A-E
F-J
K-O
P-S
T-ZAll the songs listed in the Official
Rarities section are cross-referenced by song title in these
alphabetical pages.
A-E
F-J
K-O
P-S
T-Z
This yearly page now contains only the main Rarities List! Mono 7" Singles & EPs (up to 1976) are now here, and Promotional Items (Albums and Singles) are now here. All Honourable Mentions are now here.
If you have any entries to add to the list or additions/corrections to
existing entries, please let me know!
Please note I cannot value your Dylan rarities -
see the Mission page for reasons why. Contact the
dealers on my Trading page for assistance!
Revised: 03 June, 2009.
Entries separated by a blue line contain the same rarities. Titles in red are not available
on a currently released Bob Dylan CD (for these see bobdylan.com
)
Key to symbols used:
Links to other World Wide Web pages -
Links to email addresses -
Links to bobdylan.com for song lyrics -
Performances currently available on commercial CD are marked by
(these are the ones that count as obscurities
rather than as rarities)
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special"
- mono vinyl album, RCA
Victor LPM 2449 (USA, Canada),
recorded Feb 1962, released Mar 1962:
Bob's first album Bob Dylan was recorded in Nov 1961, and
also released in Mar 1962, see Mono Album Releases
and International Albums
(Regular).
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0001M Midnight Special
(Huddie Ledbetter - "Leadbelly")
- Bob plays harmonica for Harry Belafonte on the title track of his 1962 RCA
album (mono version) Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information that the mono version was mixed first with Bob in the background, but on the stereo version Bob's harmonica is clearly coming out of one channel. This mono version was reportedly released as a 7" mono single. Information is required on the catalogue number of the single and whether it had a picture sleeve. R-0001M was released as the B-side of a West German RCA Victor 7" mono single with Zombie Jamboree as the A-side, see 1964.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl albums, RCA Victor L101284 (Australia)/RCA RPL 3300 (New Zealand), 1962:
 RCA L101284 (Australia mono) - scan by Hans Seegers |
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Rob Cole for information and scans of the Australian mono LP. Thanks to Bill Hester for information about the New Zealand LP, RCA RPL 3300. This has labels similar to those shown here, but with text "RCA - product of Radio Corporation of New Zealand, Ltd". |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Australia mono) - rear scan by Rob Cole |
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 RCA RPL 3300 (New Zealand- mono) - Side 1 with R-0001M, scan by Bill Hester |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "living" stereo vinyl album, RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA), recorded Feb 1962, released Mar 1962:
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "living" stereo) - scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0001 Midnight Special
(Huddie Ledbetter - "Leadbelly") A second US stereo pressing of the album from 1963, not marked "living stereo" used the same catalogue number as the 1962 release - RCA Victor LPS 2449. |
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The stereo version of Midnight Special (R-0001) can be also found on LP and CD reissues of the album and many Belafonte compilations listed here on the appropriate chronological page. This original album was released on CD in a "2 on 1" release with Jump Up Calypso in 1995, but is not currently in print. (Jump Up Calypso has since been reissued on CD in a remastered edition with bonus tracks, but the same treatment has not yet been given to The Midnight Special.)
A previously unreleased alternate stereo take of Midnight Special was released in May 2001 on the BMG Germany compilation May Your Song Always Be Sung Again: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2, see 2001. This was for years thought to be Bob's first commercial recording session, and is dated variously between Jun and Dec 1961 by Krogsgaard, Dundas and Heylin. However, documentation found in 2001 in the RCA vaults along with the tapes dates the session definitively as having been recorded at Webster Hall, New York City, on the later date of 2 Feb 1962.
