Collecting log: My Lucky Day (when I happened to get a rare sample record)

In Japan, Brilliant Disguise, the first single off the album TUNNEL OF LOVE in 1987, was released twice commercially as a 7" format: one as a standard two-track disc (backed w/ Lucky Man) and another as a low-budget, one-track reissue (CBS SONY 07SP 1070 and 04SP 1075, respectively). To boost the sale of these singles and the album, CBS/SONY distributed three promo/sample 7" counterparts (the same catalog numbers as aforementioned and XDSP 93096). Two of them have become highly sought-after collectibles, one solely for its rarity (center; this post) and another not only for its scarcity but also for the unique promotion-only sleeve design (left; see also 11/20/2016).

Collecting log: Born To Run / Backstreets Japanese 7-inch single with an unusual inner company sleeve (Part 2 of 2)

Although most copies of the Japanese Born To Run single came in a generic ocean-blue company bag, some accompanied a custom-designed inner advertising sleeve for the now-defunct Pan Am Airways, encouraging Japanese nationals to fly the airline company when traveling to the United States on the occasion of the bicentennial celebration in 1976.

In the late 1960s to early 1970s, CBS/SONY (Japan) Inc. partnered with Pan American Airways (ceased operations in 1991), commonly known as Pan Am, and advertized this airfreight company and its Boeing 747 jetliner (which had just entered service at that time) on their inner sleeves for some 7-inch singles. According to the relevant page on the Discogs database, such vinyl discs were released as "Air-Play Series 45 RPM" between 1969 and 1972, at least three years before Springsteen's first single, Born To Run, coupled with Backstreets (CBS/SONY SOPB 334), was issued here in 1975. However, one of my possessions came in a Pan Am color-inner sleeve, although it differed from those shown in the Discogs.

Collecting log: Born To Run / Backstreets Japanese 7-inch single with an unusual inner company sleeve (Part 1 of 2)

The two most unique picture inserts among the Japanese commercial 7-inch releases (CBS/SONY SOPB 334 and 07SP 511; shown are promotional issues) were reproduced for the front and rear sleeves of the extremely rare custom promotion-only 5-inch CD EP (SONY XDCS 93176) to support the sale of the GREATST HITS album in 1995 (SONY SRCS 7631).

While not a serious 7-inch collector, I've occasionally picked up domestic and imported discs, both online and on-site nearby, if I found them rare, interesting, bizarre, or cheap (such blog posts are put together here). As for such 7-inch singles, whether vinyl pressing or styrene molding (see, for example, 05/14/2016 and 02/23/2020 if interested in this topic), sleeve artwork constitutes a major part of collectors' interest. In this respect, many Japanese 7-inch are collectible, mostly because of the unique graphic treatments on picture sleeves using the Japanese writing system consisting of Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Collecting log: Further digging of NO NUKES collectibles and a nothing-to-rave-about but unexpected finding (Part 3 of 4)

These four multi-vinyl radio show programs were released in the 1980s and exclusively featured Springsteen (two from Westwood One and United Station Programming radio networks each). Devil With The Blue Dress Medley (a.k.a. Detroit Medley) from NO NUKES, 1979, was included in all but A CONVERSATION WITH BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (far left).

In the 1980s, Sringsteen's two live performances from the NO NUKES soundtrack LP (Asylum ML-801; see, for example, 05/04/2019) had often been featured in non-commercial vinyl pressings in the U.S., among which notable were radio show-program discs. Of the two tracks, Devil With The Blue Dress Medley (better known as Detroit Medley among fans) was the obvious choice over Stay with special guests Jackson Browne and Rosemary Butler, included in some Westwood One (WWO) radio network releases, such as a various artists compilation THE ROCK YERAS — PORTRAIT OF AN ERA: HOUR 44* and an exclusive featured program BORN IN THE USA SPECIAL* 3LP, released in 1981 and 1985, respectively.

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: Top 3 collectible acquisitions in 2019 (Part 3 of 3)

The final of the three parts of this subject reports last year's unexpected purchase of a U.K. 7-inch vinyl record which fellow "Boss" collectors often regard as a holy grail. So, this post may deserve the commemorable 150th to this blog which, since Fall 2014, has exclusively focused on Springsteen's official and unofficial collectibles, especially of vinyl pressings, in my private possession. There are still many missing, though, from my collection. If interested, here are links to Part 1 and Part 2.
 
#1: Sherry Darling / Independence Day U.K. withdrawn white label promo 7" vinyl (CBS 9568)

Unfortunately, the color sleeve is just a regular one, listing Be True correctly,
instead of Independence Day, as the backside track.

