks Mike

, Ive just d/loaded Julia & Forsaken Love, so much appreciated as i lost a lot of Stevie's gems due to my old computer crashing

one of my favorites Forest Of The Black Roses is still missing, so would it be possible for you to add both 1 & 2 versions.. Thanks in advance