I am working on a series of articles that would document the history of the Stones big four LPs. First among them is Beggars Banquet and I could use your help. Part of that history is the graffiti. I am trying to read and record all the graffiti on the toilet cover version. Below you will find a link to a number coded map to the front cover. Please correct me where I am wrong and help me where I was unable to decipher (1, 22, 28). If you know of anyone working on a similar project I'd love to have a name. Thanks.



1. Skull and cross bones; “Depth illegible Denizen USMC”
2. “Freaks”
3. “Downey”
4. Five point star
5. Kilroy was here cartoon
6. “Beef jerky-sectioned illegible”
7. “Wilmas love”-torso with breasts & pubic triangle
8. “Froskey”
9. “Randy ‘68” “Peter is a faggot”
10. Stylized cross with five rays of light
11. “-13-“
12. “Alan, tengo la madre colgarde solas” (Alan, I have the mother hanging alone)
13. “THE ROLLING STONES”
14. “God rolls his own!!”
15. “->FL<ATOE”
16. Peace sign
17. “illegible is a friend of mine”
18. Erasure
19. “illegible 1963”
20. An Ankh
21. “Taco thighs”
22. “Dear Carol I want you to know that I love you when I was sitting here” signed “Benny” illegible
23. “Snack time”
24. “Bob Dylans dream”-near a red blotch of paint, under it a handle and a squiggle to the toilet flush handle, this is a song title from the Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan about being reunited with loved ones
25. “Keep out!”
26. “Here I sit broken hearted came to”-the rest is smudged but likely read “shit but only farted”
27. “Sid 68”
28. “Good illegible 442 S. 12th St J.F.Cunillegible”-
29. “Off so red”
30. A loopy squiggle as if aroma coming from an empty bottle on toilet top
31. X’s to right of bottle
32. A right hand with “LOVE” on the 4 fingers
33. Bar of soap
34. Champion spark plug sticker on underside of toilet lid



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 05:29 by bv.

Now the Back cover (12, 24, 26, 40, 61, 77, 78).


BB Rear Cover
Here is an updated list thanks to your help.

1. “You are here”
2. Naked woman parachuting: “Parachute woman land on me tonite”
3. “Spanish Tony where are you”
4. “Unintelligible baby”
5. “Urannis”
6. “Prodigal son”
7. Factory girl with a factory spewing smoke and a girl whose hair is made of smoky curls
8. “Prodigal son written by Reverend Robert Wilkins”
9. “Picnic on Pluto”
10. “Zappa in the sistern” (they must have been tempted to use Zappa in the crappa)
11. “Produced by Jimmy Miller”
12. “[Ring Fremont 9627] after 7”
13. “Dave thanks”
14. “Beggars Banquet”
15. “Stones”
16. “Studio Olympic in London”
17. “Charlie Watts”
18. “Bill”
19. “Hank Ruby Tuesday”
20. “Boy scouts”
21. “Jigsaw puzzle”
22. “Corporate head”-aka, Tom Wilkes, Michael Vosse and Barry Feinstein
23. Speculation??-Watch out for a…..sugar show/strong smell of …….*CMS*
24. “no they didn’t”
25. “Meet me at Leicester Sq 11 pm-Ricky” (A notorious gay cruising spot)
26. “yes they did”
27. “Sunset Sound in L.A.” (the other studio)
28. “Why”
29. “Music from big brown”— parodying the Band’s country classic Music from Big Pink, this is a known Keith contribution
30. “is a day pray while you sit”
31. “Stray cat blues”-with a drawing of a strange stray cat
32. “Is all a lie”- with a squiggle over is
33. “F. Bartram Bartram” – Google sources identify several Frederick Bartram’s as English citizens
34. “Who’s anal”
35. “Rent-a-cop”
36. “No expectations meet me at the station”
37. “Ronald Regan is a sissy”
38. “Brian”-with a stylized X above his name
39. “you ?? truth MG”
40. “Engineers – Glyns, Eddie, Gene, Ricky” (Glyns John, Eddie Kramer, Gene of the unknown surname)
41. “Jaime in South America”
42. “The credits Barry (photo) Tom (graphics) Vosse lives” photographer Barry Feinstein, graphic designer Tom Wilkes and Michael Vosse
43. “Lyndon loves Mao XXX”
44. “Take heed Tom Keylock”
45. “St. Christopher (Gibbs)”
46. “And Dave XX” (Dave Mason?)
47. “Taj”-with a drawing of Taj Mahal
48. “Dear Doctor”
49. “Stones”
50. “You F. O.”-with 3 UFO’s drawn below it
51. “Thanks, Nicky”- encircled in a heart
52. “Marahishi was here”
53. “Rick”
54. Drawing of a cross
55. “Street fightin’ man”
56. “Hello troops and Korea”
57. “What here too” part of the 3 UFOs
58. “Sympathy for the devil”
59. “Beggars banquet”
60. Profile of a long haired man with a big nose, if done today I’d say Ron Wood
61. “Lester Pursky must be joking”
62. “John loves Yoko”- encircled in a heart
63. “John Michelle + S.A.” (Phillips)
64. “Rocky on Bongos” (Rocky Dijon)
65. “Nutter”
66. Star of David in a circle
67. “Wot no paper!”
68. “Strawberry Bob for President” under an American flag drawing (Bob Fraser)
69. “If you want something call hot” ???
70. Heart with a trident arrow through it
71. “Lenny you are great a fan” (Lenny Bruce)
72. “The salt of the earth”
73. “There’ll always be an England”
74. “A horse a horse my kingdom for a horse—W. Shakespeare”
75. “Jimmy Sloane was here”
76. “Mick Keith wrote it” “no they didn’t”
77. “j-unintelligible us or shake”
78. Unintelligible



