Audio: International Album Releases (Regular)

Before The Flood (1974)

This page is part of a list of original releases by release date of international commercially-released regular stereo Dylan albums. They do not contain rarities or obscurities and are not eligible for the Searching For A Gem list. Nevertheless, their interest value or scarcity means they're worth listing here - as far as I know some are not included on any other Internet site. Promo releases of regular albums are now listed here and no longer in the former yearly Promo sections.

This page is still incomplete - more entries required. For releases of this album in CBS/Columbia multi-packs, see International Album Releases (Regular) - Multi-Packs.

The Basement Tapes (1975)

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Original US stereo LP, Columbia PC 33235, 20 Jan 1975
20 Jan 1975 is the release date given by bobdylan.com, Brian Hinton's 2006 book "Bob Dylan Album File & Complete Discography" (Cassell Illustrated), dates it as 17 Jan 1975.

The front picture is by Paul Till based on a photograph he took of Bob in Toronto in Jan 1974. The first US (and all UK) pressings of the album had a rear sleeve with notes by famed New York journalist and author Pete Hamill surrounding a painting by David Oppenheim. Unfortunately these notes were based on and quoted lyrics from the original versions of the songs on the Blood On The Tracks test pressing, see 1974. Also the original New York musicians were credited, but not those from Minnesota. The sleeve notes were then removed and replaced by a new larger painting by David Oppenheim. The New York musician credits were also lost. However, to the great embarrassment of Columbia, Pete Hamill was subsequently awarded a Grammy for his sleeve notes! The original rear sleeve was then restored, but with white text because the original black text had been almost unreadable. The Minnesota musicians were never credited! (Thanks to Rod MacBeath for information.)

From Michael Krogsgaard's series of articles about "Bob Dylan's Recording Sessions", the Minnesota Dec 1974 musicians were: Greg Inhofer (keyboards), Bill Berg (drums), Chris Weber (guitar), Bill Peterson (bass), Peter Ostroushko (mandolin) and Kevin Odegard (guitar). The Minnesota sessions were produced by David Zimmerman (Bob's brother).

Up to Sep 2003 the then current CD insert did not contain the sleeve notes, but they have now been restored in the booklet with the Sep 2003 hybrid SA-CD edition (see below).

Now, however, this title is one of the fifteen Dylan albums released in Sep 2003 as a hybrid CD/SA-CD. This is playable both in stereo on an ordinary CD player and in enhanced stereo on an SA-CD player or a DVD player that also plays SA-CDs (Sony's higher range models all do this). Blood On The Tracks is also available in 5.1 surround sound.

Blood On The Tracks test pressing dated "9/25/74" - Side 1 scan from Michael Krogsgaard's book "Master of the Tracks"

Thanks to Jon McAuliffe for information and photos.

Thanks to Larry Weaver for information and scans.

The front cover has a promo strip with track timings. The back cover is the first design - for this, see below. The records have white Columbia labels with stamped matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL-33235-2A, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2AA. The "1A/1A" matrix numbers must have been on the Blood On The Tracks test pressing, which contains rarities, see 1974. Renaud Depierreux has a promo copy with white record labels and timing strip with right upper corner cut-off (both sleeve and inner sleeve). the record has matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL-33235-2F, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2J.

Information and scans from Hans Seegers. For more information about US vinyl releases, read here.

Dale Hargraves has a copy of this first release with matrix numbers Side 1 - PAL-33235-2E, Side 2 - PBL-33235-1A that has the test pressing on Side 2 with alternate versions of If You See Her, Say Hello (R-0119) and Lily, Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts (R-0116). This is confirmed by Sascha Kossjak, who has a copy of the same pressing. Arie de Reus confirms that the first vinyl test pressing did indeed have matrix numbers Side 1 - PAL-33235-1A, Side 2 - PBL-33235-1A (see above), so this apparently mispressed version has the test pressing on Side 2. Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the link to "Goldmine" magazine's web-site for an article by Tim Neely dated 28 May 2009 recording the discovery of a third copy with the original Side 2.

For a promo copy of this pressing, see above.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.

