All 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! 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: 21 March, 2008
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 -
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Performances currently available on commercial CD are marked by
(these are the ones that count as obscurities
rather than as rarities)
"Bob Dylan At Budokan" - cassette release, CBS 40-96004 (UK?), 1985(?):
Lone Justice - "Sweet Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) (Remix)"- commercial 12" single, Geffen TX 6426 (UK)/promo 12" single, Geffen 12315 (Australia), 1985:
![]() Geffen TX 6426 (UK) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0163 Go 'Way Little
Boy - Bob plays rhythm guitar on
Lone Justice's version of one of his unreleased compositions (an
out-take from Empire Burlesque, lyrics on
bobdylan.com
It is rumoured that Lone Justice also recorded Clean-Cut Kid at this session, again accompanied by Bob, but that performance remains unreleased. Go 'Way Little Boy was released on a Lone Justice CD compilation in 1999 in a remixed version (R-0274, see 1999). R-0274 also appears on The Best Of Lone Justice: The Millennium Collection, see 2003. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the long-awaited cover scans of the UK single and to Kenneth Robson for scans of a rare Australian promo release. |
![]() Geffen TX 6426 (UK) - rear scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() Geffen 12315 (Australia) - front scan by Kenneth Robson (promo release) |
![]() Geffen 12315 (Australia) - rear scan by Kenneth Robson (promo release) |
![]() Geffen 12315 (Australia) - detail of rear, scan by Kenneth Robson (promo release) |
![]() Geffen 12315 (Australia) - A-side scan by Kenneth Robson (promo release, no Dylan) |
![]() Geffen 12315 (Australia) - B-side scan by Kenneth Robson (promo release, includes R-0163) |
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "We Are The World" - charity 7"/12" singles and album (LP/CD) (Worldwide), Mar 1985, recorded Jan 1985:
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![]() PolyGram 824- 822-2 (USA) - CD rear insert scan by Jack from Canada |
![]() PolyGram 824- 822-2 (USA) - CD scan by Jack from Canada |
LP: Columbia SBP 806 1 (USA/New Zealand), CBS 26454 (NL), CBS GONG SLPXL
17980 (Hungary); CD: Polygram 824 822 2 (West Germany/USA).
Scans required of the Argentinean LP, CBS 120624. For the We Are The World VHS release, see the VHS & DVD 1980s page. For a 2DVD set released in 2005 with extra material, see VHS & DVD 2000s Part 3. Thanks to Jack from Canada for scans of the US CD release. |
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![]() Columbia US7-04839 (USA) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers (promo with "DEMONSTRATION ONLY - NOT FOR SALE" text) |
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![]() Columbia 7BEN-04839 (Canada) - 7" single rear, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Columbia 7BEN-04839 (Canada) - 7" single A-side, scan by Hans Seegers (R-0164) |
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R-0164 We Are the World (Michael Jackson-Lionel Ritchie) - Bob
contributes vocals to charity single (6:22) R-0357 We Are the World (Michael Jackson-Lionel Ritchie) - extended
version of R-0164 (7:19) on UK 12" single R-0632 We Are the World (Michael Jackson-Lionel Ritchie) - extended album
version of R-0164 (7:02) For an 3:00 edit (R-631) which is as far as I know unique to an Argentinean 7" promo single, see below. The singles sold in the UK, West Germany and Holland all had a sleeve that was made in Holland although the records themselves were manufactured locally. My copy, bought in the UK, is actually a variant of the Dutch single, with a solid instead of a cut-out centre. This is because extra supplies of the Dutch single were imported to the UK from Holland. For the French release, which has injection labels, both the record and the sleeve were manufactured in France. For more details of injection labels, which were used mostly in France but also in the UK, see Mono Singles 1970-76 (Wigwam/Copper Kettle 1970). This single was also available in Russia in Mar 1988 as a clear blue flexidisc given away with a magazine, see 1988. This ensemble also included Bette Midler, who duetted with Bob on her version of Buckets Of Rain from her Atlantic album Songs For The New Depression, see 1976. Thanks to Alan Hoaksey and Bill Hester for information, and to Hans Seegers for further information and scans. Thanks to Ronald Born for the scan of the rare Hungarian LP released under licence from CBS by Gong Records - this has the regular fold-out sleeve, but no inner sleeve. We Are The World is timed at 7:02 on this album and plays at 7:02. |
