A-E
F-J
K-O
P-S
T-ZAll 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 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: 26 January, 2024.
Entries separated by a blue line contain the same rarities. Titles in red are not available
on a currently released Bob Dylan CD (for these see bobdylan.com
 )Key to symbols used: |
"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
 HMV "Nipper" logo |
The front sleeve and record labels of this US RCA Victor release include the "Nipper" logo, more commonly associated with the His Master's Voice record label then owned by EMI. The picture was originally an 1898 painting by Francis Barraud entitled "His Master's Voice". Nipper is the name of the Jack Russell terrier listening to "his master's voice" through the horn of an Edison-Bell gramophone. The "Nipper" logo was used by two different companies: the UK Gramophone Company (later His Master's Voice and subsequently part of EMI) acquired the painting from the artist but it sold part of the copyright of this logo to US Victor (later RCA Victor in the whole world except in Japan where RCA and Victor or JVC, the Japanese Victor Company, were separate companies for a long time.) RCA Victor had the rights to the "Nipper" logo for USA, Canada, some Central American countries and Japan. His Master's Voice originally used this logo in the UK and the Commonwealth countries (except Canada) and, from when it was part of EMI, in the other countries where RCA Victor did not own the copyright. |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA mono) - detail of Side 1, scan by Hans Seegers |
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 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:
 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
This mono album was made by the Decca Record Company, London, on behalf of RCA Victor. The sleeve is laminated on the front and the rear has two folded-over flaps. The record has black RCA labels with silver text. The "Nipper" logo does not appear on this release. Thanks to Stuart Moore for scans of the UK album songbook. Bob does not appear in the session photographs. Stuart Moore's mono copy came with a 12" insert advertising this songbook, bearing both mono and stereo UK catalogue numbers. Thanks to Manuel García Jara, Stuart Moore and Paul Shenton for information and pictures. |
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 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (UK stereo album below is the same) |
 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor RD-27262/SF-5132 (UK mono/stereo) - insert advertising songbooks, photocopy by Paul Shenton |
 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (compare with US mono front above - printer and photo details missing) |
 RCA Victor RD-27262 (UK mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (UK stereo album below is the same) |
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 Belafonte Music UK album songbook - inside scan by Stuart Moore |
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 Belafonte Music UK album songbook - inside scan by Stuart Moore |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - mono vinyl album, RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany), 1962:
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - Side 1 with R-0001M, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (West Germany mono) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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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) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
The Italian version of this album, as was usual in Italy at that time, was released in mono only and there was never a stereo release. The front sleeve has a panel with the RCA Victor logo at top right and the mono catalogue number at bottom left (for some reason printed twice). The rear sleeve has the usual liner notes by Bob Bollard in Italian and English. Although this album was only released in mono the rear sleeve has both catalogue numbers, mono and stereo ("LPM/LSP 2449") at top right and vertically on the left edge in a half circle that looks like a cut-out. At the bottom of the rear sleeve there is Italian information about printer (Corporazione Arti Grafiche) and manufacturer (RCA Italiana SPA). The record has the usual black RCA Victor labels with silver text and copyright information in English and Italian. Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (mono catalogue number twice) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (mono and stereo catalogue numbers) |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (mono and stereo catalogue numbers) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (same as UK mono front above - printer and photo details missing) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - Side 1 with R-0001M, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara (mono and stereo catalogue numbers) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Italy mono) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
This is the very elusive Japanese mono
release of this album released in mono with a different catalogue number.
The sleeve is fully laminated on both sides with two flaps on the rear. This
copy has an original inner sleeve with a very small "Nipper" logo at the top
right corner. The rear of this inner sleeve is blank.