Presswell Records were based in Ancora, NJ, and normally made records for Atlantic. As Columbia's own pressing plant was at Pitman, NJ, it would at first sight seem odd that they asked Presswell to make a test pressing of an already released album. However, the album was selling well, and Columbia may have wanted more copies of the record than they could press themselves and needed to contract another pressing plant. This happened all the time in the days of vinyl (Beatles records were often pressed by Decca and other companies, because Parlophone couldn't keep up with the demand, and Columbia pressed Beach Boys albums for Capitol). Presswell could therefore have carried out some contract pressings for Columbia, because of excess demand, and this was a test pressing made by them as proof of quality.

I'm told Presswell pressings have "PW" somewhere in the wax around the label, near where the matrix numbers usually live, whereas Columbia pressings have a "C". My informants have never seen any copies of Blood On The Tracks with "PW", but the sales may have been confined to a small part of the USA, or Presswell may not actually have pressed any commercial copies after making this test pressing.

Thanks to Jason Draper of "Record Collector", Derek Barker and Ian Woodward for information. Thanks to Arie de Reus for scans.

The second commercial release of the album has red Columbia labels.  Michael Palinkas has a copy with matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL 33235-2B, Side 2 - PBL 33235-2AA. Roger Sarao has a copy with a "Demonstration/Not For Sale" stamp in the upper left hand corner of the rear sleeve and matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL 33235-2C (as Geraldo Lagden's copy of the first release above), Side 2 - PBL 33235-2AAA. Craig Callahan's copy is later and has matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL 33235-2F, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2K). His copy of the third release (see below) has matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL 33235-2E, Side 2- PBL-33235-2J, which are ostensibly one pressing earlier! I can only assume that there was some overlap between the records and the sleeves.

The rear sleeve is the second design with the full picture, and it has the original inner sleeve.

Thanks to Hans Seegers and Craig Callahan for information. Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for finding the copy of the second release on eil,com with a "song hype" sticker promoting Tangled Up In Blue, Idiot Wind, and Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts. The rear sleeve of this album is as shown on right.

The third commercial release of the album is the same at the front, but the rear has the first sleeve design restored with white text instead of black text.  On the spine of the outer sleeve is a sticker with " JC 33235" covering the original catalogue number of "PC 33235". It has the original inner sleeve.

The record itself has red Columbia labels and stamped matrix numbers. I have information on three copies:
1) Matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL-33235-2C, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2AH (possibly the first pressing of this release)
2) Matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL-33235-2E, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2J
3) Matrix numbers: Side 1 - PAL-33235-2H, Side 2 - PBL-33235-2M

Thanks to Hans Seegers, Craig Callahan and Michael Palinkas for information, Thanks to Craig Callahan for the scan of the album still in the shrink-wrap.

Before the hybrid SA-CD release came out, this was reportedly the best version to buy! This album has special "Half Speed Mastered" covers and labels and the record has stamped matrix numbers such as: Side 1 - HAL 43235-2A, Side 2- HBL 43235-2B (Gerd Rundel's copy), Side 1 - HAL 43235-2F, Side 2- HBL 43235-2J (Hans Seegers' copy).

Columbia HC 43235 (USA) - detail of rear with promo stamp, scan by Hans Seegers

Columbia HC 43235 (USA) - Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers

This release has special "Jazz Masterpieces" labels and written matrix numbers: Side 1- <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H, Side 2 - <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H.

Columbia JC 33235 (USA) - "Jazz Masterpieces" Side 1 label scan by Hans Seegers

Columbia JC 33235 (USA) - "Jazz Masterpieces" Side 2 label scan by Hans Seegers

This release has standard Columbia labels and written matrix numbers as the "Jazz Masterpieces" release above: Side 1- <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H, Side 2 - <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H.  The back cover is the third US design with white text and an added bar code This release also has a glossy cover. Craig Callahan tells me the later Columbia vinyl releases were pressed under licence by a company called Scorpio, and are of poor quality. This is because they were not pressed from new masters made from the original source tapes, but from old masters left over from the 1980s.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scan.

This release again has standard Columbia labels and the same written matrix numbers as the two releases of JC 33235 above: Side 1- <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H, Side 2 - <P.AP> AL/BL-33235-G2D/G2H.  The back cover is the third US design with white text and an added bar code This release also has a glossy cover. On the front cover is a gold on black sticker with 180 gram vinyl information.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information.

