Collecting log: Further digging of NO NUKES collectibles and a nothing-to-rave-about but unexpected finding (Part 1 of 4)

What is the serial number of a new addition (right) to my collection? The "90/100" copy was obtained a few decades
ago (see 05/12/2019). The numbered edition of this rarely-surfaced promotional 12-inch disc, released in late 1979
or early 1980, has long been one of my all-time favorite vinyl collectibles.

First of all, I want to tell you about the current situation of this blog, especially those who have wondered why this site has not been updated for more than half a year. The answer is simple and not serious: although finally infected with COVID-19 four months ago, I'm fine and healthy. However, I just couldn't (and still hardly) have time for my favored things, including sharing information about vinyl and CD collectibles of my favorite artist, for I've been extremely busy with my job since the last post (yes, even though it's just a blog thing, I need to set aside time to do that). Anyway, I thank all of you who cared about the blog's situation and sent me such messages. Even though I had no time to blog, I enjoyed communications and deep discussions with fellow collectors, especially in the U.S. and Europe, on official rare collectible discs and old vinyl bootlegs.

Collecting log: Blinded By The Light U.S. 7" singles (Part 4 of 4) ー Puzzled by the booklets accompanied by the Play:Back issues

Play:Back booklet Issues 16 (left) and 17 (right). The former contains articles on Springsteen and Andy Pratt, and their songs are released together on a Play:Back 7" EP (Columbia AS 45) in January 1973. However, it is the latter (where neither artist is mentioned explicitly) that is accompanied by most record copies in circulation if they still retain a booklet.

Collecting log: Blinded By The Light U.S. 7" singles (Part 3 of 4) ー Puzzled by the booklets accompanied by the Play:Back issues

Generally, Springsteen's first official 7" single is regarded Blinded By The Light / Angel (US Columbia 4-45805), released close to a half-century ago today (02/23/1973) and cut in a shortened length (3 : 58) from the debut album GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N. J. (US Columbia KC 31903). The white-label version of mono/stereo coupling was also issued for promotional purposes. Both editions have earned their status as collectors' items, with the regular stock being extremely difficult to obtain due to the scarcity and a high cost (sometimes reaching a four-digit U.S. dollar price on the collectors' market). However, as you collectors know, the phrase "first official 7" single" is not true in a strict sense because more than a month in advance of the regular release (01/12/1973), the full-length, unedited version (5 : 05) already appeared on a special 7-inch sampler (US Columbia AS 45) as part of Columbia/Epic Records' program called Play:Back.

Collecting log: Blinded By The Light U.S. 7" singles (Part 2 of 4) ー The promo-only white label is more common than the stock copies, but do you know two versions exist?

A recent purchase (right) made me aware of the existence of two different editions of the while-label promotional disc for Springsteen's first commercially issued single. No, of course, I'm not talking about two different company sleeves. Note the surface of the discs — one looks shining while the other sort of matte, which is not caused by ageing but rather reflects original physical properties of the discs.

White label promotional (WLP) releases of 7" singles are generally valued more highly than the regular stock counterparts, simply for the former are usually rarer than the latter in existence. However, the opposite is also true in particular circumstances where the stock copies go far beyond poor sales. This, in fact, is the case for Blinded By The Light / The Angel (Columbia 4-45805) and  Spirit In The Night / For You (Columbia 4-45864), Springsteen's first and second singles cut from his debut album in 1973. As mentioned in the last post (02/12/2020), the standard U.S. copies of Blinded By The Light, which were released today 47 years ago, have been sold at outrageous prices in auction and collector's markets. By contrast, the WLP 7" is relatively easier to find out with a vastly lower expense (see table below), unless it comes in the custom promotion-only colour sleeve. By the way, do you know that two versions exist for the WLP disc?

Collecting log: Blinded By The Light U.S. 7" singles (Part 1 of 4) — Extremely scarce regular stock

The previous blog post (01/30/2020) reported a recent addition to my collection, which is considered one of the holy grail 7" singles of Springsteen. Since this month marks the 47th anniversary of the release of another holy grail, I found it might be a good opportunity to introduce it here.

Like most copies in circulation, the custom-picture sleeve of mine is folded and assembled by a slipshod job, with a slightly worn appearance. Underneath are the first (right) and second (left) Japanese releases for the debut album.

Blinded By The Light / The Angel (US Columbia 4-45805), his first commercial single from the debut album GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J., was released on the 23rd of February, 1973. As wide-spreadly known, this 7" disc with the stock sunburst labels is a top collectible of all time, which is easily confirmed, for instance, by a quick search for Top 10 auction results through the Popsike database (check winning bids on the table below). It is often said that less than 100 copies are known to exist simply because they didn't sell and have seldom circulated since then. 

Collecting log: Spirit In The Night - Growin' Up / Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) early U.S. promotion-only custom 7" EP

The white-labeled, promo-only EP originally came in a generic die-cut
company sleeve. Oddly, the sole track from the then latest second
album is placed on SIDE 2 while two songs cut from the previous
debut album are featured on SIDE 1.

For many serious Springsteen fans, June 2 is remembered as the original U.S. release date of the then long-awaited 4th album DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (US Columbia JC 35318). Since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release year (1978), such fans have already posted a celebration thread in various forums dedicated to the Man and His Music. Serious analog collectors, however, might know that on the same day 44 years ago (June 2, 1974)*, a promotion-only 3-track EP was released to U.S. radio stations, which has become among top collectibles nowadays. While better known for its catalog number prefix "AE7" (which is given to Columbia's promo-only 7" releases), to date, Spirit In The Night - Growin' Up/Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (US Columbia AE7 1088) is one of the toughest early promo records to find.
*From the description in Blinded By The Light (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985, Plexus, London).

Collecting log: GREETINGS US test pressing LP from the Pitman factory (and its comparison with Jim Cretecos's copy)

According to the labels on the wax, this copy is pressed at the Columbia Records' pressing plant in Pitman, N.J., and includes a stapled 10-page lyric sheet (the lyrics for Blinded By The Light are printed across 2 pages and the remaining eight songs on one page each). Inset, Each song is copyrighted by Sioux City Music Ltd., the music company derived from Laurel Canyon Ltd. (both run by Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos) that became the management-exclusive arm after separation of music division.

Collecting log: GREETINGS first US pressing LP (KC 31903 with the matrix suffix 1A/2A)

It was a little surprise to me that, after 42 years of the release, I was able to find a well cared, beautiful used copy of the first pressing LP at a local record shop in a small town in the Far East

From last Saturday to this Wednesday, here we had 5 consecutive national holidays. So, I took a short trip to visit a local used record shop I have never been before, and found a used stock copy of GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N. J. At the first face, the sleeve was in pretty fine conditions, as pictured here, which made me think that this one was a Japanese press missing an Obi. I usually don't pay particular attention to regular releases, but I noticed that the catalog number printed on the spine started with the prefix "KC".

Collecting log: GREETINGS Japanese 2nd pressing LP with a wrap-around Obi

Note the unnecessarily and rather punctiliously
folded wrap-around obi (pic from actual auction).

Quite busy these days and haven't had much time to write about rare records or old bootleg titles. So, here's a brief note from my collecting log that might interest some readers. I recently picked up, through a domestic online auction, a used copy of the second Japanese LP pressing of GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J. (CBS/SONY SOPO-124) — the one famous for its wrap-around obi decoration. It cost me only 380 Yen (= 3 bucks and some pennies) with no other bidders, probably because, as shown in the picture (from the actual auction), the obi was folded and cut open along the bottom edge. Even so, both the postcard sleeve and vinyl are clean in excellent condition.