The record has the usual black Victor labels with silver text in English and
Japanese. Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
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 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - inner sleeve front scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of inner sleeve front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001M) |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 Victor RA 5085 (Japan mono) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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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) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
Thanks to Hans Seegers and Rob Cole for information about and scans of the Australian mono LP, RCA L 101284. The copy shown was for demonstration, with a white "NOT FOR SALE SAMPLE RECORD" stamp on the record labels. Thanks to Bill Hester for information about and scans of the New Zealand mono LP, RCA RPL 3300. The sleeve has two folded-over flaps and was manufactured in New Zealand by Cello-Kraft Ltd. |
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 RCA RPL 3300 (New Zealand mono) - front scan by Bill Hester |
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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:
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001M) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Brazil mono) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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:
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
Before the "British Invasion" in the mid-1960s, albums released in Spain by foreign artists were very rare, but Harry Belafonte was an exception due to his status as a movie star. In fact, this release of The Midnight Special was the third Belafonte album released in Spain - the previous two, Calypso and Una Velada Con Belafonte [An Evening With Belafonte] are listed on the rear sleeve of this album. This album was released in Spain in 1963 but it was quickly withdrawn from the shops because most copies had a serious fault - Side 1 with R-0001M plays correctly but Side 2 plays five tracks from a previous Belafonte album instead of the four tracks listed for this record! As far as Manuel knows, there never was a corrected release of this album, RCA Spain released the 4-track EP below taken from The Midnight Special instead of the full album. Therefore this Spanish album release is incredibly rare. |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara ("RETIRADO" stamp) |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - detail of rear with cut-out on left, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001M) |
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 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (Spain mono) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan, although doesn't play the songs listed) |
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:
 RCA Victor 22.431 (Spain mono) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
This mono 7" EP from Spain has four tracks from the above
album. R-0001M is on the B-side. The A-side of this copy has an
RCA Spain promo sticker. Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
 RCA Victor 22.431 (Spain mono) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor 22.431 (Spain mono) - B-side scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001M) |
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:
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA stereo) - front scan by Hans Seegers ("Living Stereo" release) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "Living Stereo") - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "Living Stereo") - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "Living Stereo") - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers ("Nipper" logo) |
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RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA stereo) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (mono rear is the same) |
 RCA Victor LPM 2449 (USA stereo) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "Living Stereo") - detail of Side 1, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 1 - "LIVING STEREO") |
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RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA "Living Stereo") - detail of Side 1, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 1) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA stereo) - detail of Side 1, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2 - larger "RCA VICTOR") |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA stereo) - detail of Side 1, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2 - "STEREO") |
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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:
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - front with gold foil sticker, scan by Manuel García Jara |
This release sold in Australia is the 1964 US
stereo release with stickers over the "Nipper" logos, because the trademark
was owned by HMV/EMI in Australia. The front has a gold foil "RCA Victor"
sticker and the record labels have black "RCA" stickers. The rear sleeve is
exactly the same as those of the US mono and stereo releases. Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - front gold foil sticker scan by Manuel García Jara |
RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (same as US mono/stereo releases above) |
RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - detail of rear with "Bob Dylan", scan by Manuel García Jara (same as US mono/stereo releases above) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - Side 1 with sticker, scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
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 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (USA for Australia) - Side 2 with sticker, scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - "Living Stereo" reel-to-reel tape release, RCA Victor FTP-1108 (USA), 1962:
 RCA Victor FTP-1108 (USA stereo) - front of reel-to-reel tape box (my copy) |
Thanks to Stuart Moore for finding this rare 7½" i.p.s. "Living Stereo" reel-to-reel 4-track tape release on eBay. The stiff card box is 7½" square, hinged on the left, and has a single pasted wrap-around label. |
