Collecting log: AS REQUESTED AROUND THE WORLD U.S. promotion-only compilation album with great cover artwork (Part 3 of 4)

SIDE 1 (THE RIVER sampler side) has at least
three variations in the matrix numbers.

Promotion-only releases are one of the major targets for collecting and hunting vinyl and compact discs. In the true sense, AS REQUESTED AROUND THE WORLD (Columbia AS 978) marks the first U.S. custom-made promotion-only LP concerning the artwork design of the album sleeve and track-list configuration, both of which are exclusively unique to this release. One might think that the BORN TO RUN script cover (Columbia no number) and the picture disc edition of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (Columbia JC 35318) represent the earlier examples in this release category. To me, however, these two vinyl rarities can be viewed rather as variants to respective regular releases because of identical track configuration and basically the same cover artwork design, although the former came as not a promo but the advanced disc (test pressing) in a special press-kit package which was sent out to reviewers and record executives rather than to radio stations for airplay.

Collecting log: AS REQUESTED AROUND THE WORLD U.S. promotion-only compilation album with great cover artwork (Part 2 of 4)

From the Summer 1998 Backstreets
Records Warehouse Catalog.

Back in the early 1980s when I started collecting, it was impossible to find promotion-only releases from legitimate sources, whether domestic or imported (CBS/SONY or Columbia Records), at local record stores in my hometown and nearby areas. So, to me, mail order was the only practical option to obtain these official rare collectibles (it was way before we used the internet!). I remember that a copy of this promo LP was generally sold around between $40 and $60 (plus international postage) when ordered from the U.S. dealers. On the other hand, once imported into Japan, it usually fetched prices over $100 when becoming available at the collectors' market. As I wrote in the last post (05/10/2020), I got my first copy on my occasion to stay in the U.S. a few decades ago.

Collecting log: AS REQUESTED AROUND THE WORLD U.S. promotion-only compilation album with great cover artwork (Part 1 of 4)

The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has severely affected our lives and life, bringing this world to unforeseen stagnation. Frustratingly, the current epidemic situation in Japan shows no sign of improvement in controlling the virus, which seriously restricts our daily life. I believe many Japanese would agree that this is not only attributed to the disastrous delay in the Government's action against COVID-19 in favor of the now-postponed Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games and inbound tourism-supported domestic economy, but also due to the indisputable incompetence of our Prime Minister, as we often see in hereditary politicians.

During these stay-home days, I attempted to reorganize my vinyl collection and
found a total of four copies of my favorite record with the great sleeve (I had
thought that I had three). One copy came with a plain inner bag on which a
backstage pass was pasted for a French concert (Montpellier, April 24, 1981) 

During the past months, my most serious concern directly associated with COVID-19 had been my daughter, who stayed and studied in continental Europe for more than half a year via an exchange student program. Sadly against her will, (the Japanese side of) the university authorities forced her to cease her study abroad, with her ambition still unfulfilled, and urged her to fly back home right in the middle of global confusion and threat caused by COVID-19!  Because of this, I had had no motivation to write blog posts at all since the last one, at least until recently when I saw her safe return and the termination of the subsequent two-week quarantine period that was imposed on returnees from outside of the country.

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.