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: 16 September, 2024
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 -
Performances currently available on commercial CD are marked by
(these are the ones that count as obscurities
rather than as rarities)
Articolo 31 - "Nessuno [None]", CD release: Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584442 (Italy); cassette release: Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584444 (Italy), 1998:
Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584442 (Italy) - CD front scan by Jack from Canada |
R-0442 Come Una Pietra Scalciata [Like A Rolling Stone] (Dylan/Aleotti/Perrini)
cover version in Italian
with parts of Bob's original version included This track was also included on the May 2001 BMG Germany compilation May Your Song Always Be Sung Again: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2, see 2001. Thanks to Jack from Canada and Ronald Born for scans |
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Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584442 (Italy) - CD rear insert scan by Jack from Canada |
Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584442 (Italy) - CD scan by Jack from Canada |
Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584444 (Italy) - cassette Side 2 scan by Ronald Born (includes R-0442) |
Best Sound/Ricordi 74321584444 (Italy) - inside of cassette insert, scan by Ronald Born |
David Bromberg - "The Player: A Retrospective" - CD release, Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA), 1998, re-released 2008:
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R-0073-2 Sammy's Song
(David Bromberg) - Bob plays harmonica Recorded Columbia Studios, New York, 5 Oct 1971, from David Bromberg's first self-titled album, 1972. Bob is credited with playing harmonica on this album, although he was only thanked on the original. This version is remastered/remixed and, according to Rob van Estrik, a considerable improvement over the original release. For details of the original album, see 1972. This track also appears in a remastered version on the UK 2008 Beat Goes On Records/Sony BMG "2 on 1" CD David Bromberg/Demon In Disguise, see 2008. |
Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - front sticker scan by Hans Seegers (1998 release) |
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Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - front scan by Jack from Canada (2008 release - no sticker) |
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Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - reverse of rear insert, scan by Jack from Canada (both releases) |
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Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - detail of rear insert, scan by Hans Seegers (1998 release) |
Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - rear insert scan by Jack from Canada (2008 release) |
Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - detail of rear insert, scan by Jack from Canada (2008 release - different barcode) |
Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - CD scan by Jack from Canada (2008 release) |
Columbia/Legacy CK 65263 (USA) - CD scan by Hans Seegers (1998 release) |
The 2008 re-release looks identical to the 1998 release apart from a different barcode on the rear insert.
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Jack from Canada for information and scans.
Various Artists - "And The Times They Were A-Changin’" - Dylan covers compilation, Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK), 1998, re-released 2005:
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - front scan by Jack from Canada (1998 release in jewel case) |
R-0123-5 Buckets Of Rain
- Bob shares vocals with Bette Midler, from her Atlantic album Songs For The
New Depression, recorded at Secret Sound Studios, New York, Oct 1975 For details of the original Bette Midler album, see 1976. Jack from Canada's 1998 release is in a jewel case, Paul Shenton's 1998 release is in a three panel dxigipak. This compilation was re-released in 2005 with the same catalogue number but new artwork. |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - photocopy by Paul Shenton (1998 release in digipak) |
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Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - rear insert scan by Jack from Canada (1998 release in jewel case) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - outside of front booklet, scan by Jack from Canada (1998 release in jewel case) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - reverse of rear insert, scan by Jack from Canada (1998 release in jewel case) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - CD scan by Jack from Canada (1998 releases) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - front with sticker, picture from nobodysingsdylanlikedylan.com (2005 release) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - outside of unfolded digipak, photocopy by Paul Shenton (1998 release in digipak) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) - inside of digipak with CD, photocopy by Paul Shenton (1998 release in digipak) |
Débutante DeLuxe 555 431-2 (UK) -
front sticker scan by Jack from Canada
Thanks to Jack from Canada and Paul Shenton for information and pictures.
