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: 25 February, 2013
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)
Warren Zevon - "Reconsider Me"/"The Factory" - 7" promo single, Virgin America 7-99370 (USA), Jan 1988:
![]() Virgin America 7-99370 (USA) - sleeve scan by Brian Shoop |
R-0190-4 The Factory
(Warren Zevon) For the album and earlier singles, see 1987. There was also a 12" promo single (PR 2216) that has only the title track on both sides, and a US promo CD (PRCD 2216) that also has just the title track. These are not Dylan rarities. Thanks to Brian Shoop and his "Zevonista" web-site for information and scans. In October 2002 Bob performed four Warren Zevon covers in concerts, as a tribute to Warren, who had then been diagnosed with terminal cancer, although not The Factory. (Warren died in 2003.) |
![]() Virgin America 7-99370 (USA) - B-side scan by Brian Shoop (titled just "Factory") |
Warren Zevon - "Reconsider Me"/"The Factory" - 7" & 12" singles, Virgin America VS 1055/VST 1055 (UK), Jan 1988:
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Virgin America VS 1055 (UK) - front (my copy) |
R-0190-5 The Factory
(Warren Zevon) For the album and earlier singles, see 1987. Reconsider Me was also available in the UK as a 12" single (VST 1055, scans required) and a 12" white label promo. The white label promo, which I also have, is in a plain white sleeve, and has completely blank labels, with just the matrix numbers VST 1055 A/B on the record itself for identification. The B-side has R-0190 and a track called Bad Karma. The 7" record has "injection" labels - each side has an injected silver plastic ring (much brighter than indicated by the scan) into which the text and graphics have been cut to show the black vinyl below, there is no paper label (unlike the 1987 UK 7" single, see 1987.) |
Virgin America VS 1055 (UK) - back (my copy) |
Virgin America VS 1055 (UK) - B-side titled just "Factory" (my copy) |
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "We Are The World" - flexidisc given away with magazine (Russia), Mar 1988, recorded Jan 1985:
![]() Magazine front scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0164-5 We Are the World (Michael Jackson-Lionel Ritchie) - Bob
contributes vocals to charity song (6:22) This single was released in Russia in Mar 1988 as a clear blue flexidisc given away with a magazine in a transparent plastic sleeve. I've used a digital effect to show the stamping in Cyrillic characters on the flexidisc. Many Dylan flexidiscs appeared in Russia, but this is one of only two that were official! For previous releases of We Are The World, see 1985, 1986 and VHS & DVD 1980s. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. |
![]() Flexidisc scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() Detail of flexidisc showing Cyrillic characters stamped in centre |
Eric Clapton - "Crossroads" - Boxed Set - 6LP: Polydor 35261 (UK), Apr 1988/4CD: Polydor 835 261-2 (UK), Oct 1990 (remastered reissue of 1988 set):
R-0122-2 Sign Language
- Bob duets with
Eric Clapton on this version of his otherwise unreleased song from Eric's
1976
RSO
album No Reason To Cry
The lyrics of this song have disappeared from bobdylan.com!
The 4CD version of this set was issued in Oct 1990 with all tracks reportedly remastered, as are those on the 1996 CD release of the original No Reason to Cry album.
This track is also available on a Czech Supraphon Eric Clapton compilation (see 1979).
12" box sets information and scans from John Hamilton's "Ultimate"
Eric Clapton Discography
Thanks
to Jack Guerreiro for scans of the current US release (date?), in a book-style
digipak. Disc 4 with R-0122 is numbered 835 271-2.
"Down In The Groove" - stereo vinyl LP with different tracks, Columbia 120.017 (Argentina), Jun 1988:
For the released album, see
International
Albums (Regular).
