Collecting log: TOP 3 collectible acquisitions in 2014

Seeing the New Year soon, I have checked back the recent collecting log and selected what are considered as Top 3 collectibles from what I have obtained through this year. The (subjective, self-satisfied) results are listed below with a short note for each collectible.


Murder Incorporated / Because The Night (live) / Pink Cadillac / 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) 
(Holland Columbia 661313 6)

    This 4-track 12-inch vinyl is pressed in Holland for export to France in 1995. Housed in a black & white cover whose design is identical to that of the 7-inch vinyl (COL 661313 7; backed with Because The Night) or 5-inch CD-EP (COL 661313 2; the same configuration as the 12") under the same title. Like the CD-EP, it comes with a black sticker on the front sleeve saying in French "titre inédit avec le E Street Band" (new song with the E Street Band). According to the Lost In The Flood collector's page, for unknown reasons, this release was hastily withdrawn. Seldom seen on eBay indeed, and equally tough to find as the 7-inch counterpart.

TEARDROPS ON THE CITY   
(bootleg LP, no catalog number)
    This Swedish triple-LP bootleg from THE RIVER European Tour 1981, was and still is considered one of the essential titles in the history of Bruceleg. There are reissues and pirate versions of this vinyl bootleg circulating (and even the known CD editions have been sourced from the vinyl copies because, reportedly, the original master tape of the concert no longer exists). However, this copy is a genuine original pressing (and the second copy to my collection), as shown in the right (upper), parallel with the reissue pressing for comparison (lower; which I got sometime in mid-1980). As you can recognize, the difference is obvious. Never expected to have come across this very limited, fabulous copy at this price (about $10) here in the Far East, more than three decades after it came out from a north European country.

THE RIVER  
(New Zealand CBS S2BP 220235)
    Among all of the acquisitions in 2014, the absolute BEST is a regular copy of my favorite double LP from New Zealand. Why? Just take a look at the right-hand picture and it tells all. Unbelievably and truly one of a kind (see the post on 2/20/2016 for more details).


Have a Happy New Year and see you in 2015!