Collecting log: THE RIVER single disc test pressing for the possible CX-encoded noise-reduction release in the early 1980s (Part 1 of 2)

Two copies of purported U.S. CX-encoded test pressings of THE RIVER (Disc One) came in a plain white sleeve
with minimum information typed on a white sticker. Alongside is an original regular copy (US Columbia PC 36854).

Happy New Year, and thank you for your kind and considerate inquiries via PM about the status of the blog (and my health). Yes, I’m doing fine. As has happened occasionally in the past, over the past three months, my work and personal life have leaned heavily towards the former, leaving me unable to write. I suppose I’m truly a workaholic! Consequently, my collecting activities have been minimal, with only one or two items worth mentioning. That said, it’s only within the past week or so that I’ve finally found some breathing room. Here, I’d like to share my insights about a questionable record—whether official or bogus—that has piqued my interest for some time.

CX identification stickers are typically affixed to the rear
sleeves (photo sourced from the blog on 12/29/2022).

Previously, I introduced the Compatible eXpansion (CX)-encoded vinyl pressing of BORN TO RUN (U.S. Columbia JC 33795), released circa 1982 or early 1983 (see 09/30/2021 and 10/08/2021). This pressing shares the same catalog number as the late 1970s and later reissues, but it is distinguished by CX identification stickers on the album sleeve (see the image right). This particular vinyl format is notable because it can be played both with and without a CX decoder, which is why it is referred to as "compatible." To my surprise, this unique pressing of Springsteen's iconic album has been largely overlooked by collectors, as well as in guidebooks, databases, and fanzines like Backstreets, for nearly four decades. It appears to have only been added to the Discogs database around 2019 (here). 

Despite the innovative technology behind it, the CX encoding system was highly criticized by prominent sound engineers, including Robert "Bob" Ludwig, known later for his work on many of Springsteen's records, including back catalog reissues. Ludwig said, "I hate it. I’m going to give up the business if it ever catches on." (Billboard, June 27, 1981, p. 33). As a vinyl collector, however, I always regard this short-lived release as a unique entry in Springsteen's catalog, rarer and more difficult to find than other variant releases of the third album, such as the Half-Speed Mastered edition (U.S. Columbia HC 33795 for the original and HC 43795 for the reissue).

Although apparently a different pressing, the record labels and stamper rings of a CX-encoded disc (right) are
indistinguishable from those of a standard copy (left). Both are manufactured at Columbia Records' Pitman plant,
as evidenced by the "P" stamp in the deadwax (see the image below).

To date, this U.S. pressing remains the only confirmed commercially released CX-encoded Springsteen record, despite the numerous CX-encoded LPs pressed in Holland and widely available across Europe—none of which, to my knowledge, include any Springsteen titles. However, as I wrote previously (09/30/2021), BORN TO RUN was not the first CX-encoded Springsteen album that brought this unsuccessful audiophile format to my attention. That distinction goes to THE RIVER (Disc One only), reportedly not a commercial release but a test pressing. So far, I have seen it appear online just twice.

The matrix number on Side One deadwax is machine-typed
"XRD-AL-36855-A2" with a "P" stamp, the hallmark of
Pitman-plant manufacturing, on the upstream.

Back in 2016, the first copy appeared on eBay with the caption "COLUMBIA EXPERIMENTAL DEMO CX ENCODED #20/500 Bruce Springsteen The River."  The seller, located in Massachusetts, seemed knowledgeable about audio formats and devices, likely with some direct or indirect connection to the music industry. Then, in 2020, another copy was listed on the auction under the heading "BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 'THE RIVER' CX ENCODED AUDIOPHILE PROMO 1 LP RARE UNUSUAL WLP," although it was actually not a WLP (white label promo). This second copy was sold by someone, probably a second-hand record retailer or shop staff, based in Washington State. Both vinyl pressings look identical in terms of labels and deadwax matrix numbers.

— Continued to Part 2.

Collecting log: The Japanese original release of NEBRASKA LP. Was it really issued with a magnificent full-color poster? (Part 2 of 2)

A typical NEBRASKA ad in music
magazines in Japan came with a
catchphrase, "This is a personal
message to you from Bruce."