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 20:30 by cyoe.

Quote
cyoe
I am working on a series of articles that would document the history of the Stones big four LPs. First among them is Beggars Banquet and I could use your help. Part of that history is the graffiti. I am trying to read and record all the graffiti on the toilet cover version. Below you will find a link to a number coded map to the front cover. Please correct me where I am wrong and help me where I was unable to decipher (1, 22, 28). If you know of anyone working on a similar project I'd love to have a name. Thanks.



1. Skull and cross bones; “Depth illegible Denizen USMC”
2. “Freaks”
3. “Downey”
4. Five point star
5. Kilroy was here cartoon
6. “Beef jerky-sectioned illegible”
7. “Wilmas love”-torso with breasts & pubic triangle
8. “Froskey”
9. “Randy ‘68” “Peter is a faggot”
10. Stylized cross with five rays of light
11. “-13-“
12. “Alan, tengo la madre colgarde solas” (Alan, I have the mother hanging alone)
13. “THE ROLLING STONES”
14. “God rolls his own!!”
15. “->FL<ATOE”
16. Peace sign
17. “illegible is a friend of mine”
18. Erasure
19. “illegible 1963”
20. An Ankh
21. “Taco thighs”
22. “Dear Carol I want you to know that I love you when I was sitting here” signed “Benny” illegible
23. “Snack time”
24. “Bob Dylans dream”-near a red blotch of paint, under it a handle and a squiggle to the toilet flush handle, this is a song title from the Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan about being reunited with loved ones
25. “Keep out!”
26. “Here I sit broken hearted came to”-the rest is smudged but likely read “shit but only farted”
27. “Sid 68”
28. “Good illegible 442 S. 12th St J.F.Cunillegible”-
29. “Off so red”
30. A loopy squiggle as if aroma coming from an empty bottle on toilet top
31. X’s to right of bottle
32. A right hand with “LOVE” on the 4 fingers
33. Bar of soap
34. Champion spark plug sticker on underside of toilet lid

17. Lyndon is a friend of mine.

Fantastic and so obvious now that you say so. Thank you, Ash!

Several people said there is some Herb Alpert graffiti on the wall because his album kept the Stones out of No.1 spot that year. Anyone see any trace of that?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-03 21:41 by cyoe.

On the front, 1 is possibly "Death before dishonor", and 6 could be "Sectioned and formed".

Large pictures: Cover Front - Cover Rear.

Camera close-ups: [www.YouTube.com] - [www.YouTube.com] - [www.YouTube.com] .



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 18:10 by Irix.

Duh! Thanks, Blivet. Nice ones.

Thanks, Irix, obviously I could not figure out how to do that, very helpful.

Update on 12 front

12. “Alan, tengo la madre colgando solas” (Alan, I have the mother hanging alone)

What might this be saying? I'd like to hangout with your mother, Alan? Any thoughts?

ROCKMAN

Quote
cyoe
Fantastic and so obvious now that you say so. Thank you, Ash!

Several people said there is some Herb Alpert graffiti on the wall because his album kept the Stones out of No.1 spot that year. Anyone see any trace of that?

Number 19 has Herb Alpert crossed out above 1963.


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

My propositions on a few ones… very unsure!

Front cover :

1. “Death Before Dishonor USMC” (already mentioned by blivet)
6. “Beef jerky sectioned and corned”
8. “Troiley” (could be Crowley)
10. “TOON UNKLE” (?... Don’t know what it could mean)
12. “Alan, tengo la madre colgardo, solés”
15. “>EL GATO<”
17. “Lyndon is a friend of mine” (already mentioned by Irix)
18. “All roads xxxx”
19. "Herb Albert" (erased) ; "1963" ; "Freaks" (erased but unsure)
22. (signed “Barry”)
29. “OH SO RED”

Great work, thanks, for the time and effort, something BB

I think you nailed them!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 01:10 by cyoe.

