Collecting log: GREETINGS Japanese 2nd pressing LP with a wrap-around Obi

Note the unnecessarily and rather punctiliously
folded wrap-around obi (pic from actual auction).

Quite busy these days and haven't had much time to write about rare records or old bootleg titles. So, here's a brief note from my collecting log that might interest some readers. I recently picked up, through a domestic online auction, a used copy of the second Japanese LP pressing of GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J. (CBS/SONY SOPO-124) — the one famous for its wrap-around obi decoration. It cost me only 380 Yen (= 3 bucks and some pennies) with no other bidders, probably because, as shown in the picture (from the actual auction), the obi was folded and cut open along the bottom edge. Even so, both the postcard sleeve and vinyl are clean in excellent condition.

From BACKSTREETS Records catalogs issued back in the 1990s
(specifically from 1991, 1992, and 1996).

This release has long been one of the steady collectibles from Japan, not only in its promo form but also as a regular copy. Browsing through some old catalogs I received from BACKSTREETS Records back in the 1990s, I found that it listed for between $350 and $425 in set-sale offers (though even back then, when vinyl discs were in higher demand and regarded more serously as popular music collectibles, that still seemed way overpriced to me). Still, a good buy, isn't it?

What made me happy with this cheap purchase is that I finally completed the trio — all three copies for this particular releas are now in my collection!e! (BTW, I have yet to buy that remastered LP box; that's way too expensive!)

ALL THE THREE GET TOGETHER: a test pressing with blank white labels, a white label sample copy with a boarding ticket-style questionnaire card, and a regular issue of the Japanese second pressing for the first album (CBS/Sony SOPO-124)