![]() Columbia 120.017 (Argentina) - front scan by Hermann Rechberger |
R-0195-3 Let's Stick Together (Wilbert Harrison) - - slightly longer fade out (3:10 - released track is 3:08) R-0196-3 Got Love If You Want It (James Moore - "Slim Harpo") R-0191-4 The Usual (John Hiatt) - from the Hearts of Fire film soundtrack (see 1987) These latter two tracks were instead of Death Is Not The End and Had A Dream About You, Baby (the second version, not R-0193 from the Hearts Of Fire soundtrack, see 1987). This LP (mispressed to be the same as the second Down In The Groove test pressing, also see 1987) has nothing on the sleeve or record labels to indicate the track changes, it just lists the regular tracks but plays the replaced tracks - information from Sam C. Visser and Hermann Rechberger. The matrix numbers of the rarity are: Side 1 - AL 40.957, Side 2: BL 40.957. The front sleeve has the title down the left hand side instead of down the right hand side as the US release. The back cover has the same picture as the US release but in black and white. The titles are translated into Spanish with the exception of the names Sally Sue Brown and Shenandoah. Another difference from the US release is that the musicians and producer are listed on the right hand side of the back cover. On the record labels the tracks are listed both in Spanish and English. Thanks to Hermann Rechberger for the scans. Keith Venturoni has a copy of the commercial Argentinean cassette release that also plays the replaced tracks as on the second promo cassette. I have no information about an Argentinean CD release (if there was one). Thanks to Larry Crum for finding a promo version of this on eBay - like the LP release the tracklisting is as the released album, not the tracks actually played. |
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![]() Columbia 120.017 (Argentina) - detail from front (title on left hand side), scan by Hermann Rechberger |
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![]() US CD front for comparison - title on right hand side |
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![]() Columbia 120.017 (Argentina) - detail from rear (musician and producer credits in Spanish), scan by Hermann Rechberger |
![]() Columbia 120.017 (Argentina) - Side 1 label, scan by Hermann Rechberger |
![]() Columbia 120.017 (Argentina) - Side 2 label, scan by Hermann Rechberger |
![]() Promo cassette release that plays the deleted tracks - picture found on eBay by Larry Crum |
Harry Belafonte - "All Time Greatest Hits Vol. 2" - CD compilation, RCA 8555-2-R (USA), 1988:
For details of the original album, see 1962.
Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "Harry Belafonte - 16 Top Tracks" - CD compilation, RCA/BMG 90224 (West Germany); RCA/BMG BPCD 5025 (Australia), 1988:
| R-0001-7 Midnight Special
(Huddie Ledbetter - "Leadbelly") For details of the original album, see 1962. In Germany this album was in the "RCA Reflections" series while in the UK and Australia the series was called "RCA Diamond". Other artists included Elvis Presley, Neil Sedaka, Sam Cooke and Mario Lanza. The Australian CD was made in Australia for RCA/BMG by Disctronics. Scans of the UK release required! Thanks to Hans Seegers and Stuart Moore for information and scans. |
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![]() RCA/BMG BPCD 5025 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore |
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![]() RCA Diamond Series UK release - Elvis Presley |
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![]() RCA Diamond Series UK release - Sam Cooke |
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U2 - "Rattle And Hum" - 2LP sets: Island 7 91003-1 (USA); Island UC 27 (UK); Island 842 299-1 (mainland Europe); Island R36D-2177/2178 (Japan); Island/Festival TVL 92385/6 (Australia), 10 Oct 1988:
U2 - "Rattle And Hum" - 2LP sets: Island 2LA.833 (Mexico), 1988; Island/PolyGram LPR 25019 A2 (Mexico), 1989; Island TLP-2 10.001 (Argentina), 1988; Island AN-ISL 0303400.2 (Peru), 1988; Island 212022/23-1 (Uruguay), 1988:
Thanks to Wil Gielen for finding scans of these Latin American releases from Mexico (two releases), Argentina, Peru and Uruguay. All come in a wide single sleeve, not a gatefold sleeve.
