Classic Vinyl Bootleg Revisited: THIS GUNS FOR HIRE 5LP box (concluded)

First pressing with 4 photo-prints and second pressing

THIS GUNS FOR HIRE represents one of the earliest-known and best-sounding bootlegs from the 1984 American Tour. There are at least three variations for this title (two pressings from the original plates and one pirate copy), and according to one source [a booklet listing almost all BORN IN THE U.S.A. (BITUSA) Tour bootlegs named Last Ride In A Pink Cadillac], the first pressing contains two color photographs although no information is provided as to the actual images photo-taken. This box set is not listed in the bootleg section of Blinded By The Light (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985; Plexus, London), and any other bootleg guide listing this title does not mention about the photos, except for the one called Unofficially Springsteen: The Boss A to Z (by Mick St. Michael, 1985; Choice Publishers, London).

Classic Vinyl Bootleg Revisited: THIS GUNS FOR HIRE 5LP box (continued)

GRANDE FINALE, one of the best-looking BITUSA bootlegs
in the vinyl era (above) and the description on THIS GUNS
FOR HIRE found in the accompanying booklet (below)

A comprehensive list of vinyl bootlegs from the BORN IN THE U.S.A. tour is available in the 12-page booklet called Last Ride In A Pink Cadillac, which is included in GLANDE FINALE 6LP box set comprising the entire last performance of the 1984-85 World Tour at Los Angeles Coliseum. In fact, this booklet is concise and a very useful reference to a total of nearly 100 live bootleg releases from this tour. In my opinion, the brief information given to each title and the evaluation of sound quality are overall accurate. According to this booklet, there are two different releases for THIS GUNS FOR FIRE with the identical catalog number (Paladin Records 1959): one being the original (which is further divided into the first and second pressings) and the other copied off the original first pressing. The initial copy I obtained (and mentioned in the last blog) exactly matched what is described for one of the two releases (i.e., PAL A to PAL J hand-etched in the dead waxes and housed in an indeed sturdy box), confirming its identity as a piracy reproduction of the existing bootleg.

Classic Vinyl Bootleg Revisited: THIS GUNS FOR HIRE 5LP box

Never expected to have this legendary 1980 soundboard recording officially
available when collecting these stuff more than 20 to 30 years ago...

The vinyl bootleg industry has substantially changed between THE RIVER and BORN IN THE U.S.A. eras, especially after the main activity moved from the United States to the countries of continental Europe. Not only has the sound quality generally been improved, but the sleeve artwork, often deluxe and colored, has become more professional and attractive when compared to the US bootleg standards of amateurish slick covers.