BORN TO RUN US pressing LP variants: white label promo (2)

 Columbia "Demo" stamp, circa 1975

As explained in the last post, there are several variations in the US white label promotional (WLP) vinyl album of BORN TO RUN that have been circulating in collectors' markets over the years. The matrix inscriptions on the dead wax areas of the vinyl indicate that the early WLP copies are pressed with the same stamper that has been used for pressing the script cover test pressing. So far I have owned five copies of the WLP version of this great album which are roughly classified into three groups: (1) the "John" misspelt sleeve, (2) the error-fixed and corner-cut sleeve with some promo stuff, and (3) the error-fixed and corner-cut sleeve with a time strip pasted on the front. The first one was already introduced the last time So, let me continue the subject for the other two.


2. WLP in the error-fixed and corner-cut sleeve with promo stuff

WLP Copy #2
Matrix: numbers: P AL-33795-1A MCR₁ / P BL-33795-1A MCR;
Corner cut; No time strip; Promo stamp; One photo

    There are two copies (#2 and #3) in my collection that fall into this group. According to the matrix information, they are truly the first pressing, with the matrix number suffix 1A and MCR markings on both sides (MCR₁ on Side 1; see the last post). However, the correct spelling of the album sleeve credit indicates that the vinyl discs are definitely not early pressings. As shown in the pictures, the two double jackets represent a typical promotional format, that is, the corner-cut sleeve (note that the inner sleeve is also clipped) with a “DEMONSTRATION NOT FOR SALE” stamp in black ink near the Big Man's head.

WLP Copy #3
Matrix: numbers: P AL-33795-1A MCR₁ / P BL-33795-1A MCR;
Corner cut; No time strip; Promo stamp; Two photos; A 4-page
reprint from Gallery and a 1-page reprint from Record World

     Unique to these pressings is the inclusion of promo photos and Xerox copies of magazine articles, suggesting that they are distributed as press kits rather than for radio-station air play. This inference may be supported by the absence of the time strip sticker that is often pasted on the front sleeve of the WLP copies (but this does not necessarily mean that there are no press kit packages containing the gate-fold sleeve with the time strip). One of my two copies (#2) includes only one promo photo while the other (#3) carries two each of promo photos and article reprints (a 4-page review article from the August 1975 issue of Gallery and the one-page club report from the 8/23/1975 issue of Record World featuring the opening Bottom Line gig). I do not know exactly whether each copy is as it came originally or some pieces are missing from the whole package. I guess, probably, such press kits may differ originally in their contents with different combinations of promo photos and article copies. For example, shown below is the most gorgeous WLP package I’ve ever seen (it’s not my possession), which includes only one photo and is without the reprint from the Record World article when compared to one of my copies above.

From eBay auction in 2006 (not in my possession). The set includes an 8" x 10" promo photo, a 1-page reprint from Time Magazine, a 4-page reprint from Gallery, a 7-page reprint from Crawdaddy, a 2-page reprint from The Real Paper, a 3-page reprint from the LA Times, a double size 2-page reprint from Good Times, and a double size 3-page reprint from Melody Maker. According to my record, the final amounts were US $540.00 with 8 bids.

— To be continued.