CBS 69097 (UK) - rear with Pete Hamill sleeve notes (black text)

CBS 69097 (UK) - catalogue number on maroon card inner sleeve

CBS 69097 (UK) - Side 1

CBS 42-69097 (UK) - slipcase reverse scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 42-69097 (UK) - tape cartridge scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 42-69097 (UK) - slipcase end scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 69097 (NL) - detail of rear, scan by Hans Seegers (first 1975 release)

The second Dutch release in 1975, again CBS 69097, had a laminated sleeve with the second picture by David Oppenheim on the rear. This time it had 1970s-style orange/yellow CBS record labels with matrix numbers: Side 1 - S 69097-A I R S1, Side 2 - S 69097-B I R (both written).

The third Dutch release in 1992, Columbia 467842 1, also had a laminated sleeve with the second picture by David Oppenheim on the rear. This time it had 1990s-style plain red Columbia record labels with matrix numbers: Side 1 - 01-S 69097-2A-I (written)I, Side 2 - 12 69097-1B-1 CXBL-33235-2D COLUMBIA NY (stamped).

Thanks to Marc Kuszel for information and to Hans Seegers for further information and scans.

CBS 69097 (NL) - Side 2 scan by Hans Seegers (first 1975 release)

CBS 69097 (NL) - Side 2 scan by Hans Seegers (1980s release)

Columbia 467842 1 (NL) - detail of rear with promo stamp for Portuguese market, scan by Hans Seegers (1992 release)

Columbia 467842 1 (NL) - Side 2 scan by Hans Seegers (1992 release)

This release has the same catalogue number as the UK release above. The record has CBS dark-red "original first pressing" labels with stamped matrix numbers 69097 A/B.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information. There are two variations of this album.

1976: CBS/Sony 25AP 286 with a glossy cover, red obi, paper inner sleeve and an eight page stapled booklet in English and Japanese. The rear sleeve is now the same as the second US rear sleeve. Hans Seegers has a promo copy with commercial orange/cream labels with promo stamps and stamped matrix numbers: 25AP-286A2/B1.

Early 1977: CBS/Sony 25AP 286 with a glossy cover, purple obi, paper inner sleeve and an eight page stapled booklet in English and Japanese.

CBS/Sony SOPO-20 (Japan) - Side 1 scan by Wil Gielen (1975 release)

CBS 69097 (Country?) - detail of rear, scan by Hans Seegers

CBS 69097 (Country?) - Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers

This release has a unique rear sleeve (for the US sleeves see above), with the first US design with text in black, but the maroon background colour changed to white. The Pete Hamill sleeve notes are translated into Spanish, as are the song titles and credits. There are a number of mistakes, pointed out by Sergio Magnacca:
"Jack Of Hearts" is mistranslated as "El Rey de Corazones" ["King of Hearts". In a Spanish pack of playing cards the suit of Hearts is called "Corazones", but the Jack or Knave is called "El Caballo" (The Horseman). The correct translation is therefore "El Caballo de Corazones".
The song credits are to "Boby Dylan"
The recording is credited to "Phil Ramona" (actually Phil Ramone).

Matrix numbers: Side 1 - AL 33235, Side 2 - BL 33235 (same as the US catalogue number).

Information and photos from Sergio Magnacca. Hans Seegers informs me there is a second version of this release - scans to follow.

Thanks to Hans Seegers and Mick Robinson for information and scans.

This record is in the original inner sleeve, and has orange/cream labels with promo stamp, stamped matrix numbers: 25AP-286A2/B1.

The sleeve has a purple cover (as opposed to the regular maroon) and the back cover has a David Oppenheimer illustration (probably the full page one, see below). Scans to follow.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information.

The sleeve background colour is purple rather than maroon, and the back cover has a David Oppenheim picture - I assume this is the second design with the large picture, see above. The record has orange/cream labels with stamped matrix numbers 25AP-286A2/B1.

There is a white/purple/black obi. The record was released two further times with different obis. Scans to follow.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information.

Rowland Ford's copy has the title and artist name on one line, whereas Stuart Moore's copy has them on two lines, together with longer copyright information at the bottom of the labels. Stuart Moore has a later copy of what must be a fourth release with a "Nice Price" sticker. The rear sleeve is the second US design, but with the track listing added at the top. The labels are similar to the third release with the album title and artist name on two lines, but the songs are credited to "Warner Bros" instead of "Chappell". More information on dating required.