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Rob Cole for information and scans and to Hanns Peter Bushoff for information about the RCA recording session.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo 7" EP, RCA Victor VLP 2449 (USA), recorded Feb 1962, released Mar 1962:
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This EP is in "living stereo" and therefore contains R-0001,
but I'm told there was also a mono single - scans required. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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 Jukebox strips for the RCA Victor stereo EP - scan by Hans Seegers |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl album, Victor/His Master's Voice SHP-5062 (Japan), 1962:
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Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue stereo vinyl album, RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK)/RCA Camden CDS 6022 (West Germany)/RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia), 1972:
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This album was reissued in 1972 in stereo in the UK as a budget release as RCA Camden CDS 1100, in West Germany as RCS Camden CDS 6022, as in Australia as RCA Camden CAS-7170. "Camden" was RCA's 1970s budget label. The UK album was actually released by a then well-known budget record company called Pickwick International under licence from RCA. |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - rear scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK) - front scan by David Burgess |
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 RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK) - Side 2 scan by David Burgess (no Dylan) |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - Side 2 scan by Stuart Moore (no Dylan) |
Thanks to Hans Seegers, Wim van der Mark and Stuart Moore for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue stereo vinyl album, RCA ANLI-2324 (USA)/RCA INTS 5029 (UK), 1980:
 RCA ANL1-2324 (USA, 1980) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
This album was released again in 1980 as RCA ANL1-2324 in the USA and
RCA INTS 5029 in the UK (scans required). Later copies of RCA INTS
5029 had a sticker "Bob Dylan plays harmonica on title track". Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
 RCA ANL1-2324 (USA, 1980) - rear scan by Hans Seegers |
 RCA ANL1-2324 (USA, 1980) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Hans Seegers |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue vinyl album, RCA Victor NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL/UK), 1980:
 RCA Victor NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL/UK, 1980) - reproduction of album cover, scan by Jean-Pol Hiernaux |
Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for noticing that the booklet with the "2 on 1" CD release with Jump Up Calypso in 1995 shows illustrations of a 1980 European release previously not listed, RCA Victor NL 82324. |
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Various Artists - "Columbia April Demonstration Record" - stereo promo compilation LP, Columbia XSM 55655/55656 (USA), Apr 1962:
 Columbia XSM 55655 (USA) - Side 1 scan by Pea Hicks |
R-0353 Medley: Talkin' New York; Fixin' To Die; Gospel Plow from
Bob Dylan (Columbia CL 1779/CS 8579, released Mar 1962) This stereo sampler LP is in a plain white sleeve and has white Columbia promo labels. The Side 1 label has a strange mistake in that it identifies the songs as being from Freewheelin', although the catalogue numbers are correct for Bob Dylan. All the other albums, mostly classical, are from 1962. Perhaps Bob's first album had been provisionally titled "Freewheelin'", although it had been released a month earlier. Thanks to Pea Hicks for information and scans. |
 Columbia XSM 55656 (USA) - Side 2 scan by Pea Hicks |
Carolyn Hester - "Carolyn Hester" - mono vinyl album, Columbia CL 1796 (USA/Canada); CBS SBPG 62033 (UK), May 1962:
Bob plays harmonica on three tracks recorded Sep 1961 on this album produced by John Hammond - this is now known definitely to have been his first commercial recording session. Thanks to Tracy Zank for pointing out that this is in fact Carolyn's second self-titled album - the first was released in 1961 on Tradition Records with a completely different tracklist including House Of The Risin' Sun - Bob did not play on that album.
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Note the silver star sticker on the mono LP release with the words "A
NEW STAR ON COLUMBIA RECORDS", this is the same as the one that appears on
first copies of Bob's first album Bob Dylan in 1962, see
Mono Album Releases and
International Albums (Regular). Two US promo copies are shown, both with the original "6 eye" Columbia record label. The first has "DEMONSTRATION RECORD NOT FOR SALE" printed in white open text on the label, the second has a white label on the regular commercial label. The second commercial copy shown has the later plain red US Columbia record label. The Canadian label has a variant of the "6 eye" design. The UK promo copy has white labels and the commercial copy has regular orange CBS labels. |
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 John Hammond's own acetate with R-0004M, photo by Jeff Gold |
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R-0002M I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
(mono version)
This track is also on two 1964 Columbia various artist mono compilations:
Hootenanny '64 and Oxydol Presents 'Let's Sing Out' (see
1964)
R-0003M Come Back, Baby (traditional) (mono version)
R-0004M
Swing And Turn Jubilee (traditional) (mono
version)
This track also appeared on the Columbia Special Products US various
artists mono compilation LP Hummin' And Strummin' - Folk And Country Hits
and on the UK various artists mono compilation LP All-Star Hootenanny,
Nov 1964 (for both see 1964).
