R-0687 Watching The River Flow - mono version (stereo version is not a rarity)

The first promo single has white labels and the title track in mono on both sides. Hans Seegers has three copies with label variants:

1. Large "BOB DYLAN", publisher's credits "Big Sky Music (ASCAP)" printed on two lines on the right-hand side
2. Small "BOB DYLAN", publisher's credits "Big Sky Music (ASCAP)" printed on three lines on the right-hand side.
3. Largest "BOB DYLAN", title split over two lines, publisher's credits "Big Sky Music (ASCAP)" printed on two lines on the right-hand side.

The second promo single has the title track in mono on one side with a white label and stereo on the other with a blue/yellow label. There are two label variants:

1. Same mono side as the second mono scan, stereo side has "RESERVICE" on the right and title on one line.
2. Same mono side as the third mono scan, stereo side has no "RESERVICE" and title on two lines. This copy has "AUG 1971" rubber stamped.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.

Columbia 4-45409 (USA) - mono promo, both sides scan by Hans Seegers (third variant

Columbia 4-45409 (USA) - mono/stereo promo, stereo side scan by Hans Seegers (as second mono variant)

Columbia 4-45409 (USA) - jukebox strip scan by Hans Seegers

R-0072M Spanish Is The Loving Tongue (Charles Badger Clark/Billy Simon), Jun 1971 - B-side of mono single, New Morning out-take recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, 2 Jun 1970

This solo version of the song was also released on the stereo singles below and on the 1978 Australian 3LP set Masterpieces (see 1978). The band version R-0096 from the 1973 Dylan album (see 1973) was not authorised by Bob, and many feel this solo version is far superior. It has three verses from the lyrics - R-0096 omits the second one.

Although bobdylan.com has a page for this song, it doesn't give the lyrics and lists it as "Traditional", which is how it is usually credited on these singles. In fact, the lyrics are a poem called "The Border Affair" by Charles Badger Clark, first printed in the Jun 1907 issue of the US magazine "Pacific Monthly", and later included in a 1915 anthology of his cowboy poetry called "Sun And Saddle Leather". The melody was added later by Billy Simon. Several of the singles credit the song correctly as "Public Domain" or "P.D." because any copyright had likely expired in 1971.

The US, UK, New Zealand and Brazilian singles had generic sleeves, see 7" Single Sleeves. On the US single labels the record company name "Columbia" now makes up the label background design, not part of the lettering (see also the US George Jackson single here). The US single exists with three label variants:

1. Large "BOB DYLAN", title on one line (this was also available as a jukebox single)
2. Small "BOB DYLAN", title on one line (this was also misprinted with the A-side label blank, and also exists in a demo copy with "FOR DEMONSTRATION USE ONLY NOT FOR SALE" rubber-stamped on the B-side)
3. Large "BOB DYLAN", title on two lines.

For US mono promo 7" singles with just the title track, see above. For a 1971 CBS Italy 7" stereo/mono jukebox single with Watching The River Flow as the A-side and Indian Reservation by The Raiders as the B-side, see Promotional Singles 1970-79.
 

Columbia 4-45409 (USA) - B-side (R-0072) scan by Hans Seegers (second variant)

Columbia 4-45409 (USA) - B-side (R-0072) scan by Hans Seegers (second variant with demo stamp)

CBS 7329 (UK) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo release)

CBS 7329 (UK) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release - punch-out centre)

CBS 7329 (UK) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release - punch-out centre)

CBS 7329 (UK) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release - closed centre)

CBS 7329 (UK) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release - closed centre)

CBS 7329 (France) - detail of front with languette, scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (France) - rear with reverse of languette, scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (France) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (West Germany) - front scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

CBS 7329 (West Germany) - rear scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

CBS 7329 (West Germany) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial releases)

CBS 7329 (Italy) - rear scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (Italy) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo release with stamp)

CBS 7329 (Italy) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo release with punched triangular hole)

CBS 7329 (Portugal) - rear scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (Portugal) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (first variant)

CBS 7329 (Portugal) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (first variant)

The UK promo release has the date "25th June, 1971". The commercial single was available with both punch-out and closed centres.

The West German release was also available as a promo in a release-specific "CBS-Blitzinformation" sleeve (both sleeves contained the same record). For the generic "CBS-Blitzinformation" rear sleeve of the German promo single, see 7" Single Sleeves. The information about the single on the German promo sleeve is as follows: "Bob Dylan's newest single "Watching The River Flow" was written by him in collaboration with Leon Russell, who was also jointly responsible for the production. For the first time with DYLAN for this recording is a band with the name of "Tulsa Tops": Leon Russell, piano; Jesse [Ed] Davis and Don Preston, guitar; Carl Radle, bass and Jim Keltner, drums. The music is somewhat to be compared with the "rolling" Blues-Style of "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box and Hat" [sic]." This information is odd in that Leon Russell is not co-credited with either writing or producing the song!

The French single sleeve has a "languette" - for more information about the unique French index tabs or "languettes", see 1965.

The Italian release had two different promo versions - one has a promo stamp in Italian on the A-side, the other has a triangular hole punched through the label. The Greek and Irish singles shown here are very rare and came in generic sleeves. The Norwegian single had a plain white rear sleeve, and was exported to Denmark and Sweden. It came with a centre that could be pushed out to play in a jukebox, or jukebox-ready with an open centre.

The Portuguese single had three label variations. The first has "(P) 1971" to the left of the CBS logo, the second is the same as this but with the "(P) 1971" missing. The third variation has a different type face for the titles.

CBS 33727 (Brazil) is in a generic Discos CBS sleeve, has orange CBS labels and plays at 33¹/₃ RPM - shown are actually three copies. The first has a promo stamp on the A-side only, the second has a promo stamp on the B-side only, and the third is the commercial release.

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) has a gatefold insert with lyrics.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.

CBS 7329 (Ireland) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS BA 301317 (Greece) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 7329 (Norway) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (punch-out centre)

CBS 7329 (Norway) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (punch-out centre)

CBS 7329 (Norway) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (open centre)

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) - insert scan by Hans Seegers (unfolded)

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) - promo B-side scan by Hans Seegers (white label)

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) - promo B-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo stamp)

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

CBS/Sony SCBSA 82116 (Japan) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

CBS 33727 (Brazil) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo release)

CBS 33727 (Brazil) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

CBS 33727 (Brazil) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (commercial release)

This stereo solo version of the song is also on the 1978 Australian 3LP set Masterpieces (see 1978). The band version R-0096 from the 1973 Dylan album (see 1973) was not authorised by Bob, and many feel this solo version is far superior. The stereo A-side appeared on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 in Nov 1971 and is not a rarity, see International Albums (Regular).

The Dutch single had two alternate covers - one has an "L" in a circle in the top left hand corner of the rear sleeve next to the CBS logo.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. Thanks to Bill Hester for information about the New Zealand release, CBS BA 461349. On this release and the Spanish CBS 7329 R-0072 is wrongly credited to "Bob Dylan".

CBS 7329 (NL) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS BA-221831 (Australia), A-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS BA-221831 (Australia), B-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS BA 461349 (New Zealand), A-side scan by Hans Seegers

CBS BA 461349 (New Zealand), B-side scan by Hans Seegers (wrongly credited to "Bob Dylan")

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.