Thanks to Peter Lindberg and Rowland Ford for information and photos, and to Stuart Moore for scans.

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - catalogue number on inner sleeve,  photo by Peter Lindberg (first release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 1 photo by Peter Lindberg (first release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 2 photo by Peter Lindberg (first release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore (fourth release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - rear scan by Stuart Moore (fourth release, tracklisting at top)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 1 photo by Rowland Ford (second release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 2 photo by Rowland Ford (second release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 1 scan by Stuart Moore (third release)

CBS SBP 234564 (Australia) - Side 1 scan by Stuart Moore (fourth release)

Thanks to Stuart Moore for information and scans.

CBS SBP 474262 (New Zealand) - Side 1 scan by Stuart Moore

Thanks to Paul Prince for information and photos.

CBS 137873 (Brazil) - Side 1 photo by Paul Prince

The record has red CBS labels with the added text "Disco promocional/Prohibida su Venta" [Promotional record/Sale Prohibited], and the song titles on the rear sleeves and the record labels are translated into Spanish as follows:

Side 1: Enredado En El Azul [Tangled Up In Blue]; Un Simple Giro Del Destino [Simple Twist Of Fate]; Ya Eres Una Gran Chica [You 're A Big Girl Now]; Viento Idiota [Idiot Wind]; Voy A Quedarme Solo Cuando Te Vayas [You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go]

Side B: Encuentrame En La Mañana [Meet Me In The Morning]; Lily, Rosemary Y La J De Corazones [Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts] (another example of the folks in CBS not asking a card player what the correct translation of "Jack" is! In Spanish he's "El Caballo de Corazones", see above); Si La Vés, Dile Hola [If You See Her, Say Hello]; Cobijo Contra La Lluvia [Shelter From The Storm) (Even I know this is wrong! "Lluvia" is "Rain", not "Storm", which is "la Tormenta"); Cubos De Lluvia [Buckets of Rain].

Thanks to Craig Callahan for finding this on eBay.

CBS 32388 (Spain) - detail from back showing titles in Spanish

Information and scans from Craig Callahan.

Columbia 88697159481 (NL for Europe) - rear photo by Patrick Helfrich

Thanks to Stuart Moore for information and scans.

Thanks to Jason Draper for information and scan. Details of authorised Columbia/CBS releases required!

CBS/Sony 30DP 306 is one of the first Bob Dylan CDs released in Japan. The CD has a yellow, black, red and white shaped card obi with a top flap and a price of ¥2,812 (¥2,730 before sales tax). The rear insert shows the first David Oppenheim picture (see above) plus a tracklisting. There was a 32 page booklet. The CD is silver with black writing

CBS/Sony 30DP 306 (Japan) - front insert scan by Hans Seegers

CBS/Sony 30DP 306 (Japan) - rear insert scan by Hans Seegers

CBS/Sony 30DP 306 (Japan) - CD scan by Hans Seegers

Sony Records SRCS 6167 (Japan) - front insert (same as 30DP 306), scan by Hans Seegers

Sony Records SRCS 6167 (Japan) - rear insert scan by Hans Seegers

Sony Records SRCS 6167 (Japan) - CD scan by Hans Seegers

Columbia VCK 33235 was the first release of this album on CD in Canada. The copy with catalogue number Columbia CK 33235 was bought in 1988.

Thanks to Jack from Canada and Moise Potie for information and scans.

Columbia VCK 33235 (Canada) - CD scan by Jack from Canada

Columbia CK 33235 (Canada) - rear insert scan by Moise Potie

Columbia 467842 2 (Europe) - front sticker photo by Marc Kuszel (1991 release)

CBS CDCBS 69097 was released twice, the first release had a CD made in Japan and no barcode on the rear insert. The second release had a CD made in Austria and a barcode added to the rear insert.

Columbia 467842 2 (Europe) - inside photo by Marc Kuszel (1991 release)

Columbia 467842 2 (Europe) - rear scan by Keith Schweiger (1997 release)

Columbia 467842 2 (Europe) - CD scan by Keith Schweiger (2000 release)

Columbia CDCBS 69097 (Australia) - inside of front insert, scan by Stuart Moore

Columbia CDCBS 69097 (Australia) - rear insert scan by Stuart Moore

CBS CDCBS 69097 (Australia) - CD scan by Stuart Moore

Thanks to Stuart Moore for information and scans.