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![]() CBS A 6112 (France) - 7" single A-side (R-0164 - 6:22), scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS USAID T1 (UK) - 12" single rear scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS USAID T1 (UK) - 12" single A-side (R-0357 - 7:19), scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() CBS A 6112 (France) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers (sleeve made in France) |
![]() CBS A 6112 (Spain) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers (front is the same as the UK sleeve) |
![]() CBS A 6112 (Spain) - 7" single A-side (R-0164 - 6:22), scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() CBS BA 223275 (Australia) - 7" single A-side (R-0164 - 6:22), scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS BA 223275 (Australia) - 7" single B-side (non-Dylan), scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS BA 223275 (New Zealand) - 7" single A-side (R-0164 - 6:22), scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() CBS USAID F1 (UK) - outside of gatefold sleeve, scan by Kenneth Robson |
![]() CBS USAID F1 (UK) - inside of gatefold sleeve, scan by Kenneth Robson |
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![]() CBS USAID F1 (UK) - detail from inside of gatefold sleeve, scan by Kenneth Robson |
![]() CBS USAID F1 (UK) - Side 1 scan by Kenneth Robson (includes R-0632 - 7:02) |
![]() CBS USAID F1 (UK) - Side 2 scan by Kenneth Robson (no Dylan) |
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The New Zealand release of the Australian 7" single, CBS BA 223275, has "Made in New Zealand" on the labels - the sleeve design is the same as the UK/German single above. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the additional information that the single on sale in New Zealand had the sleeve imported from Australia, but the record itself was made in New Zealand. The Ecuadorian single is the only Dylan single ever released in Ecuador! For more information on the sleeve, see 7" Single Sleeves. For 7" single releases from Japan, Argentina and Peru see below. |
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![]() CBS 26454 (NL) - LP rear scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS 26454 (NL) - LP Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers (includes R-0632 - 7:02) |
![]() CBS 26454 (NL) - LP Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Polygram 824 822 2 (USA) - CD front picture from amazon.com |
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![]() CBS 133-0105 (Ecuador) - "IFESA" transparent sleeve |
![]() CBS 133-0105 (Ecuador) - 7" single A-side (R-0164 - 6:22), scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS 133-0105 (Ecuador) - 7" single B-side (non-Dylan), scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS 26454 (Israel) - LP Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers (includes R-0632 - 7:02) |
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USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "We Are The World" - 7" test pressing and promo/commercial singles, CBS/Sony 07SP-880 (Japan), Mar 1985, recorded Jan 1985:
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "We Are The World"/Starship - "We Built This City" - 7" jukebox single, CBS(?)/ E 382 (Malaysia), 1985:
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "Nosostros Somos El Mundo [We Are The World]" - 7" promo single, Columbia DEP 389 (Argentina), Mar 1985, recorded Jan 1985:
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "Somos El Mundo [We Are The World]" - 7" promo single, CBS Discos CSR 1351 (Peru), Mar 1985, recorded Jan 1985:
"Empire Burlesque Excerpts" - promo cassette, Columbia DAL/DBL 40110 (USA), May 1985:
"Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love?)/We
Better Talk This Over" - 7" promo and
commercial singles,
Columbia 38-04933 (USA - promo only/Canada), 24 May 1985/CBS A 6303 (UK - promo only), May
1985/CBS BA 3306 (Australia/NZ), Jun 1985/CBS SSC 5838 (South Africa)/CBS 51.092
(Brazil), Jun 1985:
For the Tight Connection video release on laserdisc, see the VHS & DVD
1980s page.