Harry Belafonte - "Folk Standards: The Encore Collection" - compilation CD: BMG Special Products 7551 7446-2 (USA), 1998, reissued as BMG Special Products/Collectables COL-CD-9361/44676RG (USA) (USA), 2002:
R-0001-19 Midnight Special (Huddie Ledbetter "Lead Belly") - Bob plays harmonica on the title track of Harry Belafonte's 1962 The Midnight Special album (stereo version)
This Harry Belafonte compilation was later released in the USA by BMG Special Products in association with Collectables Records with different artwork as just Folk Standards in 2002. The 2002 CD looks identical to the 1998 CD.
For details of the original album, see 1962.
Thanks to Peter Oudejans for information and scans.
"Not Dark Yet" - 4-track CD single, Columbia COL 665443-2 (Scandinavia), Feb 1998; 2-track CD single, Columbia COL 665443-1 (Austria for Europe), Feb 1998:
R-0260-2 Tombstone Blues - live, House of Blues, Atlanta, Aug 1996, from the Columbia US promo CD single Live '96, see 1997
R-0261-2 Ballad Of A Thin Man - live as R-0260
R-0262-2 Boots Of Spanish Leather - live as R-0260. Note the
Japanese version of this single from Apr 1999 has a different performance of
Boots - R-0276, see 1999
R-0262 turned up on an online "EP" High Water from iTunes Canada in 2008, see
Online Performances (Other).
Thanks to Brian Clarke for information about the European 2-track CD single Columbia COL 665443-1 in a card sleeve with the same front design. It has just the title track and R-0260. Thanks to Szymon Strużyna and Sonny Boy McFitzson for further information and scans.
Ronnie Wood - "Wood On Canvas: Every Picture Tells A Story" - book with bonus 4-track CD, Genesis Publications GENWOODCD1 (UK), Mar 1998:
For more information on this (very expensive) book, see the web-site of Genesis Publications. It is housed in a slipcase, and the CD is in a card sleeve. The back of the slipcase is plain black and the back of the book is plain blue. The song was re-released in a longer, overdubbed version on Ronnie Wood's compilation CD Not For Beginners, see 2001.
Thanks to Mike Koshitani for information and to Hans Seegers for information and scans.
Various Artists - "Vanguard Sessions: Folk Hits"- compilation CD releases, Vanguard 79510 2 (USA); Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79511 (Europe), Apr 1998:
This Vanguard compilation contains two Dylan rarities.
R-0019-4 Will The
Circle Be Unbroken (traditional) - Bob plays harmonica for Ramblin' Jack Elliott, from
the 1964 Vanguard album Jack Elliott
(stereo version), recorded New York, late 1963/early 1964, see 1964 R-0597 It Ain't Me, Babe (3:35)
recorded live with Joan Baez at The Newport Folk
Festival, Newport, RI, 24 Jul 1964 |
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Vanguard 79510 2 (USA) - rear insert scan by Peter Oudejans |
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (Europe) - front scan by Jack from Canada |
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (Europe) - rear insert scan by Jack from Canada |
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (Europe) - CD scan by Jack from Canada |
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (Europe) - detail of CD, scan by Jack from Canada ("Made in the EU") |
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Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (Europe) - outside of unfolded front insert, scan by Jack from Canada |
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Vanguard 79510 2 (USA) - rear insert scan by Peter Oudejans |
Vanguard 79510 2 (USA) -CD scan by Peter Oudejans |
Vanguard 79510 2 (USA) - detail of rear insert, scan by
Peter Oudejans
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79510 (UK) - detail of rear insert, scan by Jack from Canada
("Made in the EU")
The CD front insert is a single sheet folded twice. Unlike the next release below (VMD 79511), the European CD was made in the EU.
Thanks to Ole Lien, Jack from Canada and Peter Oudejans for information and scans.
Various Artists - "Vanguard Sessions: Folk Duets" - compilation CD releases: Vanguard 79511 2 (USA); Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79511 (UK), Apr 1998:
Vanguard 79511 2 (USA) - detail of rear insert
Vanguard Masters/Ace VMD 79511 (UK) - detail of rear insert, scan by Jack from Canada
("Made in the UK")
R-0020-7 Ye Playboys
And Playgirls - recorded live with Pete Seeger from the Newport
Folk Festival, 28 Jul 1963 ("Topical Songs" workshop), originally released on the 1964 album Newport
Broadsides (Topical Songs), see 1964 (stereo
version)
This song has always been thought to have been recorded at the afternoon
workshop on 27 Jul 1963, but sources such as Glen Dundas and Derek Barker (in
Appendix 1 to his 2008 Chrome Dreams book "The Songs He Didn't Write: Bob Dylan
Under The Influence") now think it took place on the following day. Lyrics on bobdylan.com
here.