Among collectors, certain copies of Japan's original NEBRASKA LP (CBS/SONY 25AP 2440) have been highly sought-after because a collectors' bible, the Blinded By The Light book (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985, Plexus, London), reports that the first 1000 copies were issued with a 24" x 36" color poster (exactly, A1 size: 23.4" x 33.1"). As explained in the previous post (09/18/2024), however, I have long been skeptical about this description.

Back when it was originally released in Japan in October 1982, many posters were not inserted into the LP sleeve but were handed in-store as a roll-up form to those who bought the album. Suppose there were poster-contained LP records in the order of a thousand copies instead of 100 or 10 copies only. If that were the truth, in my sense, we could have had many more chances to see or encounter such copies, at least here in Japan.

The 24" x 36" poster is neatly folded to a size that
fits into the LP jacket, obviously done at the printer.
However, it's too tight when a record disc, inner
sleeve, Japanese liner note, and poster are all put
inside the sleeve together.

That being said, the poster-contained copies have been circulated in the second-hand market, even though quite hard to come across. For example, I've seen two copies sold successfully on eBay in June 2006 and July 2019. In the former case, the cumulative total bids of 18 for the copy auctioned by a Japanese seller resulted in a winning bid of US $213.16 (that would cost $332.85 in 2024, according to the US Inflation Calculator). The latter copy from Italy fetched $371.00 (calculated to be $456.82 in 2024) with a total of nine bids.

As far as I've seen, if not all, almost all of these posters were six-folded professionally and accurately in perfect squares that fit into the album sleeve, including the above two examples (and mine). In addition, the first pressing of the Japanese LP was not shrink-wrapped, as opposed to the second and third pressings released in 1982 and 1984, respectively (different obi decorations easily identify the three releases). However, these do not necessarily mean that the folded posters were originally included or inserted into the sleeve of a certain limited fraction of the original copies.

The back cover of Backstreets Mag no. 10 issue
displays the NEBRASKA poster processed in a
modified, mezzotint-like appearance. Note the
folded lines that look identical to the image in 
the previous post (09/18/2024). 

Back in 1984 (four decades ago!), the Number 10 issue of Backstreets magazine published a four-page featured article entitled "THE BOSS IN JAPAN" that introduced various Japanese collectibles. The album and poster in question were mentioned following the regular second pressing LP of GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J. (CBS/SONY SOPO-124) decorated with a wrap-around obi strip that completely covers the album sleeve (see 11/30/2014 for this collectible LP):

The only other noteworthy stock variations is the Japanese Nebraska which in its first limited edition came complete with a magnificent full color poster, folded and inserted into the jacket.   It was impossible to find even in Japan and commands high collector’s prices now. An even smaller number of the posters were printed and not folded. For our money, this is one of the very nicest posters of Bruce yet, a must see (it’s on  the back cover of this magazine, in a mezzotinted version).  [Text underline made by this blogger]

According to the credits, this article was compiled with the help of a few Japanese collectors and experts, including Mr. Yosuke Ono, the then and still most famous Springsteen collector in Japan. So, the information conveyed therein is considered highly trustworthy. Nevertheless, errors and mistakes are rather common in collector magazines, especially the more informative ones like this. For example, the GREETINGS LP mentioned above is mistakenly called the "first" edition. The above excerpt reports that the unfolded posters were printed in an even smaller number (than the folded posters), which contradicts what I've observed: the unfolded (rolled) posters have circulated relatively more frequently in online auction and the collectors' market. In fact, two such posters are currently being put up for the YAHOO! JAPAN Auction by different sellers (auction IDs p1153621639 and w1141750178; both will end tonight).

The poster section of the 6th Annual Summer Warehouse
Sale Catalog issued in 1995 by Backstreets Records lists
a folded NEBRASKA poster alone without the LP for sale
at $200! The poster size (18" x 30") is erroneously smaller
than the actual size.

Finally, yes or no, which is the answer to this subject? Despite the Backstreets Mag's article, my answer is probably no. I'm still not confident, though. I guess the folded posters were probably also handed over at retail shops because of the relative ease of handling and carrying in a record bag compared with the rolled ones. On the other hand, although not impossible, it must have been too tight to push a multi-folded poster into a standard single LP sleeve that holds a vinyl disc, a thick inner sleeve, a questionnaire card, and a two-folded Japanese lyric translation/liner-note sheet. 