![]() Columbia 38-04933 (USA) - front scan by "Dante" |
R-0166 Tight Connection To My Heart - 7" single edit (3:45, reduced from 5:20) R-0167 Tight Connection To My Heart - 7" faded single edit
(3:40) The US 7" promo Columbia 38-04933 has the edit on one side and the Empire Burlesque album version on the other, as does the UK promo CBS A 6303. The Canadian commercial single Columbia 38-04933 had the edit. The USA 7" commercial single Columbia 38-04933 and the UK/Spanish 7" commercial single CBS A 6303 have the full album version at 5:20, see US & International 7" & 12" Singles & EPs 1980-89. The Australian and New Zealand promo and commercial 7" singles all had edited versions of the track. I was wrongly informed there was also a 12" extended mix but this is in fact identical to the album track. For details of the 12" commercial singles with the album version see US & International 7" & 12" Singles & EPs 1980-89. For a 1985 US 12" promo single with the album version, see Promo Singles 1980-89. The B-side of the 7" commercial single was We Better Talk This Over, the regular 1978 album track from Street-Legal (a strange choice, a track from Empire Burlesque would have been expected). Information and photos/scans from Hans Seegers, "Dante", Bill Hester,
Kenneth Robson and Ulf Gyllenspetz. |
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![]() Columbia 38-04933 (USA) - promo rear scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() Columbia 38-04933 (USA) - promo label scan by Hans Seegers (R-0166) |
![]() CBS UK acetate A-side with radio edit (R-0166, 3:45), photo by Ulf Gyllenspetz |
![]() CBS UK acetate B-side with album version (5:20), photo by Ulf Gyllenspetz |
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![]() CBS A 6303 (UK) - promo A-side scan by Kenneth Robson (album version) |
![]() CBS BA 3306 (Australia) - front scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial releases) |
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![]() Columbia 38-04933 (Canada) - commercial single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0166) |
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The Brazilian promo 12" single CBS 51.092 had the edited version on one
side and the album version on the other just like the 7" promo singles above.
This record came in a plain black sleeve with the insert shown below with a
black/white photo of Bob. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
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Sly and Robbie [Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare] - "Language Barrier" - LP: Island ILPM 9831 (UK), Aug 1985/Polygram 826195 (USA)/CD: Island 257 279 (UK), Aug 1985; Polygram 826195 (USA), Jun 1990; Palm PALMCD-2123-2 (USA), 6 Jun 2003:
"When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky" - 12" promo single, Columbia CAS 2169 (USA), Nov 1985:
"When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky" - 7" promo single, CBS (no catalogue number) (Spain), 1985:
"When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky"/"Dark
Eyes" - 7" promo and commercial singles, CBS A 6469 (UK), Nov 1985:
There was also a UK promo - scans required!
"When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky"/"Dark Eyes" - 7" promo and commercial singles, CBS A 6469 (NL)/CBS BA 3343 (Australia/New Zealand), Nov 1985:
![]() CBS A 6469 (NL) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0168-4 When The Night Comes Falling From the Sky - second edited version (4:18) The UK and Dutch singles have the same front sleeve but different rear sleeves. Also, the Dutch sleeve opens at the side, the UK sleeve opens at the top. Note the Dutch single has "new style" red labels, but the UK (above), Australian and New Zealand singles have the older style orange/yellow labels. The Australian single came as a white label promo, and also a promo release with the commercial labels and a red promo stamp on the B-side. Three copies of the New Zealand single are shown - copy 1 has a "demonstration only" sticker on the A-side, copy 2 has the sticker on the B-side, and copy 3 is the commercial release. The Australian and New Zealand releases had no picture sleeves. The 12" UK single with the same cover, CBS TA 6469, has the full album version of the song, along with Dark Eyes on the B-side, see US & International 7" & 12" Singles & EPs 1980-89. Information and scans from Hans Seegers. Thanks to Bill Hester for
information about the 7" New Zealand release. |
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![]() CBS A 6469 (NL) - rear scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS A 6469 (NL) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0168) |
![]() CBS A 6469 (NL) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers, first promo release (R-0168) |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, first promo release |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, second promo release |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, second promo release (red promo stamp) |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers, commercial release (R-0168) |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (Australia) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, commercial release |