R-0265 It Ain't Me, Babe (3:56)
- recorded live with Joan Baez from the Newport Folk Festival,
24 Jul 1964
This is a second edit of the full version from Joan
Baez Live At Newport (R-0252, 4:45, see 1997) - includes
5-6 seconds of intro (where Baez introduces Dylan "This is George
Washington") and 28 seconds of outro. Information from Tim Dunn.
An almost complete version, with only crowd noise cut off at the end is on
the 2002 Vanguard compilation CD This Land Is Your Land: Songs Of Freedom. An even shorter edit of this performance was included on the 2002 3CD set Vanguard
Roots Of Folk. For both, see 2002.
The CD front insert is again a single sheet folded twice.
Thanks to Jack from Canada for information and scans.
"Love Sick" - CD single test pressing, Columbia (no catalogue number) (USA), Apr/May 1998:
Grammys CD-R - scan by Stuart Sonshine |
R-0263 Love Sick -
live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb
1998 (5:20), same as BDC18, see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) This test pressing was mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound. Thanks to Gerd Rundel for finding this on eBay and to Stuart Sonshine for the scan. |
Ralph Stanley - "Clinch Mountain Country" - 2CD set, Rebel Records REB-511 (USA), May 1998:
Rebel Records REB-511 (USA) - front insert (my copy) |
R-0266 The Lonesome
River (Ralph & Carter Stanley) - duet with Ralph Stanley, same as BDC25
(see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ) This 2CD set contains new performances by Ralph Stanley of his best known songs with many guest artists including Bob. |
Rebel Records REB-511 (USA) - rear insert |
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Rebel Records REB-511 (USA) - CD1 with R-0266 |
The Lonesome River was released in Oct 2008 on CD2 of The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 - Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006, see here. This means R-0266 has ceased to be a rarity and this set is now listed in International Album Releases - Other Artists' Compilations with Dylan Album Tracks .
Various Artists - "That's Country" - compilation 2CD set, Universal UMD 83075 (NL), 1998:
Universal UMD 83075 (NL) - front insert scan by Jack from Canada |
R-0216-5 Heartland
(Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson) - Bob duets with Willie on this co-written song from his 1993
Columbia album
Across The Borderline, lyrics on bobdylan.com
here Heartland also appeared on the Norwegian Polydor compilation CD The Country Collection (see 1993), on the US Columbia/Legacy 1995 Willie Nelson boxed set Revolutions Of Time: The Journey 1975-1993 (see 1995), on the 2CD Universal Holland compilation That's Country (see 1998) and on the Sony Music/Reclam Music Edition Germany compilation CD All About Americana (see 2015). There is also an edit of the song on the VHS promo video of this album featuring Bob, see VHS & DVD 1990s Part 1. This 2CD set comes in a double-width jewel case. There is also a folded insert. R-0216 is track 9 on CD1. |
Universal UMD 83075 (NL) - rear insert scan by Jack from Canada |
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Universal UMD 83075 (NL) - CD1 scan by Jack from Canada (includes R-0216) |
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Universal UMD 83075 (NL) - CD2 scan by Jack from Canada (no Dylan) |
Thanks to Jack from Canada for information and scans.
"Love Sick" - promo CD single, Columbia XPCD 1015 (UK), May 1998:
R-0263-2 Love Sick -
live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb
1998 (5:20), same as BDC18, see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) This single also contains the regular album version. |
Columbia XPCD 1015 (UK) - rear of card sleeve including June 1998 UK tour dates |
"Love Sick" - 2-track CD single, Columbia COL 665997 1 (Europe), Jun
1998:
This 2-track CD single comes in a card
sleeve. As it is shown as "CD1" there must be a CD2!
