THE RIVER Gate-fold sleeve 2LP: Venezuelan release

Right after opening the parcel that has been delivered from the other
side of the globe. International shipping cost only $5.00 by FEDEX 
which are unbelievably cheap compared to the current standard rates
for importing LP or 12" releases.

Special record packages, like gate-fold sleeves or box sets, always stimulate collectors' mind. This is particularly the case when they are limited in quantities or available only in certain regions or countries. As already featured several times in this blog, the gate-fold sleeve edition of THE RIVER LP is a representative example of such vinyl collectibles and has been released back in 1980 in the following five countries: Israel (CBS 88510), Mexico (CBS LP2S-103), Venezuela (CBS CS-10378), South Africa (CBS AGP 87/88) and Hong Kong (CBS/SONY 40AP 1960-1). What makes these releases more collector-oriented is the fact that they differ from each other, slightly or totally, in terms of the artwork design inside the gate-fold sleeve. So, serious collectors, including myself, have collected them all (or are trying to do so).

Comparison of Side 4 labels between Venezuelan (right) and Mexican 1st (left) LPs.
Both labels feature the Spanish song titles but they are not necessarily the same.
Strange asterisk insertions on the right margin of track listing on the Venezuelan
label seem to be used to fill space between words.

Among the five gate-fold releases, the Venezuelan copies are considered the rarest and were the last one on my want list. Recently I obtained a so-so conditioned copy (i.e. developing ring wear on the outer sleeve) from the seller in that country. This South American version is distinguished from the others by its unique inner gate-fold design and typos on the record labels throughout all four sides mainly misspelling Springsteen's name, as reported on the Lost In The Flood collector's page. In my opinion, although certainly unique, that lime green-toned inner gate-fold is bizarre rather than interesting, and is hardly well done.

Like Mexican first and second releases, the Venezuelan issue has the Spanish song titles that are put down with the original English titles on both record labels and the rear side of the gate-fold sleeve. However, these Spanish translations are not necessarily the same between the two releases, as shown below and in the picture above (taking Side 4 tracks as the example). 

1.  Ramrod (VN, Ramrod ; MX, Aliete )
2.  The Price You Pay (VN and MX, El Precio Que Pagas )
3.  Drive All Night (VN, Manejando Toda La Noche; MX, Manejan Toda La Noche )
4.  Wreck On The Highway (VN, Accidente En La Autopista ; MX, Muerte En La Autopista )

CBS logo with the catalog number replaces the
barcode found on the US single-pocket sleeve.

The matrix numbers are hand-etched on the dead wax of each side of each disc, but neither mastering engineer's inscription ("KP" by Ken Perry) nor machine-stamped "MASTERED BY CAPITOL" are found.

• Side 1:  CS-10378-A     OM
• Side 2:  CS-10378-B     OM
• Side 3:  CS-10379-A     OM
• Side 4:  CS-10379-B     OM
  

A few other notes to this release. The spine is black in background color with blue lettering, which is — to my knowledge — not the case for any other editions of this double album (mostly blue, with the exception of white for the South African release). The small copyright credits on the bottom left of the rear sleeve is the same as those of the US release (© 1980 CBS Inc./℗ 1980 CBS inc./Manufactured by Columbia Records/CBS Inc./51 W 52 Street, New York, N.Y./... ), which should have been removed or modified appropriately to indicate where the copy is in fact manufactured.

Most probably, the only known "EL RIO" (THE RIVER) LP sleeve with black-colored spine

Withdrawn Japanese 7" single with a rare
sticker for white label promo copy

Having collected all the five gate-fold versions of my favorite album, I still prefer the Mexican first edition over the other four releases because I like the way the lyrics are presented (on the inside of the gate fold, but not on the separated lyric sheet) although those for the first four songs are not listed because the gate fold reproduces only the inner side of the folded lyric sheet accompanied by the standard issues. Production-wise, the Hong Kong release is also very nice with high quality in both sleeve and vinyl discs. As I wrote previously, back then, the Hong Kong Office of CBS/Sony Records was administrated by Japanese staff. So, I often fantasize about the possibility that CBS/Sony originally had a plan to release THE RIVER in this deluxe package here in Japan (but that fell through). Sounds ludicrous?  OK, you remember that this record label had initially released Hungry Heart / Held Up Without A Gun (CBS/Sony 07SP 511), the first single off the album, with the unique, full color-insert sleeve (which differed completely from the standard "Boardwalk" B&W sleeve and was eventually withdrawn). So, maybe it's not necessarily a very absurd idea that the album sleeve could also have been specially treated in a non-standard manner like gate fold, although no supportive evidence exists for this. Just a fantasized idea.
— Back to the relevant post 👉

From top to bottom: Israeli, South African, Hong
Kong, Mexican and Venezuelan releases.

The inside is different than the outside. BTW, have you noticed
that the Mexican LP is upgraded to an almost mint copy
from the one previously shown here?