U2 - "Rattle And Hum" - Cassette releases: Island UC 27 (UK); Island/Festival TVC 92385/6 (Australia), 10 Oct 1988:
U2 - "Rattle And Hum" - CD releases: Island 7 91003-2 (USA); Island CIXD-1204 (Canada); Island CIDU 27 (UK); Island/Festival TVD 92385/6 (Australia), 10 Oct 1988; Island STARCD 5878 (South Africa), 1991:
U2 - "Rattle And Hum" - CD releases: Island P33D-20075 (Japan), 30 Oct 1988; Island P24D-10054 (Japan), 1 Sep 1989; Island PHCR-1707 (Japan), 5 Jul 1992; Universal/Island UICY-6569 (Japan), 8 Nov 2006:
U2 - "Excerpts From 'Rattle And Hum'" - 4-track promo CD single, Island U2V7 (UK), Oct 1988:
Traveling Wilburys - "Traveling Wilburys Volume One" - stereo vinyl releases, cassette releases, CD releases, Wilbury Records/Warner Bros (various catalogue numbers) (Worldwide), 18 Oct 1988:
![]() Wilbury Records/Warner Brothers 9 25796-2 (USA) - long box front, scan by Hans Seegers |
The Traveling Wilburys on Volume One were Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Roy Orbison died on 6 Dec 1988 before the release of the single End Of The Line, and only his photograph is shown in the video of the song performed by the four surviving group members. The album tracks were added to this list later than the exclusive single tracks, which is why their R-numbers are higher. The US edition came in a "long box". For full details of all releases of this album, see here. For other Wilburys releases in 1998, see Wilburys 1988. For the reissue of this album in The Traveling Wilburys Collection with three bonus tracks, see Wilburys 2007. |
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![]() Wilbury Records/Columbia House 574293-T (Canada) - CD front scan by Jack Guerreiro |
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![]() Warner-Pioneer/Wilbury Records 25P2-2327 (Japan) - CD front with obi, scan by Wil Gielen (1989 release) |
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![]() WEA/Supraphon 11 1040-1 (Czechoslovakia) - LP front scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() Wilbury Records/Warner Bros 925 796-1(West Germany)/WX 224 (UK) - LP front scan by Alex Ivanov (copy sold in Hungary) |
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![]() Wilbury Records/Warner Brothers 25796-1 (Australia/New Zealand) - LP front scan by Stuart Moore |
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![]() Wilbury Records/Warner Bros/Teal Record Company WBC 1652 (Zimbabwe) - front scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() Warner Bros. Records 670.9003 (Brazil) - LP front scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() WEA/EMI-Odeón 80770 (Argentina) - LP front scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() WEA 23(1031)00083 (Colombia) - LP front with sticker, scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() Warner Bros/Wilbury Records 925 796-4 (Germany for Europe) - cassette insert scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
![]() Wilbury Records/Warner Pioneer 23P4-2327 (Japan) - cassette insert scan by Wil Gielen |
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![]() Wilbury Records 25796-4 (Malaysia) - cassette insert scan by Stuart Moore |
R-0328 Handle With Care
R-0329 Dirty World
R-0330 Rattled
R-0331 Last Night
R-0334 Heading For The Light
R-0335 Margarita
R-0336 Tweeter And The Monkey Man
R-0337 End Of The Line
R-0332 Not Alone Any More
R-0333 Congratulations
(All songs credited to the Traveling Wilburys)
Various Artists - promo album for documentary "Folkways - A Vision Shared:
A Tribute To Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly", Columbia CAS 1261 (USA), 1988:
For the A Vision Shared VHS and DVD releases, see the VHS & DVD 1980s page. The documentary is narrated by Robbie
Robertson.
Ole Lien also informs me this album also has an interview with Bob. "It's the same as on the video (probably). If I remember right it is a little bit more than on the liner notes from the album. I think it also was from a BBC radio programme." Before the song Bob says: "Woody was like a particular sound and besides that he said something that seemed to be needed to be said, to go along with his sound. I like the way he played to say and I like the things that he said when he sang".
Over the complete version of the song, Bob says: "I started singing his songs. There was a time I did nothing but his songs. He's written so many and I knew them all! I think I was a Woody Guthrie jukebox! I was completely taken over by him. By the spirit or whatever. I mean, he had so much to give, you know. He was like a link in the chain for me. You could listen to his songs and actually learn how to live. I think he did a whole lot more then he ever knew he did" (Thanks to Hans Seegers for transcript.)
