Collecting log: BORN TO RUN Argentine Pressings with an Unusual Track Configuration — Gatefold vs. Single Sleeve: Which Came First? (Part 1 of 2)

A recently acquired sample copy of the BORN TO RUN 50th-anniversary SACD+2CD set, released exclusively in Japan in 2025, alongside another sample copy of the Japanese 30th-anniversary box set from 2005, obtained years earlier.

Rather belatedly, I finally picked up the 50th-anniversary edition of BORN TO RUN (Sony Music SICP 10161-3), released exclusively in Japan late last year—naturally, a sample copy. Since I had never obtained the 1975 C.W. Post College show from Nugs’ live archives, included here as a two-CD set and famous for its live version of Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, it was a good buy for me. That purchase prompted me to revisit my own collection of this masterpiece, especially the vinyl editions.

When it comes to collectible LP editions of BORN TO RUN, the item that probably comes to mind first for most collectors is the U.S. advance pressing, widely known as the Script Cover for the script-style lettering used for the album title (Columbia, no number; 01/25/2015). In addition to standard collectibles such as white-label promotional pressings (Columbia PC 33795; 02/04/2015), there are several other U.S. vinyl items that might also be regarded as collectibles, ranging from lesser-known rarities to downright bizarre items, including the short-lived CX-encoded noise-reduction disc (Columbia JC 33795; 09/30/2021) and a gatefold sleeve with the inside printed upside down (07/05/2015). Turning to the Japanese releases, my top pick is the first pressing with the distinctive oval-shaped sticker on the shrinkwrap (CBS/Sony SOPO-96; 05/14/2022), which is quite hard to come by. But what else is worth noting?

Another Japanese BORN TO RUN rarity? A sealed MiniDisc copy (Sony SRYS 1023), released on December 12, 1992.

Maybe many more, though my perspective is admittedly limited. For sheer unusualness, the Argentine pressing really stands out and certainly catches a collector’s eye. On the now-defunct but archived LOST IN THE FLOOD collector’s page, it was listed among the first notable editions, right after the Script Cover in the relevant album section. As you fellow collectors already know, what makes this South American release truly unique is its track configuration. I can’t think of any release of this album from another country—or, for that matter, any other original Springsteen album—where the running order was altered this substantially as shown below (affected tracks indicated in green):

• Lado 1: Thunder Road / Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out / Backstreets / She's The One
• Lado 2: Born To Run / Night / Meeting Across The River / Jungleland 

Although not exactly comparable, the only other cases are probably the single-LP issues featuring selections from LIVE/1975-85 (12/04/2020 for sleeve images), released in Latin American countries such as Brazil (CBS 177.127/1-464061), Venezuela (CBS CS-10624), and Argentina (CBS 70-015). These were 10-track compilation albums rather than the original five-LP set, but they were regular commercial releases nonetheless, unlike the similar North American, European, and Japanese single-disc issues, which were promotional issues.

Two different Argentine pressings issued for promotional use, with different promotional markings on the labels: “DISCO PARA DEMONSTRACION VENTA PROHIBIDA” and “DISCO PROMOCIONAL PROHIBIDA LA VENTA” for CBS 20.696 (left, single sleeve) and CBS 119.522 (right, gatefold), respectively.

As for this Argentine pressing of BORN TO RUN with the altered track order, two variants are known to exist: a single sleeve (CBS 20.696) and a gatefold sleeve (CBS 119.522), each issued in both regular and promotional versions. As I understand it, the current consensus favors the view that the single-sleeve version (shown on the right, with a promotional notice printed diagonally across the cover) came first, followed by the gatefold (see, for example, the well-regarded collector’s site mentioned above).

However, I have some reservations about this view and am not convinced that this sequence is correct. I’ll explain why in the next part.

— Continued to Part 2.