This label, and the single album release on it, are the result of a phony record review that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine on October 18, 1969. According to this review, a two-record set called The Masked Marauders [Deity DKS 9001/2] was released that included John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan backed by George Harrison and an unnamed drummer which was recorded in a small town near the site of the original Hudson Bay Colony in Canada.

The review, by Greil Marcus writing with the obviously fake pseudonym "T.M. Christian" (The Magic Christian?), was hilarious, mentioning among other obvious put-ons that Dylan sings an eighteen-minute version of "Season of the Witch," where he does a superb imitation of early Donovan. The reviewer says side two opens up with an acappella version of "Masters of War," sung by Jagger and McCartney, which after hearing, you truly wish that "You could stand over their graves until you're sure that they're dead". Side four allegedly begins with Dylan's "Cow Pie," which is supposedly very reminiscent of Billy Ed Wheeler's "The Interstate Is Coming Through My Outhouse," along with Mick Jagger's new instant classic, "I Can't Get No Nookie".

In spite of the fact that the whole review was obviously a joke, Allen Klein, the business manager of both the Stones and Beatles, called Rolling Stone and wanted to know how he could get a copy. Albert Grossman, Dylan's manager, also called requesting a copy. Radio station disc jockeys started calling distributors asking when they were going to get their copies.

As the legend of this mythical bootleg album grew, Marcus decided to carry the joke even further. He and a fellow editor/critic at the Rolling Stone recruited a group to record an album, imitating the singers as reported in the fake review. The group is reported to be the members of the Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band, a San Francisco outfit handy to Marcus' home base in San Francisco. Marcus then peddled this tape to various radio stations, who played various cuts, and the legend grew more.

Finally, Warner Brothers bought the rights to it and released it, with the same cover graphics shown in the Rolling Stone spoof review. Since the review had said the record was on the Deity label, they started a one-time subsidiary called Deity Records. Of course, the liner notes on the album were written by the very same T.M Christian. In the liner notes he comments that "Leading experts now estimate that the music business is currently 90% hype and 10% bullshit. The Masked Marauders, bless their hearts, have gone far beyond that."

Surprisingly, the album had so much underground hype that the bogus album from the bogus review reached #114 on the album charts! Even though the review was a joke, and the inner sleeve even clearly indicated the record was a joke, no one ever went broke underestimating the gullibility of the record buying public.

The Diety label is white with purple printing. The "DEITY" logo is above the center hole. The catalog number is in the Reprise 6000 numbering sequence.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Deity Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (all of which are out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2004 by Mike Callahan.