Thanks to Hans Seegers, Ole Lien, Brian Clarke and Peter Schoefboeck for information and scans.
Various Artists -
"Folkways - A Vision Shared: A Tribute To Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly" - soundtrack album, LP: Columbia OC
44034 (USA), 1988; CBS 460905 1 (Europe/Australia), 1988; CBS/Sony 25AP 5219
(Japan); Columbia 70.046 (Argentina), Jun 1989:
For the A Vision Shared VHS, laserdisc and DVD releases, see the VHS & DVD 1980s page.
![]() Columbia OC 44034 (USA) - LP front scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0202 Pretty Boy Floyd (Woody Guthrie) |
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![]() CBS 460905 1 (UK) - LP front sticker, scan by Hans Seegers |
![]() CBS 460905 1 (Spain) - promo LP front sticker, scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() CBS 460905 1 (Spain) - promo LP detail of rear, scan by Hans Seegers |
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CBS/Sony 25AP 5219 (Japan) - LP obi scan by Hans Seegers |
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![]() CBS 460905 1 (Australia) - Side 2 scan by Stuart Moore |
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R-0202 appeared on the Sony Music Bob Dylan Custom Mix CD web-site, Apr 2003, see Online Performances (Other). It was also one of the 42 rarities included for download with the Aug 2006 Apple iTunes Bob Dylan Collection, see Online Performances (Other).
The US LP has a white on purple inner sleeve. The UK LP has a white on grey/black card inner sleeve, the Dutch LP has a white on grey paper inner sleeve. The Japanese LP has a 4-page booklet but does not come in a CBS/Sony inner sleeve. The promo Spanish LP has yellow CBS labels - the promo text "DISCO PROMOCIONAL PROHIBIDA SU VENTA" is printed on the labels. The sticker on the LP front also has Spanish text.
Thanks to Sergio Magnacca for the information that this album was also issued in 1988 in Argentina with a slightly different cover with Spanish text added - below A Vision Shared is the text "Una Vision Compartida" and at the bottom right "Un Tributo A Woody Guthrie Y Leadbelly". The Argentine catalogue number is CBS 70.046 with the US number 44034 right below it. Sergio adds: "The title of Bob's song is in my opinion mistranslated as "Floyd El Muchachito" which really means "Floyd the little boy". There is no reference to "Pretty" in the translated title." Thanks to Stuart Moore for scans of the Australian LP release.
Various Artists - "Folkways - A Vision Shared: A Tribute To
Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly" - soundtrack album, Cassette: CBS 460905 4 (UK),
1988:
For the A Vision Shared VHS and DVD releases, see the VHS & DVD 1980s page.
The UK CBS cassette release had a multiple folded inlay card and a black cassette with red CBS labels. The Dutch cassette had a smaller inlay card and a folded insert on thin paper with the same information and pictures as the UK inlay.
Thanks to Nol Grint for information and scans.
Various Artists - "Folkways: A Vision Shared - A Tribute To Woody
Guthrie & Leadbelly" - soundtrack album, CD: Columbia CK 44034 (USA/Canada);
Columbia 460905 2 (Europe); CBS/Sony 25DP 5219 (Japan), 1988:
For the A Vision Shared VHS and DVD releases, see the VHS & DVD 1980s page.
The Japanese CD had the same design light-green, white, black and red obi as the LP. Hans Seegers has both a promo and a commercial copy of this. The promo CD has text in Japanese handwritten in the clear centre.
Thanks to Sergio Magnacca for information and to Hans Seegers for further information and scans. Thanks to Jack Guerreiro for scans of the Canadian CD release, also Columbia CK 44034. It has a different rear insert design from the US release. The CD itself was manufactured in the USA, as there was at that time no Columbia CD pressing plant in Canada.
Promotional/Regular Items for 1988
| Stereo promo items for 1988 which don't contain rare material but which are still very collectable are now included with promo releases of regular albums and commercially released singles on the appropriate page in International Stereo Releases. |

A Flying Pig production
Listings © 1998-2013
The rights to material from all quoted contributors remain
with them. Copyright of all included artwork remains with the various record companies.
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