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 The Many Moods Of Harry Belafonte (RCA Victor LSP-2574, USA stereo) - LP front (no Dylan) |
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 RCA Victor FTP-1154 (USA stereo) - Side 2 of reel-to-reel tape (no Dylan) |
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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:
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
This stereo album made in Canada has the same catalogue number as the US release. The front sleeve has just the stereo catalogue number, but the rear sleeve has both mono and stereo catalogue numbers. The record has black RCA Victor "Living Stereo" labels. |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (stereo catalogue number) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (mono and stereo catalogue numbers) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor LSP 2449 (Canada stereo) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP release, RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK), 1962:
 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
The stereo album with this catalogue number is referenced on
the rear sleeve of RCA International INTS 5029, the 1980 UK
release listed below. Like the UK mono album above, this stereo
album was made by the Decca Record Company, London, on behalf of
RCA Victor. The sleeve is laminated on the front and the rear
has two folded-over flaps. The record has black RCA "Living
Stereo" labels with silver text. Other details are as shown for
the mono album above, including the insert advertising the UK
songbook as shown above. Thanks to Manuel García Jara and Paul Shenton for information and pictures. |
 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
RCA Victor RD-27262/SF-5132 (UK mono/stereo) - insert advertising songbooks, photocopy by Paul Shenton |
 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
 RCA Victor SF-5132 (UK stereo) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - stereo vinyl LP releases, RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany), 1962:
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - front scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
These stereo albums with the US stereo catalogue number were 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 "Living Stereo" panels on the front sleeve are different. Like the mono release sleeve, the stereo front sleeves still have "Printed in U.S.A." from the US release, even though they were printed in Germany. The rear sleeves have no folded-over flaps. The second release sleeve has both the mono and stereo catalogue numbers at top left and a different layout for the copyright information at the bottom. The records have black RCA Victor labels with silver text including the "GEMA" logo of the German copyright organisation. They have "Manufactured in Germany" stamped in the vinyl of each side next to the record label. The second release labels have a different design from those of the first release. The first release record came in an RCA Germany picture inner sleeve with illustrations of other contemporary RCA albums and a front cut-out to show the record label. |
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - front scan by Manuel García Jara (second release) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (second release) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (both releases) |
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - inner sleeve front with cut-out, scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - inner sleeve rear scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara (first release) |
 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (first release, no Dylan) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (second release) |
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 RCA Victor LSP-2449 (West Germany - stereo) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (second release, no Dylan) |
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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:
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 Victor SA-7005-7 (Japan "Living Stereo") - front scan by Hans Seegers (1963 release) |
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The 1962 release Victor SHP-5062, is a single LP, with price ¥1,800 on the rear sleeve. The Sep 1963 release, Victor SA-7005-7, is the 7th LP of a 7LP set called "Popular Music You Love Best" and there is no price on the rear sleeve. The 1963 sleeve is not laminated. The 4th LP in the 1963 set, Victor SA-7005-4, was Girls! Girls! Girls! by Elvis Presley, the 6th LP, Victor SA-7005-6, was The Best Of Pérez Prado - From Mambo To Bossa Nova. The other LPs in the set are unknown as yet. There must also have been a 12" box and perhaps an obi with this set - scans required! Thanks to Hans Seegers and Wil Gielen for information and scans. |
 Victor SA-7005-4 (Japan) - photo from eBay |
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Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - promo and commercial stereo vinyl LP re-releases, RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan), 1974:
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - front scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
The 1974 release RCA Victor RCA-5121, is again a single LP, with price ¥2,200 on the rear sleeve, which has text in English and Japanese with a background photo of Harry. |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo release) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo and commercial releases) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo release, commercial release has the same text) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo release, no Dylan) |
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 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo release, promo characters on left above "A) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 commercial release, promo characters on left missing) |
 RCA Victor RCA-5121 (Japan) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (1974 promo release, no Dylan) |
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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:
 RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore |
The copy shown is a sample with a silver stamp on the labels