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Arie de Reus for information and scans. Thanks to Jeff Gold of Record Mecca for the photos of John Hammond's personal 10" single-sided acetates of R-0002M and R-0004M (I assume these acetates are mono).
Carolyn Hester - "Carolyn Hester" - stereo vinyl album, Columbia CS 8596 (USA/Canada); CBS SBPG 62033 (UK), May 1962:
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 Columbia CS 8596 (USA stereo) - Side 1 scan by Arie de Reus (demonstration copy) |
 Columbia CS 8596 (USA stereo) - detail of Side 1, scan by Arie de Reus (demonstration copy) |
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 CBS SBPG 62033 (UK stereo) - rear scan by Kenneth Robson |
 CBS SBPG 62033 (UK stereo) - Side 1 scan by Kenneth Robson |
 CBS SBPG 62033 (UK stereo) - Side 2 scan by Kenneth Robson |
 Columbia/Legacy CK 57310 (USA) - 1994 CD reissue with bonus tracks (my copy) |
The demo copy of the stereo release Columbia CS 8596 has "DEMONSTRATION" stamped in red on the rear sleeve and a white demonstration sticker on the record label. This would have been distributed to record stores in the USA to play for customers. Both the demonstration and commercial copies shown have the "6 eye" record labels. The record labels of the Canadian release have a variant of the "6 eye" design.
R-0002 I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
(stereo version)
(Albert E. Brumley is also the author of Rank Strangers To Me,
released on Down In The Groove, 1988, and one of
the bobdylan.com
online performances - BDC 37, from Jul 1998, see Online
Performances).
This track has appeared on stereo various artist compilations as follows:
Columbia Special Products US 4LP boxed set Columbia Special Products Presents A Limited Edition Of Great Folk Ballads, Country And Western (see 1964)
Columbia Special Products Canada 10LP boxed set Fleetwood Presents Stereo Highlights From The World Of Music (see 1965)
CBS/Sony Japan 1974 promo compilation LP Mr. D's Collection # 1 (see 1974)
Rhino US 1992 compilation CD Troubadours Of The Folk Era Vol. 1 (see 1992)
Sony France 2005 compilation 2CD set Chroniques: Tome 1, see 2005.
R-0003 Come Back, Baby (traditional)
(stereo version)
R-0004 Swing And Turn
Jubilee (traditional)
(stereo version)
This track also appeared on the UK various artists stereo compilation LP All-Star Hootenanny
(see 1964) and a 1989 Columbia various artists
stereo promo compilation LP Folk Classics
(Roots Of American Folk Music) (see
1989)
This LP was issued in Japan in stereo in 1966 and 1968 with redesigned covers highlighting Bob's involvement, see below. It was re-released on CD in 1994 with the original US stereo LP cover, with bonus tracks including two alternate takes with Bob performing (see 1994) and as part of a Bear Family Germany 2CD boxed set Dear Companion, see 1995.
Thanks to Ian Woodward for information and to Hans Seegers, Arie de Reus and Kenneth Robson for further information and scans.
Carolyn Hester - "Carolyn Hester" - stereo LP, CBS YS-629-C
(Japan), 1966:
This is a reissue
of Carolyn's first Columbia album from 1962, with Bob's involvement now mentioned in the panel on the left.
This album was released before CBS was bought by Sony.
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Note the new wording "with Bob Dylan" in the panel, this copy shown was autographed by Carolyn. The album was later released in Japan in 1968 with a completely new cover, see below. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
 CBS YS-629-C (Japan) - label scan by Hans Seegers |
Carolyn Hester - "Carolyn Hester With Bob Dylan" - stereo
LP, CBS/Sony SONP 50392 (Japan), 1968:
This is yet again a reissue
of Carolyn's first Columbia album from 1962, this time by CBS/Sony with a completely new cover making Bob's involvement
even more prominent!
