The Tonearm is putting a needle on the cultural wax. Check it out.
Harold Sherrick
Harold Sherrick
Harold Sherrick visits to talk about his book "A Pigs Tale" which tells the story of one of the most famous bootleg labels, Trade Mark of Q…
Choose your favorite podcast player
April 7, 2022

Harold Sherrick

Harold Sherrick

Harold Sherrick visits to talk about his book "A Pigs Tale" which tells the story of one of the most famous bootleg labels, Trade Mark of Quality.

This book is essential for record collectors and dealers. 

In that hot summer of ’69 two longhaired music freaks created an underground LP record album of unreleased tracks by one of their music gods and put it out on the streets of Los Angeles. No one had ever been crazy enough to do such an audacious thing before. The god’s official record label was not amused but the music fans were thrilled. Were these guys pirates or heroes? It was so much fun the first time, they soon pressed up even more records of forbidden musical fruit. They were on a roll. The following year, in 1970, one of the culprits put The Pig image in a circular logo with the name “Trade Mark of Quality.” TMQ and Pigman were born!

With a cast of outrageous characters, here is the story of Trade Mark of Quality aka TMQ aka The Pig, the first bootleg record label of its kind, spawning many later imitators. From the end of the '60s to the mid '70s, TMQ and Pigman led the way, trotting down a muddy trail, feeding the habits and needs of music addicts around the world. Who were these fellow travelers? Carl? The Greek? Merlin? Hans? Rob Snout? Casper? Sheldon? The Blue Hasslebeast? Ol’ Fred? (Not to mention, The Brooklyn Boys, The Record Suits and The Feds!) What was the connection between TMQ and the Viet Nam war, revolutionaries, guns, pot and the moon landing? It’s all here!

Included inA Pig’s Tale is not only the Trade Mark of Quality and Pigman saga, but reproductions of all the rubber stamped and illustrated album jackets from every genuine TMQ record release, including the earliest releases from ’69 right up to the last titles in 1976. Everything you ever wanted to know about the real TMQ label is here: A complete discography of artists and track listings, sources of recordings, catalog numbers, master tape and record matrix info, colored vinyl pressings, record labels, graphics, photos, vintage news clippings, articles and more, all collected together, at last, in one volume.

A Pig’s Tale by Ralph Sutherland and Harold Sherrick, with their unique point of view, guides the reader through the never before told history of Trade Mark of Quality. It’s all here for the music lover and fan, the hardcore record collector, and the just plain curious.

 

 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 

Harold Sherrick Profile Photo

Harold Sherrick

Harold Sherrick was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the turbulent 1960s, he was greatly affected by the politics, the war, and the music of the times. More than anything, the music influenced the direction of his life. Harold grew up listening to Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. The first concert he attended was The Beatles at Dodger Stadium in 1966, sparking his love for the exciting and passionate energy concerts create.

Harold met the Pigman as a teen and began traveling with him all over the Los Angeles Basin distributing bootlegs, attending the concerts Pigman recorded, and grooving to the music. Around the same time, he picked up the camera and began photographing live concerts, which quickly grew into a passion and a profession. Since then, Harold’s notoriety has grown and his photos have appeared in books and magazines around the world, including Mojo, Guitar Player, and Goldmine. In addition to shooting from the front row of many of the greatest concerts Los Angeles has ever seen, he has also captured the action backstage and taken portraits of some of music’s greatest. His photography includes artists such as Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, June Carter Cash, Sheryl Crow, Dave Grohl, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, The Bee Gees, U2, and Tori Amos, among other greats.

His first book, entitled Stolen Moments: The Photography of Harold Sherrick, includes many of his most iconic shots. A Pig’s Tale is his second book, but certainly not his last.

Greatest Hits

Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.

Nov. 3, 2022

Grahame Lesh

Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 27, 2022

Nick Mason

Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...

Listen to the Episode
July 7, 2022

Steve Kimock

Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 20, 2022

John Barry on Levon Helm

Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 19, 2023

Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...

Listen to the Episode
May 4, 2023

Dominic Miller

The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 7, 2023

Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences

With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 12, 2023

That Petrol Emotion

Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...

Listen to the Episode
June 29, 2023

David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC

With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 28, 2023

Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope

The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.

Listen to the Episode
April 25, 2024

Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics

Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 8, 2024

David J: unearthing tracks from the attic

The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 12, 2024

Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD

The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.

Listen to the Episode