"Searching For A Gem"

Bob Dylan's Officially Released Rarities and Obscurities

Audio: 1965

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

Home ] Up ] 1962 ] 1963 ] 1964 ] [ 1965 ] 1966 ] 1967 ] 1968 ] 1969 ]

This yearly page now contains only the main Rarities List! Mono 7" Singles & EPs (up to 1976) are now here, and 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: 26 January, 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)


Various Artists - "Fleetwood Presents Stereo Highlights From The World Of Music" - 10LP stereo boxed set, Columbia Special Products CSPS-10 322F (Canada), 1965:


Columbia Special Products CSPS-10 322F (Canada) - front of box, scan by Hans Seegers
R-0002-3 I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley) - Bob plays harmonica for Carolyn Hester, from her first Columbia album Carolyn Hester, see 1962 (stereo version)

For a complete list of all the compilations this track has appeared on, also see 1962. I'll Fly Away is on Side 1 of Vol. 3 of the set, along with Talkin' New York from Bob's first album, mistitled as "Talkin' N.Y.".


Columbia Special Products CSPS-10 322F (Canada) - back of box, scan by Hans Seegers


Columbia Special Products CSPS-10 322F (Canada) - details from back of box, scan by Hans Seegers


Columbia Special Products CSPS-10 322F (Canada) - Vol. 3 Side 1 scan by Hans Seegers (with both R-0002 and Talkin' New York)

Vol. 3 of this set, with the exactly the same track list and mistitled Dylan track, had previously appeared as Record 4 of a US Columbia Special Products 4LP set, Columbia Special Products Presents A Limited Edition Of Great Folk Ballads, Country And Western, see 1964!

Thanks to Reginald Bartlette for initial information, and to Hans Seegers for further information and scans.


"Bringing It All Back Home" - 7" stereo jukebox EP, Columbia 7-9128 (USA), 1965:
This item is described as a "Stereo Little LP" on the rear sleeve! (The term "EP" was rarely used in the USA.) The track listing is Side 1: On The Road Again; Bob Dylan's 115th Dream; Side 2: Gates Of Eden; She Belongs To Me.

Biabh_ep.jpg (27452 bytes)
Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - front of EP, scan by Hans Seegers

R-0053 Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - edit with false start/laughing removed

This was the only place where this edited version of the track can be found - thanks to Lars M. Banke for the information. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the additional information that this EP was not sold commercially but was a "Special Coin Operator Release" made available to juke box operators only, with a page of 20 jukebox strips and six mini pictures of the front sleeve. Copies with the 20 jukebox strips intact are very rare (because operators removed them)! The record labels are unique for a US Columbia Bob Dylan release - a "STEREO SEVEN 33" design in light blue and white.


Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - detail of front of EP, scan by Manuel García Jara (LP catalogue numbers)

Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - front of EP with USAF stamp, scan by Manuel García Jara

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Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - cover of EP unfolded, scan by Hans Seegers, complete with page of 20 jukebox strips

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Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - A-side scan with R-0053 by Hans Seegers


Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers


Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - detail of front of EP with USAF stamp, scan by Manuel García Jara


Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - cover of EP with USAF stamp unfolded, scan by Manuel García Jara


Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - A-side in "Stereo Seven" sleeve , scan by Manuel García Jara

Columbia 7-9128 (USA) - B-side in "Stereo Seven" sleeve , scan by Manuel García Jara

Release of The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) in Nov 2015 revealed that the false start with laughing comes from 13 Jan 1965 (take 1, on CD1, track 5), while the complete take which follows it comes from 14 Jan 1965 (take 2, on CD2, track 4). R-0053 is therefore also released as CD2, track 4! R-0053 will still remain a rarity, because of the limited availability of this massive set.

Manuel García Jara says that although this release was intended only for jukeboxes it was also sold commercially, as he has several copies with record store stickers. It also has "Available at your record shops" on the inner sleeve. The copy below has a United States Air Force stamp from Morón, Spain, a USAF base near Seville.

Thanks to Hans Seegers, Lars M. Banke and Manuel García Jara for information and scans.


