All the songs listed in the Official
Rarities section are cross-referenced by song title in these
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This page for 1962 contains all the mono and stereo entries relating to the Harry Belafonte "Midnight Special" album on which Bob plays harmonica on the title track.
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.
"The Midnight Special" recording date
RCA/Legacy/Sony Music 190759890523 (Australia) - detail of inside page of front booklet of The Essential Harry Belafonte, scan by Stuart Moore (2019) |
Bob's first album Bob Dylan was recorded in Nov 1961, and
released on 19 Mar 1962, see Mono Album Releases
and International Albums
(Regular). The Belafonte session was for years thought to be Bob's first commercial recording
session, and is dated variously between Jun and Dec 1961 by Krogsgaard, Dundas
and Heylin. However, documentation found in 2001 in the RCA vaults along with
the tapes (session/archival number "N70Y-3793") dates the session as
definitively as "2/2/62
Webster Hall NYC". This means it was
recorded at Webster Hall, New York City, on the later date of 2 Feb
1962.
Thanks to Dr. Hanns Peter Bushoff for information about the RCA recording
session. Hanns Peter also found that an ad for The Midnight
Special' appeared in the 14 Apr 1962 issue of "Billboard" and
the album entered the "Billboard" charts at #146 in the
week ending 12 May 1962, which points to an April release. Since some sources still quote 1961 dates for the Belafonte session, Peter Coulthard has also researched the recording data and found that RCA Victor recording sessions have been extensively documented online. The session number "N70Y-3793" is broken down as follows: "N" = 1962 (1961 recordings would start with "M"); "7" = Custom - Recorded at RCA; "O" = Phonograph (sometimes written as 0); "Y" = 12" 33⅓ RPM; "3793" is the identifier from the recording session for the song itself. Other songs on the album will have the same prefix but a different suffix. This confirms the session definitely took place in early 1962. |
Advert for The Midnight Special from "Billboard", 14 Apr 1962 |
The excerpt from the booklet of The Essential Harry Belafonte, first released in 2005, gets the facts almost entirely wrong. The recording date is given as 23 Mar 1962, much later than when it actually took place, although the release date of April 1962 is probably right. The album is said to have been produced by Bob Bollard, but he just wrote the liner notes, it was actually produced by Hugo Montenegro. (Bob Bollard received a Grammy award – his only one - in 1963 for the liner notes to The Amazing Amanda Ambrose album on RCA, which he also produced.) Also, only Harry Belafonte and Bob Dylan are named in the musicians' credits, the others are all "unknown", whereas the rear of the original Midnight Special album clearly names them. They do get right that the orchestra was conducted by Jimmy Jones!
RCA Victor and the His Master's Voice (HMV) "Nipper" logo
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl albums and 7" singles/EPs
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl albums, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA/Canada), recorded Feb 1962, released Apr 1962:
RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0001M Midnight Special (Huddie Ledbetter "Lead Belly") - Bob plays harmonica for Harry Belafonte on the title track of his 1962 RCA album (mono version) Thanks to Dag Braathen for information that this is take 19, with the last verse spliced in from take 20, and then reverting to take 19 for the final chorus. R-0486, the alternate take released in 2001, is take 12 (see 2001). Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information that the mono version was mixed first with Bob in the background, but on the stereo version Bob's harmonica is clearly coming out of one channel. This mono version was reportedly released as a 7" mono single. Information is required on the catalogue number of the single and whether it had a picture sleeve. R-0001M was released on a Spanish mono EP, see below, and as the B-side of West German and Italian RCA Victor 7" mono singles with Zombie Jamboree as the A-side, see 1964. |
RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers |
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RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers (includes printer and photo details) |
RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (stereo rear is the same) |
RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - detail of rear with "Bob Dylan", scan by Manuel García Jara (stereo rear is the same) |
RCA US inner sleeve with ad for album songbook - scan by Stuart Moore |
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The rear sleeve has both mono and stereo catalogue numbers at top right, and was used for both the mono and stereo US releases.
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Manuel García Jara for information and scans. Thanks also to Stuart Moore for finding an original inner sleeve advertising the album songbook.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK), 1962:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany), 1962:
This mono album with the US mono catalogue number was made in West Germany by TELDEC (Telefunken-Decca) Schallplatten GmbH on behalf of RCA Victor (the UK mono and stereo albums were also made by Decca). The sleeve has "Printed in U.S.A." on the front, but was actually printed in Germany. The rear sleeve has no folded-over flaps. The record has black RCA Victor labels with silver text including the "GEMA" logo of the German copyright organisation.