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![]() CBS BA 3343 (NZ) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers, first promo release (R-0168) |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (NZ) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, second promo release |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (NZ) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers, commercial release and A-side of second promo (R-0168) |
![]() CBS BA 3343 (NZ) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers, commercial release and B-side of first promo |
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"Emotionally Yours"/"When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky" - 7" single, Columbia 38-05697 (USA/Canada), Nov 1985:
![]() Columbia 38-05697 (USA) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0168-5 When The Night Comes Falling From the Sky -
second edited version (4:18) on B-side of 7" single
Initial information from Alan Hoaksey, further information and scans from Hans Seegers. For a 1985 US promo release with the same catalogue number with Emotionally Yours on both sides, see Promo Singles 1980-89. For singles with Emotionally Yours as the A-side and Clean Cut Kid as the B-side, see US & International 7" & 12" Singles & EPs 1980-89. |
![]() Columbia 38-05697 (USA) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0168) |
![]() Columbia 38-05697 (Canada) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0168) |
"Biograph" - original 12" boxed set release, 5LP - Columbia C5X 38830 (USA)/CBS 20-66509 (UK); CBS 66509 (NL); CBS/Sony OOAP 3136/37/38/39/40 (Japan); CBS S5BP 703 (Australia/New Zealand); 3 cassette - CXT 38830 (USA); CBS 40-66509 (UK), Nov 1985; 3 CD - Columbia C3X 38830 (USA), Jan 1986; CBS CDCBS 66509 (NL for Europe), 1986; CBS/Columbia COL CD 66509 (Austria for Europe), (date?):
![]() Columbia C3K 38830 (USA) - front of CD release, scan by Jack from Canada |
This set was first released on 5 LPs or 3 cassettes - each LP was in a
picture sleeve with song notes. In the cassette edition and in the slightly
later CD edition the LP sleeves were
included as a second 12" booklet. The CD version was released in 1986
in a 12" square box and later in a 12" x 6" box in the USA (scans
required). On the 12" US square box the top is hinged on the left, not separate. The
centre picture is a 1965 photograph by Daniel Kramer. For full details of these
releases, see the Biograph page in International
Albums (Regular). R-0748 Mixed Up Confusion - edited alternate stereo take of 1962 single A-side (2:22) This is an edited version of R-0145, the alternate take as on the Japanese promo LP Mr. D's Collection # 1 (see 1974), the Japanese promo EP Mr. D's Collection #2 (see 1977), and the 1978 Australian set Masterpieces (see 1978), not the original single R-0007 (see 1962). This take doesn't have a harmonica solo immediately after Bob's introduction "I've got mixed up confusion, Man, it's a-killin' me!". This edited version was reported to me as speed-corrected over the previous releases, but I'm now told it still runs slightly slow and the shorter time is the result of a shorter fade-out at the end of the track. This take is 2:22 as opposed to 2:30 for R-0145 - thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux and Larry Crum for pointing this out. (The original single is 2:28.) R-0145 is specifically labelled as mono on the Japanese release of Masterpieces, but as stereo on the Australian release. For details of the four released alternate takes of this song, see 1962. Many thanks to Les Kokay for all his information about these alternate takes, and for permission to reproduce his findings. Hans Seegers has a Japanese 5LP promo release of Biograph: the records have red labels with promo stamps, and stamped matrix numbers: Records 1-3: OOAP-3136/37/38A1/B2, Record 4: OOAP-3139A2/B3, Record 5: OOAP-3140A1/B1. The box has a "Sample not for sale" sticker on the back cover, a black, blue, white and yellow obi, and two books (scans required). Hans also has an original Japanese CD release, CBS/Sony 00DP 401-3 (date?) - this is a triple CD set in a slipcase with a book. It has a black/multicoloured obi (scans required). Thanks to Patrick Helfrich and Anton Sylvain for other scans. |
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CBS 20-66509 (UK) - front of LP box set, scan by David Burgess |
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CBS 40-66509 (UK) - front of cassette box set (my copy) |
Various Artists (Artists United Against Apartheid) - "Sun City" - 7"
singles:
Manhattan B50017 (USA), Manhattan 006-2009277 (NL), EMI DIF 371
(Argentina), Dec 1985; 12" singles:
Manhattan 12MT 7 (UK), Manhattan V56013 (USA), Nov 1985;
vinyl LPs:
Manhattan ST 53019 (USA), Manhattan MTL 1001 (UK), Manhattan 1C 064-2404671 (NL),
EMI 108371 (Argentina), Dec 1985;CDs:
Razor/Tie RE 2007 (USA, 1992), Rarities/Manhattan 837420 2
(France/Italy, 1996):
Bob contributes vocals to this charity song. For the Dec 1985 VHS video
The Making Of Sun City, see VHS & DVD 1980s.