Columbia COL 665997 1 (Europe) - front of card sleeve, scan by Gerd Rundel |
R-0263-3 Love Sick - live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb 1998 (5:20) - same as BDC18 (see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ) R-0267 Cold Irons Bound - live, El Rey
Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997 - same as BDC7 (see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ), and now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob
Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances,
see 2001 |
Columbia COL 665997 1 (Europe) - rear of card sleeve, scan by Gerd Rundel |
Columbia COL 665997 1 (Europe) - CD scan by Gerd Rundel |
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for information and scans.
"Love Sick" - two 4-track CD singles, Columbia COL 665997 2/5 (Europe), Jun
1998:
The CDs of these releases in thin CD
single jewel cases have designs
from Columbia Record vinyl singles from the 1930s. The reverses of the folded CD
single inserts are blank.
CD1: Columbia COL 665997 2 (Austria for Europe) - front of insert with 1998 German tour dates sticker, scan by Andrew Wellman |
CD1 (Columbia COL 665997 2) has four live rarities: R-0263-4 Love Sick - live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb 1998 (5:20) - same as BDC18 (see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ) R-0267-2 Cold Irons Bound - live, El Rey
Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997 - same as BDC7 (see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ), and now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob
Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances,
see 2001 |
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R-0268 Cocaine Blues (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997
R-0269 Born In Time - live, New Jersey Center
for the Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, 1 Feb 1998 - same as BDC21
(see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ) - now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob
Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances,
see 2001
This performance is misdated "Aug 1997" and was therefore wrongly identified
by some as from Scranton, PA, 12 Aug 1997 - the above date is correct!
(Listening to audience tapes from Scranton and Newark confirms this:
the Scranton Aug 1997 performance is immediately
different – it starts with several guitar chords before launching into the
song proper, whereas the Newark Feb 1998 version goes straight in after an
audible count.)
CD2 (Columbia 665997 5) has the album version of the title track plus three live rarities:
R-0270 Can't Wait - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 20 Dec 1997
R-0271 Roving Gambler (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 17 Dec 1997
R-0272 Blind Willie McTell - live, Jones Beach, NY, 17 Aug 1997 - same as BDC2 (see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) ) - this performance is misdated "Feb 1998", the dates for R-0269 on CD1 and R-0272 on CD2 were therefore mixed up. This is a very easily identifiable audience recording, Bob performed Blind Willie McTell three times in Feb 1998 - at Springfield, MA, 2 Feb; at St. Louis, MO, 17 Feb; and at Fairfax, VA, 22 Feb, but this isn't any of those performances.
These singles were also released in Japan with different artwork at the end of 1998 (see below).
R-0267 and R-0268 appeared on the Sony Music Bob Dylan Custom Mix CD web-site, Apr 2003, see Online Performances (bobdylan.com) . They are both misdated 20 Dec 1997!
Thanks to Andrew Wellman for the scan.
"Time Out Of Mind -
1998 Australasian Tour Commemorative Edition" - 2CD set, Columbia 491660 2 (Australia), Aug 1998:
This release comes in a slimline 2CD
jewel case.
The same seven songs as on the Love Sick singles are included
on a second "bonus" CD, Bob Dylan Live '97 & '98, catalogue number
Columbia SAMP 2004.
For more scans of the regular CD release, see International
Albums (Regular).
Columbia 491660 2 (Australia) - 1998 Limited Edition front with sticker on jewel case (my copy) |
This 2CD edition in a slimline jewel case contains a bonus disc SAMP 2004 titled Bob Dylan Live '97 & '98 with seven live rarities from 1997 and 1998. For more details, see 1998. The album CD (486936 2) used the same blue 1930s 78 rpm design as the promo disc shown above. The front CD insert and the album CD itself are numbered 486936 2 - the regular album catalogue number. The rear insert is numbered 491660 2. Thanks to Christopher Dunn for pointing this out. Thanks also to "Les Memory" for pointing out that this was a re-release of Time Out of Mind in Australia - it had already been released in 1997 as a single album. |
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Columbia SAMP 2004 (Australia) - alternate bonus disc, scan by Gerd Rundel (just "LIVE '97" with "Bob Dylan" on a second line) |
The contents of the bonus disc SAMP 2004 are:
R-0263-5 Love Sick - live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb 1998 (5:20)
R-0267-3 Cold Irons Bound - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997 - now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances, see 2001
R-0268-2 Cocaine Blues (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997
R-0269-2 Born In Time - live, New Jersey
Center for the Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, 1 Feb 1998, and now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob
Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances,
see 2001
This performance is again misdated "Aug 1997", see Love Sick
singles above.