There were also two 1962 West German stereo album releases - see below.
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy), 1962:
RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel
García Jara
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, Victor RA 5085 (Japan), 1962:
Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono)
- detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl albums, RCA L 101284 (Australia)/RCA RPL 3300 (New Zealand), 1962:
RCA L 101284 (Australia mono) - detail of rear, scan by Hans Seegers
RCA RPL 3300 (New Zealand mono) - detail of rear, scan by Bill Hester
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil), 1962:
This is the rare Brazilian release of this album with the usual mono catalogue number. The sleeve is in incredibly good condition considering how it was made: the front and rear are two separate pieces of fragile paper (not glued) on one piece of cardboard, folded at the spine. The album has the usual front sleeve design, still containing the text "Printed in U.S.A." even though it was printed in Brazil. The rear sleeve has the regular design with the sleeve notes and comments about each track translated into Portuguese. The record was made in Brazil and has dark blue RCS Victor labels with silver text.
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "Otra Vez Belafonte [Again Belafonte]"/"De Nuevo Con Harry Belafonte [Again With Harry Belafonte]" ("The Midnight Special") - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain), 1963:
The album has the same catalogue number and tracklist on the rear sleeve and record labels as in the rest of the world, but the sleeve and album title were exclusive to Spain. The title on the front sleeve is "Otra Vez Belafonte [Again Belafonte]" but "De Nuevo Con Harry Belafonte [Again With Harry Belafonte]" on the rear sleeve and on the record labels. The rear sleeve has a different design from others worldwide and the notes in Spanish are the usual hyperbolic comments, not a translation of the original notes. The song titles are listed in English only and Dylan does not appears in the musician credits. The rear sleeve has a cut-out on the open edge to enable the record to be removed more easily, and the copy shown also has the stamped text "RETIRADO (WITHDRAWN)". The record has black RCA Victor labels with silver text dated 1963. The song titles are again in English only.
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" - mono 7" EP, RCA Victor 22.431 (Spain), 1963:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl albums, cassettes and 7" singles/EPs
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP release, RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA), recorded Feb 1962, released Mar 1962(?), re-released 1964:
R-0001 Midnight Special
(Huddie Ledbetter "Lead Belly") - Bob plays harmonica on the
title track of Harry Belafonte's The Midnight Special
album (stereo version also on The Midnight Special
EP)
This stereo version was also released on a 4 track "living
stereo" EP (shown below).
A second US stereo pressing of the album from 1964, without "Living Stereo" on the labels used the same catalogue number as the 1962 release - RCA Victor LPS 2449. Scans of the Side 2 labels required.
The stereo version of Midnight Special (R-0001) can be also found on LP and CD releases of the album and many Belafonte compilations listed here and on the appropriate chronological page. This original album was released on CD in a "2 on 1" release with Jump Up Calypso in 1995, and was eventually released on CD in the USA by Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music in 2009, see below. A previously unreleased alternate stereo take of Midnight Special was released in May 2001 on the BMG Germany compilation May Your Song Always Be Sung Again: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2, see 2001. Midnight Special was also released in 2001 as part of a 3CD set called 3 Originals, also see 2001. Midnight Special was again released in 2015 as part of Harry Belafonte: King Of Calypso, a 10CD set covering 17 original Harry Belafonte albums, see 2015.
Thanks to Hans Seegers, Rob Cole and Manuel García Jara for information and scans and to Dr. Hanns Peter Bushoff for information about the RCA recording session.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP release, RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia), 1964:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "Living Stereo" reel-to-reel tape release, RCA Victor FTP-1108 (USA), 1962:
The tape inside is double-sided and contains the album The Many Moods Of Harry Belafonte, RCA Victor FTP-1154, also from 1962, on Side 2, although it's not mentioned on the tape box. The box has a double-sided insert which describes the second album, although the front picture shown on right above isn't included. Surprisingly there was also a separate reel-to-reel tape release of The Many Moods Of Harry Belafonte, so it's possible that FTP-1108 was on Side 2 of that release!
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "Living Stereo" 7" vinyl EP, RCA Victor VLP 2449 (USA), Mar 1962:
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Stefan Haras for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "Living Stereo" vinyl LP release, RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada), Mar 1962:
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP release, RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK), 1962:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP releases, RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany), 1962:
RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of rear,
scan by Manuel García Jara (first release - stereo catalogue number only at top
left)
RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of rear,
scan by Manuel García Jara (first release)
RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of rear,
scan by Manuel García Jara (second release - mono and stereo
catalogue numbers at top left)
There was also a West German mono album release - see above. For later German releases on the RCA Camden and RCA International labels, see below.