Even though this release is for the USA and Canadian markets the disc itself was manufactured in Japan. Scans of the first US release required!

It's just the standard commercial CD, not remastered even though Columbia was known to have remastered the album before then.

Information and scans from David Burgess.

Information and scans from Keith Schweiger and Éamonn Ó Catháin.

Columbia COL MD 69097 (UK) - front of MiniDisc sleeve, scan by Éamonn Ó Catháin

Columbia CM 33235 (USA) - MiniDisc front scan by Keith Schweiger

Columbia COL MD 69097 (UK) - inside of MiniDisc sleeve, scan by Éamonn Ó Catháin

Columbia COL MD 69097 (UK) - MiniDisc front scan by Éamonn Ó Catháin

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.

Columbia CH 90323 (USA/Canada) - inside of digipak showing CD tray

Columbia CH 90323 (USA/Canada) - outside of 8-page booklet

There is an 8-page booklet with the original sleeve notes and two unpublished pictures of Bob from 1974. The picture on the rear of the booklet is the one used for the European/Australian release The Best Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2 and the exclusive Swedish release The Very Best Of Bob Dylan - for both see 2000. The picture used on the rear insert of 1997's Time Out Of Mind also appears to be from this session. The SA-CD design reproduces the Columbia US stereo vinyl label used in 1974.

The booklet for the Canadian releases has been printed in Canada. This release also has the sticker shown for The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan on the outside of the shrink-wrap.

There is an 8-page stapled booklet in English and a 28-page stapled booklet in English and Japanese, as well as a double-sided hybrid SA-CD insert in Japanese. The copy shown is a promo, with a yellow numbered promo sticker on the rear of the digipak, and the text "SAMPLE LOANED" in the clear centre of the CD itself.

Thanks to Wil Gielen for further information and scans.

Sony Music MHCP 10010 (Japan) - rear of digipak with promo sticker, scan by Wil Gielen

Sony Music MHCP 10010 (Japan) - detail of rear promo sticker, scan by Wil Gielen

Sony Music MHCP 10010 (Japan) - promo CD scan by Wil Gielen

Sony Music MHCP 10010 (Japan) - detail of promo CD, scan by Wil Gielen

Sony Music MHCP 10016 (Japan) - front of SA-CD insert, scan by Wil Gielen

Sony Music MHCP 10016 (Japan) - rear of SA-CD insert, scan by Wil Gielen

The Japanese release comes in a card sleeve reproducing the LP sleeve with a side obi. Both the promo and the commercial releases have the "DYLAN ALIVE '04" silver sticker with black text on the cellophane sleeve.

The copy shown is a promo, with a numbered promo sticker on the rear of the card sleeve. It also has "SAMPLE LOANED" in red in the clear centre of the CD itself. The obi has price ¥1,890 (¥1,800 before tax) and release date "04-9-23" (23 Sep 2004). The original release date is shown as "75-1-20" (20 Jan 1975) and the withdrawal date as "05-3-22" (17 Feb 2005). There is an insert in English and Japanese which folds out to a larger size. The CD is in a purple paper inner sleeve.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and to Wil Gielen for further information and scans.

Sony Music MHCP-377 (Japan) - rear of card sleeve, scan by Wil Gielen (promo copy)

Sony Music MHCP-377 (Japan) - detail of rear of card sleeve, scan by Wil Gielen (promo copy)

Sony Music MHCP-377 (Japan) - CD scan by Wil Gielen (promo copy)

Sony Music MHCP-377 (Japan) - detail of CD, scan by Wil Gielen (promo copy)

This is a "left over" standard CD release of this album, not the Mar 2004 remastered CD layer from the hybrid SA-CD release.

Note the second picture by David Oppenheim (see above) is repeated on both the rear insert, and the inside of the front insert.

Thanks to Manfred Endtner for information and scans and to Hans Seegers for further information.

Thanks to Hervé from France for the photo.

Columbia 5123505000 (Australia) - slipcase front with sticker, scan by Stuart Moore

This release at mid-price is in a standard jewel case and consists of the remastered CD layer only of the 2003 hybrid SA-CD release above.

Columbia CK 92398 (Canada) - inside scan by Jack

Columbia CK 92398 (Canada) - rear scan by Jack

Thanks to Wil Gielen for information and scans.