R-0270-2 Can't Wait - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 20 Dec 1997
R-0271-2 Roving Gambler (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 17 Dec 1997
R-0272-2 Blind Willie McTell - live, Jones Beach, NY, 17 Aug 1997 (correctly dated - see Love Sick singles above)
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for the scan of a different disc for SAMP 2004 with a different text layout. My disc is correctly titled "BOB DYLAN LIVE '97 & '98" on one line, Gerd's disc is titled just "LIVE '97" (incorrect since R-0263 and R-0269 are from 1998) with "Bob Dylan" on a second line. This could be an incorrect early release that was quickly corrected.
"Love Sick/Dylan Alive" - 2CD single set, SME (Sony Music Entertainment) Records SRCS 8760-8761 (Japan), end 1998:
R-0263-6 Love Sick - live, Grammy Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 25 Feb 1998 (5:20) - Fred Muller times this as 5:30
R-0267-4 Cold Irons Bound - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997 - now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances, see 2001
R-0268-3 Cocaine Blues (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 16 Dec 1997
R-0269-3 Born In Time - live, New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, 1 Feb 1998, and now also available on the 2001 Japanese live compilation Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000: Thirty Nine Years Of Great Concert Performances, see 2001
R-0270-3 Can't Wait - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 20 Dec 1997
R-0271-3 Roving Gambler (traditional) - live, El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, 17 Dec 1997
R-0272-3 Blind Willie McTell - live, Jones Beach, NY, 17 Aug 1997
Thanks to Jack from Canada and Keith Schweiger for scans.
Various Artists - "Touched By An Angel: The Album" - TV Series soundtrack compilation, CD releases: 550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax BK 68971 (USA/Canada), 3 Nov 1998; Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax 491828 2 (France/NL), Nov 1998; Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax CDEPC 5715 K (South Africa), 1998; Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax BK 68971 (Colombia), 1998; 550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax CPK-1949/491828 2 (South Korea); Epic Records ESCA 7446 (Japan), 20 Feb 1999; Myrrh/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax 80688591120 (USA), (date?):
550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax BK 68971 (USA) - front of promo CD in card sleeve, scan by Jack from Canada |
R-0273 Dignity - original Oh Mercy out-take
produced by Daniel Lanois - not the 1994 Brendan O'Brien remixed
version for Greatest Hits Vol. 3, which retained only
Bob's vocal and piano and added new backing. This song appeared in the 100th episode of this US drama series broadcast in 1998 - for the 1999 VHS tape of the episode, see VHS & DVD 1990s Part 2. |
550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax BK 68971 (USA) - front of jewel case with sticker (my copy) |
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Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax 491828 2 (France/NL) - front with sticker, scan by Hans Seegers |
Epic Records ESCA 7446 (Japan) - front with obi, scan by Wil Gielen |
550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax CPK-1949/491828 2 (South Korea) - front scan by Peter Oudejans |
Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax CDEPC 5715 K (South Africa) - front scan by Jack from Canada |
Epic/550 Music/Sony Music Soundtrax BK 68971 (Colombia) - front picture from www.discogs.com |
Thanks to Jack from Canada, Hans Seegers, Wil Gielen and Peter Oudejans for information and scans.
Promotional/Regular Items for 1998
Stereo promo items for 1998 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. |
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Listings ©
1998-2024
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with them. Copyright of all included artwork remains with the various record companies.
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