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The album is now marketed as a joint Hester/Dylan album! It had already been released in Japan in 1966 with a more honest cover, see above. Hans Seegers' promo copy has black and white CBS/Sony promo labels, Arie de Reus' promo copy has commercial orange and cream labels with a promo stamp. Arie suspects this album was never actually released commercially. Thanks to Hans Seegers and Arie de Reus for information and scans. |
 CBS/Sony SONP 50392 (Japan) - promo Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers |
 CBS/Sony SONP 50392 (Japan) - commercial Side 1 with promo stamp, scan by Arie de Reus |
"Mixed Up Confusion"/"Corrina, Corrina" - 7" mono singles, Columbia 4-42656 (USA), 14 Dec 1962:
This title was Bob's first commercial release of any kind under his own name. Another rarity which fetches a very high price! Thanks to Hans Seegers for the scans of these label variations, which would seem to prove this single was much more widely distributed than popular belief would have it. We can see that apart from the white label radio station promo, there were at least three separate pressings of the orange label single (If there's one with matrix ZSP 58625/6-1C/1C, not shown here, that would make four!) Hans Seegers informs me that of the three orange label variants shown, variant 1 (the first, with a different typeface for the title) is the rarest. The white label style is that of the second variant! This single was released in a very distinctive Columbia generic sleeve. It is the only Dylan single that appeared in this sleeve because the sleeve was discontinued at the end of 1962.
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R-0007 Mixed Up Confusion - A-side, original mono version This original single A-side is now on the revised 1997 Biograph, see 1997 (although in a newly discovered stereo mix, not the original mono version included here). An alternate mono mix of this take (R-0575) also appeared on a 1984 Columbia acetate, see 1984. R-0008 Corrina, Corrina (traditional) - B-side, alternate mono take to Freewheelin' version, still otherwise officially unreleased |
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 Columbia 1962 US generic 7" sleeve - rear scan by Hans Seegers |
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 Columbia 4-42656 (USA) - orange label variant 2, B-side scan by Hans Seegers |
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 Columbia 4-42656 (USA) - orange label variant 3, detail of A-side, scan by Hans Seegers |
 Columbia 4-42656 (USA) - orange label variant 3, B-side scan by Hans Seegers |
Matrix numbers are generally as follows:
However, Yan Friis has a copy of this single with orange label variant 2 and matrix ZSP 58625/6-1D/1D so the pressing doesn't always match the label.
For details of the alternate take of Mixed Up Confusion (R-0145) that appeared on the Japanese compilations Mr. D's Collection #1 (LP, see 1974) and Mr. D's Collection #2 (EP, see 1977), and the 1978 Australian compilation Masterpieces (see 1978) and the edit of it found on the 1985 original Biograph (R-0748, see 1985), see below. Also listed are two further alternate takes that appear on Columbia acetates.
Including the one on the four and possibly five pressings of this original single, there are four circulating takes of Mixed Up Confusion, this released single and three alternate takes from the recording sessions at Columbia Studios, New York, in Oct-Nov 1962. The four alternate released takes can be identified by these notable differences:
| Take of Mixed Up Confusion | Early harmonica solo? | Wording of Sixth stanza |
| A Original mono single (R-0007, see above), included in mono CBS Brazil album Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits with a unique cover and tracklist (see 1970), alternate mix found on 1984 Columbia acetate (R-0575, see 1984), stereo version on current release of Biograph (see 1997) | Harp solo immediately after Bob's
introduction "I got mixed up confusion Man, it's a-killin' me!" |
Well,
I'm lookin' for some answers |
| B Alternate stereo take (R-0145) found on the 1970s Japanese compilations Mr. D's Collection #1 (LP, see 1974), Mr. D's Collection #2 (EP, see 1977), the 1978 Australian compilation Masterpieces (see 1978) plus the edited stereo remix of it (R-0748) found on the 1985 original Biograph (see 1985). Also three different mixes of R-0145 were found on 1962 Columbia acetates that surfaced in 1984 (R-0576/R-0577/R-0578, see 1984) | No intro harp solo |
An' I
feel like a stranger (Wording of fifth stanza is also different on this take.) |
| C Second alternate take (R-0573) found on 1962 Columbia acetate that surfaced in May 1982 (see 1982) | No intro harp solo |
Won't
somebody tell me |
| D Third alternate take (R-0574) found on 1962 Columbia acetate that surfaced in Jun 1984 (see 1984) | Intro harp solo similar to R-0007 |
An'
I questions a-comin' (**) |
(*) This is the published lyric, see
.
(**) The wording of this line is speculative.