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "Living Stereo" vinyl LP releases, Victor SHP-5062 (Japan), 1962; Victor SA-7005-7 (Japan), Sep 1963:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - promo and commercial stereo vinyl LP re-releases, RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan), 1974:
RCA Victor
RCA-5121 (Japan) - spine scan by
Manuel García Jara (1974 release)
It was manufactured by Victor Musical Industries, Tokyo, Japan, for RCA. The promo copy shown has a record with white RCA labels, again in English and Japanese, with Japanese characters indicating a sample at top left. It comes in the commercial sleeve. Both the rear sleeve and the record labels are dated 1974. The commercial record comes in the same sleeve and has orange labels.
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP, RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia), 1962:
Harry Belafonte - "Midnight Special" - reissue stereo vinyl LP releases, RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK)/RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany)/RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia), 1972:
RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany) - detail of rear, scan by
Ronald Born
Thanks to Hans Seegers, Wim van der Mark, Stuart Moore and Ronald Born for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue stereo vinyl LP releases, RCA International VAL1-0311 (Australia/New Zealand), mid-1970s:
RCA International VAL1-0311 (New
Zealand) - detail of rear, scan by
Manuel García Jara (Australian release is the same)
RCA International VAL1-0311 (New
Zealand) - spine scan by
Manuel García Jara
Harry Belafonte - "Midnight Special" - reissue stereo vinyl LP, RCA ANL1-2324 (USA/Philippines), 1977:
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - 8-track stereo tape cartridge release, RCA Victor ANS1-2324 (USA), 1977:
RCA ANS1-2324 (USA) - end of tape cartridge, scan by Manuel García Jara
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue vinyl LP releases, RCA International INTS 5029 (UK), 1980; RCA International NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL), 1980:
RCA International INTS 5029 (UK):
RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara
(dated 1980)
RCA International INTK 5029 (UK) - cassette release:
This cassette release has a folded insert which is black on the inside. The cassette is light grey with blue text, there are no paper labels.
RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany)/RCA Victor NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL):
RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for noticing that the booklet with the "2 on 1" CD release with Jump Up Calypso in 1995 shows illustrations of a 1980 European release previously not listed, RCA Victor NL 82324. Manuel García Jara's copy has two differences from the album shown - on the front at top right it has "RCA International" whereas the illustrated album has "RCA VICTOR DYNAGROOVE RECORDING". On the rear sleeve at top left Manuel's copy again has ""RCA International" whereas the illustrated album just has "RCA". Manuel's copy also has a white sticker with "SF" over the price code text "D: AG" on the illustrated copy. The record has dark grey RCA labels with white text. Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux and Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
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RCA Victor NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL) - reproduction of album sleeve, scan by Jean-Pol Hiernaux |
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RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara ("RCA International") |
RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany) - detail of rear with "SF" sticker, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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RCA Victor NL 82324 (Belgium/West Germany/France/Italy/NL) - detail of reproduction of album sleeve, scan by Jean-Pol Hiernaux ("RCA") |
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RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
RCA International NL 82324 (West Germany) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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RCA International NL 82324 (West
Germany)
- detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo CD releases
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - reissue CD release, Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music WOU 2449 (USA), 10 Mar 2009:
Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music WOU 2449 (USA) - front (my copy) |
This CD was made by the Sony Music Special Marketing Group
for Wounded Bird Records of Guilderland, NY, and has the secondary catalogue
number A 741421. It was released under licence from Sony Music. The front
insert is a single folded card with the original artwork on the outside and
the liner notes and musician credits reproduced in larger type on the
inside. Bob Dylan is prominently credited as playing harmonica. Midnight Special was also released in 2001 as part of a 3CD set called 3 Originals, also see 2001. Midnight Special was again released in 2015 as part of Harry Belafonte: King Of Calypso, a 10CD set covering 17 original Harry Belafonte albums, see 2015. |
Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music WOU 2449 (USA) - rear insert |
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Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music WOU 2449 (USA) - CD |
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Wounded Bird Records/Sony Music WOU 2449 (USA) - detail of inside of unfolded front insert |
Thanks to Dr. Hanns Peter Bushoff for informing me of this release.
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