There is an old Japanese proverb "Early risers earn 3-mon" (where "mon" is an old Japanese currency unit), which has essentially the same message in English as "The early bird always gets the worm." This purchase was just like that and completely unexpected to me. One usual morning last November, I woke up early, just made a quick online survey, and found it being sold at an unbelievably low price. It was just 63 minutes after the seller had put it up on auction. So, luckily and most probably, I was the first and only one who ever saw it online. Needless to say, the copy was sent out here to the Far East, currently sitting on my record shelf.

Collecting log: The early 1980s U.K. vinyl pressings with "timtom" or "Ty" handwritten matrix inscription (Part 2 of 4)

Four U.K. 7" singles cut from THE RIVER examined here.

Between 1980 and 1981, CBS Records U.K. released four 7-inch singles from THE RIVER, for each of which several variant issues exist. Oddly in this era, the company issued two editions for each regular single that differed in the labels on the discs (Sunburst paper or tangerine plastic), with some having a large spindle hole or cut-out center like typical U.S. 7" singles (as found in some paper label copies of Sherry Darling : CBS 9568). There was also a promotion-only disc for each with white paper labels. Moreover, two releases were withdrawn due to mis-coloured lettering on the sleeve (Hungry Heart : S CBS 9303) and mis-configuration of B-side (Sherry Darling backed with Independence Day : CBS 9568 promotion-only pressing). Finally, minor differences were observed in the label printing, such as font size, between same titles (as seen on the paper labels of The River : CBS A1179). Although this vinyl format is not my prime target of collecting, I own at least one copy each for these regular single copies.

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: Brilliant Disguise Japanese custom promotion-only advanced 7" vinyl

Two major Brilliant 7" rarities: Promotion-only pre-release in Japan and Italian jukebox pressing, both coming with a unique custom insert sleeve. One of the Japanese copies I own is in fine condition (center) while the other has cellotape removed on the insert sleeve (left), as generally observed with Japanese promo 7" singles leaked and floating around from radio stations. The Italian single contains a colored title strip with a misprint (Brilliant "Disguide").

Collecting log: Brilliant Disguise/Lucky Man US45 with no large hole

Unplayable garbage or highly collectable?

Been busy lately, and that has made me completely away from blogging for more than a month. To give myself a short break (BTW, which was and still is the initial intention to start this blog), I made a quick note on a recent acquisition of a rare, one-of-a-kind erroneous 7-inch item. Shown here is a US stock copy of Brilliant Disguise/Lucky Man (US Columbia 38-07595), the first single from TUNNEL OF LOVE released in 1987. At the first glance, it looks like a small-holed Australian copy with the yellow/red sunburst CBS labels. As you find, however, glued on the 7" record are the US Columbia labels with NO LARGE HOLE!  So, this record is unplayable on any turntables, which makes it totally useless as music medium but appeals to curiosity seekers like me. As occasionally shown in this blog, I own several erroneous products of single and LP releases of Springsteen titles. This type however is never seen before.

Collecting log: Fade Away / To Be True US45 misprinting

Sealed with a store header card? (Never seen before)
Along with an open copy of the misprint version.

This is a short and quick note on a recently obtained old 7-inch disc. Shown left are two copies of the US release of Fade Away backed with Be True: one (on the right) is a used copy I have long owned while the other was advertised as "factory-sealed" when I bought it recently. It is, however, very likely a re-shrink-wrapped package as it came with a bizarre store header card that seems to be nothing to do with the Columbia Records. The main cause of purchasing the copy is simple: it was cheap and, although released 35 years ago, still looked better than my old copy. "To Be True", stamped on top of the one-side printed paper card, also called my attention. As well known, this erroneous B-side title can only be found on the record label, but not anywhere on the sleeve, which is another indication that this is a "once-opened" copy rather than being "factory-sealed" (looks fine, nevertheless). Otherwise, how would have the wrong song title been known and stamped on the header? I wish it could be a genuine factory-sealed copy, though.

Born To Run original US pressing 7-inch variants (addendum)

In response to the recent three consecutive blog posts on the original Born To Run US 7-inch variants, an expert and dedicated record collector from 45cat (whose comments found on this tremendous 7" resource website were cited here on this blog) has kindly sent me an e-mail message providing the accurate and detailed information on the US Columbia styrene and vinyl 7" discs. As the info is valuable and useful for readers of this blog, it is reprinted here upon the permission.
 

