Collecting log: THE RIVER single disc test pressing for the possible CX-encoded noise-reduction release in the early 1980s (Part 2 of 2)

Taken from the front sleeve of the CX-SAMPLER
LP (Columbia Special Products CXSM 170258),
distributed in the U.S. and featuring tracks from
Billy Joel and some others, but not including any
recording by Springsteen.

Compatible eXpansion (CX)-encoding technology was a short-lived and ultimately unsuccessful initiative by Columbia/CBS Records in the  U.S. and Europe during the early 1980s. Originally created in the late 1970s by CBS laboratories in the U.S., the technology aimed to reduce surface noise and extend dynamic range on vinyl-disc playback through the use of a decoder. While its adoption failed on vinyl, the noise-reduction system achieved greater success when applied to laserdiscs. In the U.S., at least one Springsteen album, BORN TO RUN (Columbia JC 33795), was commercially released in this now-forgotton format, possibly as a temporary, experimental release to gauge customer reactions and market trends (see 09/30/2021 and 10/08/2021). However, no other albums have been confirmed to be pressed in this audiophile edition anywhere in the world.

Springsteen is mentioned as a candidate
for CX alternate releases in a Billboard
article titled "CBS steps up push on CX
LPs" (Nov. 13th, 1982). Bill Fox, Vice
President of operations and finance at
CBS Records Group, was responsible
for the worldwide CX effort (Note that
Billboard has released magazine issues
into the public domain by releasing
them on Google Books and the
Internet Archive).

Then, in 2016 and again in 2020, a purported CX-encoded test pressing of THE RIVER (Disc One only), intended for demo or in-house use only, surfaced on eBay from the East and West Coasts, respectively. As shown in the previous post (01/04/2025), each test pressing came in a plain white sleeve with a small rectangular sticker that mentioned "CX" and featured a misspelled artist name (see the image far below). Despite being stated as a test pressing, the labels on the vinyl itself were the standard red Columbia design with a yellow rim, making them indistinguishable from a regular pressing at first glance.

That said, there are two distinct differences between the "CX" test pressings and regular pressings. The first is the matrix numbers stamped on the deadwax of the CX discs (see the images of SIDE ONE in the post on 01/04/2025 and SIDE TWO on 09/30/2021):

SIDE 1:   p    XRD-AL-36855-A2
SIDE 2:   p    XRD-BL-36855-A2

The preceding "p" stamp is the hallmark of Columbia Records' Pitman-plant pressing.

By contrast, to the best of my knowledge, all standard U.S. vinyl pressings—whether early or late—feature hand-etched matrix numbers. Early pressings also include two distinctive markings: a "MASTERED BY CAPITOL" stamp and the hand-written initials "KP " of Mastering Engineer Ken Perry (see 05/30/2020 and earlier, such as 09/10/2014). For instance, Disc One from one of the regular pressings in my possession bears the following matrix numbers (oblique, hand-etched; straight; stamped):

SIDE 1:   p   PAL-36855 1G F7        MASTERED AT CAPITOL         KP
SIDE 2:   p   PBL-36855 1F F6        MASTERED AT CAPITOL         KP

The second difference is the width of the silent part between tracks, which is noticeably wider on the CX-test discs (see the photo immediately below). However, I am uncertain whether this feature is technically related to the CX noise reduction system. Does anyone have any information about this?

Compared to the standard disc (left ), the CX-test pressing (right ) features a visibly unique characteristic: wider spacing of the silent grooves between tracks. Both images show Side Two of Disc One, with insets offering enlarged views of the silent groove section between Track One (Hungry Heart ) and Track Two (Out in the Street ).

Without a doubt, the central question regarding these alleged CX-encoded test-pressing copies is whether they are official or counterfeit, as no CX-encoded version of this album has ever been commercially known to exist. In the following, I summarize the facts and evidence that either support or refute the authenticity of these test pressings.

CX-encoded LP alternates (identified by the red
logo sticker) have been released for several
of Billy Joel's albums in the U.S. and Europe
(not in my possession). Could Springsteen's
titles have been released as well?

Supportive

1. Both the East and West Coast sellers acquired this Springsteen test pressing along with other known CX-test and regular pressings from industry insiders or audio reviewers. The West Coast seller explained, "We recently purchased a small collection of records from a sound engineer who had some audiophile albums and a few were the short lived CX encoded albums put out by Sony/Columbia/CBS records."
2. Each vinyl disc appears to be professionally pressed, exhibiting a clean surface with minimal crackling or popping when played on a turntable. As shown in the previous post (01/04/2025), the record labels seem genuine and indistinguishable from those on standard pressings.
3. The sound quality is acceptable even without decoding, although I must stress that I'm not an audiophile but a collector.
4. The matrix number prefix, XRD, is quite uncommon, and I have never seen it in the matrix numbers on any U.S.-pressed LPs of Springsteen’s titles. However, a search of the Discogs and Popsike databases uncovered several instances of this prefix appearing in the matrix numbers of Columbia/CBS Records releases across various genres, from rock to classical music, including Elvis Costello's CX-test pressing for GET HAPPY!  (here). According to the East Coast seller, "The XRD means it's encoded for the CX process."  However, I have not yet been able to confirm this claim.
5. The commercial release of the CX-encoded edition of BORN TO RUN LP raises the possibility that, back then, additional albums were being prepared for similar treatment—potentially including THE RIVER CX demo LP. Multiple CX-alternate releases from the back catalog of a single artist, such as Billy Joel, further support this idea.

The sticker carries a misspelling and no record title.
And what does the number "11" refer to?  Copy number?

Refutable

1. The record labels are from Columbia Records' regular pressing rather than Pitman's white test pressing (see 01/25/2015 and 11/11/2017). Moreover, there is no "CX logo" on them, even though the CX-encoded BORN TO RUN disc features it on the standard red labels (see 10/08/2021).
   
2. Although THE RIVER is a double album, only the Disc One test pressing has been circulated. Note, however, that this seems plausible, as test pressings for multiple-disc sets are generally checked individually during manufacturing (e.g., LIVE/1975-85; see 09/24/2022 and 09/30/2022).
   
3. The improbable misspelling "SPRINGSTEIN" on the rectangular sticker pasted on the sleeve raises suspicions that the record is not genuine but a counterfeit. The sticker is not unlike that of a LIVE test pressing, though (see 09/30/2022).

Based on the above, it seems to me that this is genuine, though I'm still unsure. I would appreciate your thoughts and any insights you may have regarding this particular CX-test pressing, as well as any leads or information you might have on it.

— Back to Part 1.