BORN TO RUN US pressing LP variants: unusual red labels (JC 33795)

Hand-etched matrix numbers read AL 33795-1CJ SS / BL 33795-1BJ SS

I don't exactly remember when I obtained this second catalog number issue with the US Columbia prefix "JC" (JC 33795). There is no particularity with regard to the fold-out sleeve that appears standard for the reissue of this album with the bar code and a single-line producer credit without spelling errors. However, the record label is unusual. It's a red label without a yellow Columbia rim, which resembles like red European reissue labels. On each side on the label are black lettering around the center hole and white lettering on the rim that starts at 7 o'clock saying "Columbia" Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Marca Registrada. Not a misprint or production error because the basic design (especially that of the rim) differs from the normal US Columbia labels. Probably, a minor label variation for the Columbia Records-reissue series (maybe after 1980?) that is nothing to rave about but to record it here,for reference purposes.

THE RIVER rare Mexican single sleeve 2LP

A rare Mexican reissue copy released in 1986 under sealed conditions, although the shrink is torn here and there.

This is not a highly sought-after gate-fold release (CBS LP2S-103) of the double album, but the single sleeve reissue (CBS LP2S-125) out sometime in 1986. Searching through the internet for the original Mexican release many years ago, I found this particular copy in sealed conditions on set sale at a local shop in Mexico. The sealed original gate-fold sleeve copy for 19.00 euro!!! I thought this was a bargain price because back then, I was NOT aware of the existence of the single sleeve version at all.

My First Vinyl Bootlegs (concluded)

The three in original form (or sort of)

Information about original vinyl copies of Springsteen bootlegs have been available from various published sources including literature and internet reviews. For me, although out of date covering only up to 1984, Chris Hunt's section of Blinded By The Light (P. Humphries & C. Hunt, 1985, Plexus, London) is still the primary source when referring to vinyl Bruceleg titles.

According to BBTL, the first edition of HOT COALS FROM THE FIERY FURNACE on Hoffman Avenue Records (HAR164; the original copy of THE JERSEY DEVIL: Ragamuffin Gunner) was pressed on multicolor vinyl with picture labels and came in an orange and black slick cover. Among the three bootlegs I'm talking about, relatively detailed information is available for this old bootleg, in part because the man who made it is long publicly known, and featured and interviewed in essential readings such as BOOTLEG: The Secret History Of The Other Recording Industry (C. Heylin, 1996, St. Martin's Griffin, New York). I know slightly more than what are said about the pressing number and slick cover variation. So, this vinyl title is going to be featured on "Classic Vinyl Bootleg Revisited" sometime in the future.

My First Vinyl Bootlegs (continued)

As told in the last blog, 34 years ago, I obtained the following titles as my first bootleg records.

• THE JERSEY DEVIL: Ragamuffin Gunner (2LP, TMQ 5468)
• YOU CAN TRUST YOUR CAR TO THE MAN WHO WEARS THE STAR (2LP, TAKRL 24903)
• DON'T LOOK BACK: Collectors Item 1974-1980 (LP, PUD 104)

I well remember that I wouldn't try to listen to these records for a while after the very first play. This was simply because the sound quality was intolerant for me who was a novice to these underground products. Once getting accustomed to bootleg sound, however, I became absorbed in these live recordings (especially those performed with radically different arrangements such as Incident, Tenth Avenue, and For You, and stunning covers of I Want You and Up On The Roof). Moreover, I became gradually interested in the amateurish appearance of printed or slick covers (as a non-US resident, I had long wondered the album title and front sleeve drawing of YOU CAN TRUST ... until I obtained the relevant information on the Texaco company through internet search).

Cheapest homemade labels I have ever seen: from left to right, Side 4 of THE JERSEY DEVIL, Side 4 of YOU CAN
TRUST ... and SIde 1 of  DON'T LOOK BACK. The original labels are shown below for comparison.

My First Vinyl Bootlegs

Still keeping my first purchases in 1981, although these
are not original but mediocre pirated copies

It was a summer midnight in 1981. When I was listening to my favorite AM radio program, the female DJ suddenly and briefly introduced information from an anonymous listener reporting Springsteen's bootlegs that were right in stock at a major import record shop in my habitation area. Although I never had the experience of listening to any bootleg records back then, I already knew about such famous titles as 'E' TICKET and FIRE ON THE FINGERTIPS through media articles featuring the lawsuit against the Californian bootleggers. As I owned all the official album releases (up to THE RIVER) at that point, this information was enough to stimulate my ever-growing interest in these underground releases.

So that weekend, I went to the shop and asked the shopkeeper what bootleg titles were available. While explaining to me that some box sets were already sold out, he showed me three remaining titles that came in the crudest LP sleeves I had ever seen. Nevertheless, I bought them all without hesitation because, whatever they were, I had decided to do so since I heard of these bootlegs on the radio. This was how it all started. I still keep these vinyl LPs even though I have not listened to them for decades, and I know they are worthless pirate copies.
— To be continued.