Many thanks to Les Kokay for all his information about the various alternate takes of this song, and for permission to reproduce his findings. According to Michael Krogsgaard there were five complete takes from the session at Columbia Recording Studios, New York, on 1 Nov 1962 - takes 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. The song was recorded again on 14 Nov 1962, although no session details are available. The take selected for the mono single was overdubbed on 8 Dec 1962. As I do not know which takes from the session were used, I have labelled the four circulating takes A to D for convenience.
"Mixed Up Confusion"/"Corrina, Corrina" - 7" mono single, CBS 202476 (UK - cancelled), CBS 2476 (NL), Dec 1966:
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This single exists in four label variations, all shown. In addition to this, there was a mispressing where the B-side Corrina, Corrina was replaced by the A-side of an EP by Pete Seeger called We Shall Overcome. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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 CBS 2476 (NL) - rear scan by Hans Seegers |
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Label differences are as follows (information from Hans Seegers):
| Variant | Left of Centre Hole | Right of Centre Hole | ||
| 1 | "Recording First Published 1966" | Copyright symbol to left of "B.I.E.M." box, "1" in square below | ||
| 2 | "Recording First Published 1966" | "B.I.E.M." box to left of Copyright symbol, "1" in square below | ||
| 3 | "Recording First Published 1966" | Copyright symbol to left of "B.I.E.M." box, "1" in square below missing | ||
| 4 | " "P" (in circle) 1966" | Copyright symbol to left of "B.I.E.M." box, "1" in square below |
"Mixed Up Confusion"/"Corrina, Corrina" - 7" mono singles, CBS Serie Gemini 2476 (France), Jul 1968:
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This was the first commercial Dylan 7" single in France - the previous three singles had been jukebox only. (All previous French 7" releases had been EPs!) The 1968 French commercial sleeve design is like the 1966 Dutch design, but with "BOB DYLAN" swapped from bottom to top and a yellow border. |
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 CBS 2476 (France) - test pressing sleeve - scan by Hans Seegers |
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![MUCFrTest.jpg (20445 bytes)](1960s_Pictures/"MUCFrTest.jpg") CBS 2476 (France) - test pressing picture A-side (top label) - scan by Hans Seegers |
 CBS 2476 (France) - test pressing picture A-side (underneath label) - scan by Hans Seegers |
 CBS 2476 (France) - test pressing picture B-side (top label) - scan by Hans Seegers |
CBS 2476 (France) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers |
 CBS 2476 (France) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers |
On the 1968 French test pressing labels the CBS logo and "avant première" are pre-printed, the record details are handwritten. Apparently only five of these test pressings were made, so it is a real rarity. The "avant première" label has actually become detached on the A-side of this copy, revealing a plain white label with stamped info underneath (dated 26 Jun 1968). There is a similar label underneath the B-side top label.The test pressing sleeve shown is probably not original nor even contemporary, but instead created by a dealer/collector to house the item - the original sleeve was probably plain white only.
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Ulf Gyllenspetz for information, and to Hans Seegers for scans.
"Mixed Up Confusion"/"Corrina, Corrina" - 7" mono singles, CBS 2476 (Norway), 1968:
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The 1968 Norwegian single sleeve has the same layout as the 1966 Dutch
design but with "BOB DYLAN" in red and a white border. The rear sleeve of
the Norwegian single was plain white. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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 CBS 2476 (Norway) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0008) |
"Mixed Up Confusion"/"Corrina, Corrina" - 7" mono singles, CBS 2476 (Italy), 1969:
 CBS 2476 (Italy) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
The 1969 Italian single sleeve uses the 1968 French
design, but without the "Serie Gemini" logo. The promo version
of the Italian single has a sticker with the words "DISCO CAMPIONE NON
VENDIBILE" on the B-side. This Italian single was also available in
two white label jukebox releases - JB 2476 and ODJB 2476, scans required.
Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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 CBS 2476 (Italy) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers |
 CBS 2476 (Italy) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers |
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Mono Singles & EPs for 1962/Promotional Items for 1962
There are as yet no non-rarity mono or promotional items for 1962. For later mono albums, EPs and singles, see International Mono Releases. For later stereo promotional albums, EPs and singles see International Stereo Releases.
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