Miami Sales Convention Message - promo 5" reel-to-reel tape, Columbia (USA), May 1965:

R-0042 If You Gotta Go, Go Now (excerpt) - recorded at Levy's Recording Studio, London, with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, 12 May 1965

This is the only part of the famed May 1965 Dylan/Bluesbreakers studio session ever released - Clinton Heylin reports that the results were unusable because too much wine was consumed! According to Rob van Estrik, the Columbia Miami Sales Convention message was copied on to a 5” reel audio tape (not an acetate) and was played at the 1965 Sales Meeting in Miami, FL. The intro, with Bob saying "Hi! This is Bob..." was used in 2003 as a hidden track at the end of CD2 of the BMG Germany 2CD set May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Vol. 3, see 2003. The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) does not include the Bluesbreakers London session.


"If You Gotta Go, Go Now" - Columbia acetate (USA), 1965:

R-0327 If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Columbia 1965 acetate of the version released in the Netherlands in 1967 as a single (see R-0055, 1967), but without the overdubbed vocal backing by the Poppies (information from Rob van Estrik). Scan required!
This take still has backing vocals by Angeline Butler.

This take without overdubs, (take 2, 15 Jan 1965) has now been released in Nov 2015 on The Best Of The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (2 CD Standard Edition) (CD 1, track 9), The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (6 CD Deluxe Edition) (CD 1, track 22) and The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) (CD 3, track 2). R-0327 is therefore no longer a rarity. R-0055, 1967, remains a rarity.


Various Artists - "Discotheque Dance Music Vol. 9" - 7" mono EP, Columbia Special Products/Wurlitzer 105017/18 (USA), 1965:

DDMLabel2.jpg (23568 bytes)
CBS Special Products/Wurlitzer 105017/18 (USA) - Side 2 scan by Hans Seegers
R-0282 Outlaw Blues - this track is a different mix from the one on the mono Bringin' It All Back Home album

This was an EP with six songs by various artists. Beside each song on the label was a dance type that was suggested for the song, as follows.

DDMStrip.jpg (46863 bytes)
CBS Special Products/Wurlitzer 105017/18 (USA) - jukebox strip scan by Hans Seegers

Wurlitzer advert, "Billboard" (USA), 15 May 1965, scan by Ian Woodward
Side 1

Come See - Major Lance (The Jerk)
Louie Louie - Paul Revere and The Raiders (The Wobble)
Everyday - The Rogues (The Pony)

Side 2

The Twisting Saints - Lester Lanin (The Twist)
Outlaw Blues - Bob Dylan (The Swim)
Zorba, The Greek - Buddy Morrow (The Bostella)

However, Larry Crum says: "However this EP is in STEREO!  And played through headphones, Outlaw Blues sounds just like the stereo album version: harmonica and bass right and high pitched guitar left.  Can you contact your sources for an explanation of exactly what differences there might be, if any?" If Larry is right, this track is not a rarity.

Thanks to Clay Stabler, Reginald Bartlette, Hans Seegers and Ian Woodward for information - see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965 for details of Discotheque Dance Music Vol. 6 with a different Dylan track. Thanks to Hans Seegers and Ian Woodward for scans.


"Highway 61 Revisited" - Witmark mono reel-to-reel tape, Aug 1965:
This was previously listed as an Columbia acetate, but Roger Ford informs me that it was a tape which may have been assembled by Witmark for copyright purposes, with only From A Buick 6 coming from an acetate source. Thanks to Gil Walker for revising the date to Aug 1965 because it contains tracks from the 2 Aug 1965 recording session.