"Of the stock copies, the vinyl pressing was from Santa Maria, CA, while the styrene was from Pitman, NJ.  Pitman used label typesetting from Mergenthaler Linotype's VIP typesetting library (the "normal" fonts), while Santa Maria had a combination of Varityper fonts and Varityper Headliner typesetting (the latter of which had the "tall" fonts).  Pitman, also, by that point pressed some if not all of their WLP's in vinyl.  (I've always been preferential towards Pitman typesetting, anyway.)"
 
"Styrene labels were what, on a few label sheets I've investigated, were characterized as "heat seal," that is, glued onto the record, while vinyl labels were deemed "compression," with them losing about ~0.5% of its original size when stamped onto the record."

Thank you, B.W.!

Born To Run original US pressing 7-inch variants (concluded)

Although well-known to audiophile record collectors, it seems relatively less common among casual collectors that Columbia Records were the major issuer/supplier of the styrene-made 7-inch discs in the United States. Back then, using styrene rather than vinyl as an analogue-sound storage medium was probably company's strategy to save costs of manufacturing 7-inch singles. While cost effective and resistant to warp, records made out of styrene are prone to be physically damaged due to its more fragile nature than vinyl. So, it is generally acknowledged that styrene discs tend to wear out in much shorter playing time compared to vinyl discs, with pronounced surface noise and distortion. The deterioration of styrene disc is accelerated further, unless played with the right equipment setting (especially, the choice of stylus is critical).
 

When exposed to a strong light...  From left to right: a stock copy made of vinyl (opaque black); a stock copy
made of styrene (translucent red); and a promotional copy made of vinyl (opaque black).
Note that each photograph was taken of a disc that was kept inside an anti-static plastic bag.

Born To Run original US pressing 7-inch variants (continued)

Based on the "Sunburst" (also known as "Orange/yellow") label of the Columbia Records, there are at least two different issues for the original Born To Run 7" single released in the US back in 1975. Then, as I have given in the last post, the next question is whether there are any differences between the two copies in addition to the label design. The answer is yes, but before coming to the definitive difference, let me make the comparison more closely.

Left and middle: Label with "stamper ring" around the center hole (left) and plain label without it (middle).
Right upper and lower: labels attached on disc loosely (upper) and tightly (lower). Note the syntax error "Take from ..." printed on the "tall font" label.
 

Born To Run original US pressing 7-inch variants (not LP this time!)

Stamped on the dead wax areas are ZSS160700-1H/ZSS160700-1J (left) and ZSS160700-1C/ZSS160700-1C (right)

Take a look at the above image showing two regular copies of the original US 7-inch pressing of Born To Run (US Columbia 3-10209), backed with Meeting Across The River and released in 1975 (more than 40 years ago!). Here my question is how they differ from each other?  All the information provided on the sunburst labels is the same between the two copies. At a glance, you can easily recognize the difference in typeface used for the track title and artist name, with one looking normal (right) while the other being apparently taller (left). So are the other descriptions and there is some variation in font size and layout as well. These differences mostly indicate that they are pressed and manufactured at different locations because label designs often differ slightly among different pressing plants (back then, Columbia Records owned three pressing plants located in Terre Haute, IN, Pitman, NJ, and Santa Maria, CA). So, is it just that, or are there any more major differences?  The answer is yes, there is another substantial difference although it's hard to explain that with the label pictures alone.
— To be continued.

Collecting log: Unusual label error for My Hometown US 7" single

The seventh and last single cut from BORN IN THE USA in 1985 finally features the live version of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town on a regular 7" disc (flip side) long after its promotional release to radio stations in the mid 1970s.

Unable to update blog these days because here comes a busy season towards the end of this fiscal year (March). In the meantime, early this month, I just found this US regular 7" single of My Hometown / Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (live) (Columbia 38-05728) on eBay, and after a while thinking, bought it via "Buy It Now" option. At the first glimpse of a small photo on the auction page, I somehow recognized that there was something wrong with this vinyl disc, but just couldn't figure out what was actually wrong. Moreover, the seller did not mention anything about the error in the item description (he/she may have regarded it as just a defective copy, not as a collectors' item). So, I almost passed up this otherwise widely circulated stock copy of a mediocre collectible.

Collecting log: Bolivia-only Tunnel Of Love 4-track EP

TUNNEL vinyl rarities; still lacking the Spanish advanced promotional package, though.

Nearly 20 yeas ago, I obtained this EP (Tunnel Of Love / Ain’t Got You // Brilliant Disguise / One Step Up), originally released in late 1987 or early 1988 in a west-central South American country.