After all, the correct answer to this question might not mean so much to us collectors because a folded poster, whether originally enclosed in the sleeve or not, makes a great companion piece to this Japanese record.

— Back to Part 1.

 

Collecting log: The Japanese original release of NEBRASKA LP. Was it really issued with a magnificent full-color poster? (Part 1 of 2)

Six-folded posters are available almost strictly as a set with the
album. In contrast, the rolled and unfolded posters (see the
image on 09/24/2017) generally circulate alone at auctions
and collectors' markets.

Japan is one of the great sources for vinyl and CD collectibles, not only for unique products of both regular and promotional releases but also for standard-issue variants (e.g., obi decoration and variation, graphic modification with Japanese characters, Japan-only booklets, etc.). However, there have been misunderstandings and insufficient information on some common and rare collectors' items. Let me start by mentioning a few notable instances that have already been featured in past blog posts. 

• The first vinyl edition of LIVE/1975-85 (CBS/SONY 75AP 3300-4) is often said to come out with a gold obi, so as the initial CD version (CBS/SONY 75DP 700-2) did, but the red is the first (see 11/23/2020). 
• It had long been unknown or unnoticed that the extremely rare, promotion-only Human Touch c/w Better Days 3" CD single (SONY XDEP 93043), also subtitled The Boss Is Back!!, was originally accompanied by a tri-fold insert with the twin album's info and lyrics, just because such insert is missing in most copies in circulation (see 05/19/2017).

Another example of my awareness concerns the first LP edition of NEBRASKA (CBS/SONY 25AP 2440), released here on October 9, 1982. The collectible section of the Blinded By The Light book (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985, Plexus, London) writes, 'First 1000 copies issued with a 24" x 36" colour poster,'  which, to my understanding, is a somewhat misleading description. Why? That's because it says as if a poster were included in the first 1000 copies of the album (which I don't think so). Still, such an interpretation seems to be a long-held belief among many, especially foreign collectors. In the following, I explain the reasons for my claim.

• In Japan, promotional and bonus posters were generally handed to purchasers by retail shop cashiers as rolls rather than folded and inserted into album sleeves to ensure the posters remained crease-free for display (the rolled NEBRASKA poster is shown in the blog post on 09/24/2017).
• This was (and still is) the standard way for Japanese record companies to distribute posters to customers. 
• The only exception I can think of among his Japanese releases is Live Collection (CBS/SONY 20AP 3326), a Japan-exclusive four-track 12" EP released in 1987, which included a tetra-folded color poster inserted into the shrink-wrapped sleeve.
  

Left: The live version of Incident On 57 Street alone was worth getting this Japan-only maxi-single, although sound-wise, I prefer the same track on the 12" U.K. release (CBS 650193 6;  see 12/09/2014). Right: The front sleeve gold sticker says "with a pinup" in the very small Japanese font, meaning a poster is inserted into the record sleeve.

In agreement with these observations, the vertical obi of the first press shortly states (in Japanese), "★Poster giveaway for first press only. (new line) Please ask in-store for details," but never reads something like "Bonus poster included" anywhere on the obi, sleeve, or liner-note insert (see the image below).

The poster-related note can only be found
on the first-pressing obi (encircled with a
yellow line), which is absent from the obi
strips for the second and third pressings.

• In light of the above facts and observations, it is likely that most of the said 1000 posters were printed for a giveaway and distributed in-store to those who pre-ordered or bought the album at retail shops (I was a real-time purchaser in 1982, back in high school).
• I would lke to stress that if 1000 copies of the LP had been indeed issued with the poster enclosed in the sleeve, we must have seen such copies more frequently for auction and second-hand sale (but in fact, extraordinarily much fewer chances to see them even here in Japan).
• On the other hand, unfolded posters alone are occasionally turned up at online auctions or available at the collectors' markets, supporting that they were handed out to album purchasers independently of the LP record.

These could explain why the first pressing (easily identified by the obi) with or containing a poster seldom comes across even though 1000 copies were supposed to be so. Then, what explanation is possible for the six-folded poster, as shown in the top image?

— Continued to Part 2.