including the text "NOT FOR SALE SAMPLE RECORD". Thanks to Stuart Moore for information and scans. |
 RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia) - detail of front, scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia) - rear scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia) - Side 1 scan by Stuart Moore (sample copy) |
 RCA Victor SL 101284 (Australia) - detail of Side 1, scan by Stuart Moore (sample copy) |
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:
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This album with a new front design and titled just Midnight Special was reissued in 1972 in stereo in the UK as a budget release as RCA
Camden CDS 1100, in West Germany as RCS Camden/International CDS 6022, as in Australia
as RCA Camden CAS-7170. "Camden" was RCA's 1970s budget label. The UK album
was actually released by a then well-known budget record company called Pickwick International under licence
from RCA. Ronald Born's copy of the German reissue comes in the same sleeve as the 1972 release, still with RCA Camden on the front and dated 1972 on the rear, but the album was now made by RCA International, not Teldec as before. This dates it as from 1975 (when RCA and Teldec merged) or later. |
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 RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany) - rear scan by Ronald Born |
 RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany) - detail of rear, scan by Ronald Born |
 RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Ronald Born |
 RCA Camden/International CDS 6022 (West Germany) - Side 2 scan by Ronald Born (no Dylan) |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - rear scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK) - front scan by David Burgess |
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 RCA Camden CDS 1100 (UK) - Side 2 scan by David Burgess (no Dylan) |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA Camden CAS-7170 (Australia) - Side 2 scan by Stuart Moore (no Dylan) |
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 (Australia) - front scan by Stuart Moore |
This album released in Australia and New
Zealand with another new front design has no date on
either the sleeve or the record labels but must date from the
mid-1970s. The sleeves of both
releases look identical but the record labels are different.
Both releases have the text "MANUFACTURED
BY/FOR AND DISTRIBUTED BY RCA LIMITED. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA AND
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND" on the rear
sleeve, but the New Zealand album has "MADE IN NEW ZEALAND"
printed on the spine. The same text is printed on the record
labels, but in different positions - on the Australian labels
it's at bottom centre, on the New Zealand labels it's printed
in the circumference at bottom right. Thanks to Stuart Moore and Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
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 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - detail of front, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (Australian release is the same) |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (Australia) - rear scan by Stuart Moore |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (Australia) - Side 1 scan by Stuart Moore (includes R-0001) |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - detail of spine, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International VAL1-0311 (New Zealand) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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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:
 RCA ANL1-2324 (USA) - front scan by Hans Seegers |
This album with yet another new front design and titled
just Midnight Special was released again in 1977 as RCA
ANL1-2324 in the USA and Philippines.
The very rare Philippines release was manufactured and
distributed by Victor Music Corporation of Manila for RCA. Thanks to Hans Seegers and Manuel García Jara for information and scans. |
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 RCA ANL1-2324 (Philippines) - Side 1 with R-0001, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA ANL1-2324 (Philippines) - front scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA ANL1-2324 (Philippines) - Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
Harry Belafonte - "The Midnight Special" - 8-track stereo tape cartridge release, RCA Victor ANS1-2324 (USA), 1977:
 RCA ANS1-2324 (USA) - front of slipcase, scan by Manuel García Jara |
This 8-track stereo tape cartridge
release is the direct equivalent of the stereo LP release above
with the same artwork. The cartridge comes in a card slipcase. It is made of white plastic and has two separate paper labels. |
 RCA ANS1-2324 (USA) - front of tape cartridge, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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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):
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The 1980 UK release, RCA International INTS 5029 (actually bought in Belgium), has a front sticker with "BOB DYLAN PLAYS HARMONICA ON TITLE TRACK". The rear sleeve is dated 1980. The album had been previously released in the UK as RCA Victor SF-5132 - see above. The record has green RCA labels with grey text. This album seems to have been distributed in Europe along side the release below. |
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 RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara |
 RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - detail of Side 1, scan by Manuel García Jara |
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RCA International INTS 5029 (UK) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara
(dated 1980)
RCA International INTK 5029 (UK) - cassette release:
 RCA International INTK 5029 (UK) - cassette insert scan by Manuel García Jara |
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 RCA International INTK 5029 (UK) - cassette Side 1 scan by Manuel García Jara (includes R-0001) |
 RCA International INTK 5029 (UK) - cassette Side 2 scan by Manuel García Jara (no Dylan) |
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.
A Flying Pig production
Listings © 1998-2024
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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