Thanks to Bill Hester for clarifying that there are in fact four versions of this song with different times (which explains the R- numbers as two were added later), also for information about Australia and New Zealand releases.
7" singles:
![]() Manhattan 006-2009277 (NL) - 7" single front, scan by Yan Friis |
R-0170 (Ain't Gonna
Play) Sun City (Miami Steve Van Zandt) - 7" single
version (4:58) Where front sleeves are not shown these are the same as the Dutch single on left. The B-side of the 7" single is Not So Far Away (Dub Version) by the Artists United Against Apartheid ensemble from the album below, but not including Bob. The Argentinean 7" promo single EMI DIF 371 has the shorter album version R-0518 (see below) on the A-side and a track from a completely different artist (Victoria by Emilio José) on the B-side. It has dark-yellow promo stamps on both labels with text "VENTA PROHIBIDA PROMOCIONAL" (sale forbidden promotional). The French single has injection labels (see above for We Are The World). For more details of injection labels, which were used mostly in France but also in the UK, see Mono Singles 1970-76 (Wigwam/Copper Kettle, 1970). The Australian 7" single had catalogue number Manhattan MH 1634 and a picture sleeve which states "MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED BY EMI MUSIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, AND LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND". The New Zealand single Manhattan F 50017 was apparently sold without a picture sleeve (scans required). |
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![]() Manhattan 006-2009277 (NL) - 7" commercial single rear, scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() Manhattan 006-2009277 (NL) - 7" single A-side, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Manhattan 006-2009277 (NL) - 7" single B-side, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Manhattan B50017 (USA) - 7" promo single rear, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Manhattan B50017 (USA) - 7" promo single A-side, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() EMI DIF 371 (Argentina) - 7" promo single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0518, see below) |
![]() Manhattan MH-1634 (Australia) - 7" single front scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial releases) |
![]() Manhattan MH-1634 (Australia) - 7" promo single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan MH-1634 (Australia) - 7" promo single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan MH-1634 (Australia) - 7" commercial single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() EMI DIF 371 (Argentina) - 7" promo single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (France) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (France) - 7" single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (France) - 7" single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan MH-1634 (Australia) - 7" commercial single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" commercial single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" single front scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial releases) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial releases) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" promo single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" promo single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan MHS-17956 (Japan) - 7" commercial single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (Spain) - 7" single rear scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (Spain) - 7" single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan 2009277 (Spain) - 7" single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
![]() Manhattan B-50017 (Canada) - 7" single A-side scan by Hans Seegers (R-0170) |
![]() Manhattan B-50017 (Canada) - 7" single B-side scan by Hans Seegers (non-Dylan) |
12" singles:
Albums (stereo LPs and CDs):
Stereo promo items for 1985 which don't contain rare material but which are still very collectable are now here: International Promotional Releases. Promo releases of regular albums and commercially released singles are now located on the appropriate page in International Stereo Releases.

A Flying Pig production
Listings © 1998-2008
The rights to material from all quoted contributors remain
with them. Copyright of all included cover art remains with the various record companies.
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