What do you see? How do we describe it?

No. 12, rear cover is [Ring Fremont 9627] after 7


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Fantastic, thank you, deltics!

Quote
cyoe

61. “Lester Pu-unintelligible must be joking”….

"Lester Pursky must be joking" - [www.YouTube.com] - (Pos. 4:24) , [www.YouTube.com] - (Pos. 0:30, 1:19, 3:20).



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 01:45 by Irix.

I remember reading in Up and Down, Spanish Tony Sanchez said Keith wrote #3 on the back cover when Tony went away for a bit and Keith was desperate to get some drugs.

Thanks for all the great help so far. If anyone has any curiosity or energy left.

Rear cover gaps: 4, 23*, 39, 69, 77, 78*

* means I got nothing

Front cover gaps: 8, 19, 28

That does not include anything I got wrong.

I'll be happy to send a copy of the article when done in return!

It's pretty difficult for a lot of graffitis on the rear cover, there's a lot of speculation in my propositions:

4. "xx what's xxx baby" ; (small arrow drawing)
23. "Watch out for a sunset show west of Zach St."
39. "You can trust me"
61. "Lester Pursky must be joking" (for Lester Persky) (but Irix already find it)
63. "John Michel Isa." (Isa for Isabelle)
69. "If you want something hot call me Anaïs Mark" (name ?)

I can't see 77 and 78 on your map for the rear cover.
Hope it helps.

For the front cover you forgot two graffitis on the upper part (can be seen on Irix larger picture), above "DOWNEY":
Big graffiti seems to be "Savoy", and just under "-Superfire-" (or something like this :-) )

I can't see the numbered pics any more.

Right in between "Brian" and "You can trust me", underneath Brian, faintly in grey...."is a paranoid GENIUS"

I'd appreciate someone else's opinion too but so...have Mick and Keith written Brian is a paranoid GENIUS" on the wall ? !

Quote
cyoe

Front cover gaps: 8, 19, 28

Just guesses - from a very large picture (and the Lyric-Videos linked above):

8. Foosley

28. Gail Cahn 442 S 12th St LA Calif. H0 1-2177

As already suggested, 19. could really be 'Herb Alpert 1963'.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-06 15:15 by Irix.

Fantastic catch, Ash, that is what it says!

Thanks for the help, Something. you nailed you can trust me. Lots of finds here!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 20:43 by cyoe.

Something, it does not appear those two bits of graffiti you mention made it onto the proposed London cover, they seem to have been cropped out, based on the proofs Proofs Page

The Cover from the Japanese SHM-SACD UIGY-9038 (15-Dec-2010) looks complete: Front+Rear (3293x1575px).

Here's the Front-Cover from the iTunes-Store (also complete).

For comparison: Japanese SHM-CD UICY-91372, released 24-Jun-2009 (Cover incomplete).



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-04 22:05 by Irix.

Thanks. This and the ABKCO remastered release show a bit more at the top than the original London. I figured for history, go with the original. But the additional graffiti makes an interesting side note.

Re: ALBUM TALK: Bridges To Babylon
Posted by: Rocky Dijon ()
Date: August 5, 2019 02:59

Quote
cyoe
Mr. Dijon, in another thread (Beggars Banquet Help Front Cover) I am trying to list all the graffiti on the Beggars Banquet toilet cover as part of a project to document the history of that album cover (rather than the music, which has been well documented). You are a part of that graffiti and that history. Do you have a few minutes to look the list over and help us solve some of the mysteries,like who engineer Ricky was? Was the creation of the graffiti walls discussed in the studio?

Apologies for redirecting your B2B post, which I enjoyed.

Unfortunately, my username is in honor of the late, great Rocky Dijon. I am not him. However, Gene is Gene Shively at Sunset Sound. Ricky was apparently what Jagger and Richards called tape operator Phill Brown because of Bill Wyman's predecessor Ricky Fenson whose real name was Rich Brown. I'm just passing this on. I wasn't there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-08-05 03:02 by Rocky Dijon.

Quote
ash
I can't see the numbered pics any more.

Right in between "Brian" and "You can trust me", underneath Brian, faintly in grey...."is a paranoid GENIUS"

I'd appreciate someone else's opinion too but so...have Mick and Keith written Brian is a paranoid GENIUS" on the wall ? !

Yes, spotted that years ago. Interesting.

Great info nonetheless, thank you, "Rocky".