Classic Vinyl Bootleg Revisited: THE GREAT WHITE BOSS — Making a comparison of the various editions (Part 1 of 3)

Vinyl bootleg copies of the legendary Bottom Line concert had been more common and readily
available under this title than any other, such as the infamous LIVE on Coral Records. Here,
four copies are compared, two each from the triple-vinyl box (above) and double LP set (below).

The title was presumably named after GREAT WHITE WONDER, the first documented vinyl bootleg of the rock era released in 1969. Maybe, this one is not an essential vinyl bootleg. It is neither the first nor definitive release among those that capture the legendary Bottom Line live broadcasting in New York City, August 1975 (see 08/11/2016 and 08/15/2016). However, the album title THE GREAT WHITE BOSS probably represents one of the most familiar among hundreds of live Brucelegs in the vinyl age, along with the landmark releases like PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE or LIVE IN THE PROMISED LAND. That is probably because, compared with its predecessors (i.e., LIVE on Coral Records and LIVE AT THE BOTTOM LINE 8/15/75), this version has been widely circulated as several variants that differ in disc number, labels, cover art, etc. So, I had long considered adding it to the blog's classic vinyl bootleg category.

The pictured bootleg is one (#10) of the several titles on Deranleau's
list (see below) that have not been mentioned on this blog so far. I love
cover drawings of old vinyl bootlegs like this, which are amateurish but
well done generally. From the title, I expected that the bootleg would
include a Prove It All Night  1978 live, hopefully, a version not heard
before (actually, not on the record). Unfortunately, when mail ordering
this (January 1982), no track information was available from the import
retailer. Back then, purchasing a bootleg wasa kind of thrill, often
resulting in a disappointing outcome, though.

As you already know and as found in the bootleg section of the Blinded By The Light book (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985, Plexus, London), there are roughly two vinyl editions issued under the bootleg name, one being boxed triple records while the other consisting of two vinyl discs in a single-pocket sleeve. The box set appeared earlier, at least a few years before I started collecting in 1981. The first issue of the Backstreets fanzine (issued October 1980) features an article on a serious U.S. Springsteen collector where he compiles 30 Bruceleg albums in his possession, including the 3-LP set (see below). As noted previously (12/10/2017), I consider his list shows an example to overview what bootlegs were available back up to then (i.e., before the official release of THE RIVER), although missing such pioneering releases as THERE AIN'T NOBODY HERE BILLBOARD TONIGHT and LIVE AT THE BOTTOM LINE (mentioned above) and including non-significant reissues and pirate copies like KING OF THE ALLEY and OCTOBER STORIES.

Springsteen’s bootleg albums (compiled by Ken Deranleau, Backstreets Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 2, 1980)

You Can Trust Your Car to the Man Who Wears the Star (2) — From 1976 [sic]. Fire on the Fingertips “E” Ticket — alternate studio tracks some without vocals. Firewax — Also known as Fire or  Fire Vinyl. Contains a great version of “The Fever.” Piece de Resistance (3) — A personal favorite. Live at the Hammersmith Odeon Live at the Roxy (2) Roxy L.A. in Stereo (2) Return to Rock ‘N’ Roll Prove It Every Night — Two interviews plus “Good Rockin’ Tonight.” Bruce Springsteen and the E Streeters. Live in the Promised Land (3) Hot Coals from the Firey [sic] Furnace King of the Alley — Many unusual tracks. Thunder Rouge Bruce Springsteen ’78 (2) — Live in Cincinatti [sic]. Springsteen Raises Cain (2)

Flat Top and Pin Drop Ragamuffin Gunner (2) — Lots of unusual tracks. The Jersey Devil Harley in Heat Philadelphia Special (3) — Red, white and blue vinyl. Includes Gary Busey on “Rave On” and “Quarter to Three.” Agora, Part 1 (2) Agora, Part 2 (2) October Stories More Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. The Boss of E Street — “High School Confidential” and “Pretty Flamingo.” Box O’ Rocks (5) Bruce Springsteen Live (2) — From the Bottom Line. Great White Boss (3) — White vinyl. Paid the Cost to be The Boss Note:  This is a literal transcription of the original list that contains a few errors, as noted. Indicated in parentheses are the number of vinyl discs (if more than two, although some titles miss such information).

As listed at number 29, the triple-record edition was originally released with Hangman labels on various colored pieces of vinyl, although based on the circulating copies, some carried plain labels instead. The original Hangman release was followed by a very similar black box issued from the Blockhead Records label with the insert cover almost indistinguishable unless closely examined. So then whether was the latter a repressing or a pirate copy to the original?

— To be continued to Part 2.