Based on the "
Sunburst" (also known as "
Orange/yellow") label of the Columbia Records, there are at least two different issues for the original
Born To Run 7" single released in the US back in 1975. Then, as I have given in
the last post, the next question is whether there are any differences between the two copies in addition to the label design. The answer is yes, but before coming to the definitive difference, let me make the comparison more closely.
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Left and middle: Label with "stamper ring" around the center hole (left) and plain label without it (middle).
Right upper and lower: labels attached on disc loosely (upper) and tightly (lower). Note the syntax error "Take from ..." printed on the "tall font" label.
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Left, tall font disc; right, normal font disc
(not well focused due to poor photographic skills) |
There are a few more differences associated with the record labels. One is regarding a "stamper ring" which is usually left on the label around the large center hole of a 7-inch disc when a lump of hot vinyl is sandwiched with a pair of labels and pressed together by two stampers (corresponding to A and B Sides). This ring is clearly visible on the "tall" font labels but is absent on the "normal" font labels. Furthermore, when looking at the outer margin, the "tall" font label is closely attached onto the disc while that of the "normal" font version seems to be glued but not pressed, seemingly attached loosely on and easily peeled off from the disc. A notable difference in the shape is also apparent on the edge of the disc. As shown in the picture left, the "tall font" disc has a sharp and tapered edge which is normal looking, just like that of a 12" or LP record. On the other hand, the edge of the "normal font" disc is rather flat or square off.
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| Then how about the white label promo copy? |
How could these differences arise? Certain record companies in the US, especially the Columbia Records, had primarily used
styrene (
polystyrene, exactly) instead of
vinyl (
polyvinyl chloride, exactly) between 1960's and 1980's as material for making 7-inch records, most probably for cost-cutting purposes. The manufacturing process for styrene disc differs radically from vinyl disc pressing. Briefly, thermosetting, liquid styrene polymers are injected into closed stampers (used as mold) to form a disc, and the labels are painted or glued afterwards. Molding but not pressing a disc results in its flat outer edge without stamper ring on the labels. This way of production does not require heating of stampers, alleviating the progress of aged deterioration, hence allowing its use for a longer period of time than vinyl-pressing stampers (benefits for cost cutting). These differences in vinyl and styrene disc production certainly reflect the observed differences between the US regular 7" copies of
Born To Run.
— To be continued.
Pitman, for a few years after 1975, did press the occasional WLP in vinyl, which would explain why their particular fonts (all from Mergenthaler Linotype's VIP phototypesetting library, and first used in Pitman's print shop in June 1974 while the old-style hot-metal Linotype and Intertype typefaces in evidence on the labels of Bruce's first two Columbia albums and singles were phased out and eliminated altogether by November) were on such copies. For a time in 1973 to early '74, Pitman - and Terre Haute - occasionally pressed selected stock 45's in vinyl to test the waters as to how they fared over their styrene counterparts (I have two such pressings, both by Chicago - "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" from Pitman and "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" from Terre Haute), but the 1973-74 PVC shortage - plus the Arab oil embargo - would put paid to that, and each of the other two plants would only occasionally do vinyl promos from there on out.
ReplyDeleteYou may want to check the dash numbers on that Pitman WLP and compare on the stereo side to the stock dash numbers from that plant. Pitman may've been the only other plant besides Santa Maria at this point to press their WLP's in vinyl.