R-0378 Desolation Row - otherwise unreleased alternate take. I was originally told this features a contra bass, but Roger Ford says this take has an electric bass, whereas the album take has a stand-up acoustic bass. Al Kooper also plays electric guitar on this take, as confirmed by him to Roger Ford.
Arie de Reus identifies this take as now released on The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 - No Direction Home: The Soundtrack, 2007 (take 1, recorded Columbia Studios, New York, 29 Jul 1965 - Michael Krogsgaard dates it as having taken place at the end of the session of 30 Jul 1965)

R-0044 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - early version released on a Columbia US 7" single as Positively 4th Street by mistake and withdrawn very quickly (take 17, recorded at Columbia Recording Studios, New York, 30 Jul 1965)
See the promo and commercial singles below. Take 17 has now been released in stereo on The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (6CD Deluxe Edition) CD4, track 2, and The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) CD6, track 19. Because R-0044 is in mono, it remains a rarity.

R-0049M Positively 4th Street - alternate mono mix, longer than standard (mono) single release (4:12)
This mono version remains a rarity - the version on the 2010 release The Best Of The Original Mono Recordings is only 3:51, see The Best Of The Original Mono Recordings (2010).
Thanks again to Roger Ford for the information this was the version on this tape. Larry Crum now informs me that he's checked the version of this track on the mono Disco Teen '66 compilation and it is the same as the mono 7" single. Similarly, Carsten Baumann now informs me that he's checked the stereo version on the Disco Teen '66 album against the version now included on the remastered Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (US release), and they are the same (it's also on the non-US release The Best Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2, see 2000). Thanks also to David Goldsmith for confirmation. This means it replaces the stereo mix of the single version which is now to be found on CD only on Biograph. The stereo version on Disco Teen '66, R-0049, has ceased to be a rarity, and has been moved to the new Released Rarities page. The mono version of Disco Teen '66 album which contained this track is now in Mono Album Releases (Various Artists Compilations) 1960s. The stereo version of Disco Teen '66 album which also contained this track is now in International Album Releases (Various Artists Compilations) 1960s.

This tape had different mixes and longer fades on all the other Highway 61 Revisited tracks. Chris Hood has a mono copy of Highway 61 Revisited from Singapore/Malaysia with longer mixes than the standard US mono album, see International Mono Releases. Arie de Reus and Roger Ford confirm that this is a reduction from stereo of the US stereo mix, although with the regular take of From A Buick 6, not the alternate take with the harmonica intro (R-0046, see below).


"Like A Rolling Stone"- acetate with edited version, Columbia (USA), Jun 1965:


US Columbia acetate scan by Hans Seegers

Is this acetate mono or stereo?

R-0426 Like A Rolling Stone - unique edited version (3:50) on US Columbia acetate

As far as I know this edit, which fades at 3:50 during the chorus after verse three, was never released either as a promo or commercially.

André Wilbers says that R-0426 is actually track 2 on the acetate. Track 1 cuts in at “Ah you never turned around...” and cuts out at “... carried on his shoulder a” (verse three). This fragment corresponds to 2:57 – 3:25 on Track 2. It runs for 28 seconds but has silence before and after the fragment so the total length is 53 seconds. I am not giving this fragment a separate R-number.

Thanks to Hans Seegers and André Wilbers for information and scan.


"Like A Rolling Stone (Part 1)"/"Like A Rolling Stone (Part 2)" - 7" mono singles with the song split over the A- and B-sides, Columbia JZSP 110939/110940 (USA), Jun 1965:
Radio station and jukebox promos with the song split over the A & B-sides. Although the first promos distributed widely by Columbia had this split, Like A Rolling Stone subsequently made history by being the first single (of any prominence) over three minutes played on the radio in full! This promo single is JZSP 110939/JZSP 110940 - the promo with the full version of Like A Rolling Stone on the A-side and Gates Of Eden on the B-side is JZSP 110937/JZSP 110938, so is provably earlier. Mark Polizotti's book "Highway 61 Revisited" (Continuum, UK, 2006) confirms this, saying: "The Columbia marketing guys jibbed at sending out a six-minute single to radio stations and juke box operators, so the split single JZSP 110939/JZSP 110940 was created and distributed instead: (1) they were frightened radio stations wouldn't play it in full, and (2) why let people get six minutes of music for a dime when you can charge them two dimes to listen to both sides? However, the full version got out to New York City discos and the rest is history!"

 LARSUSPromo1Redvinyl.jpg (25454 bytes)
US promo Columbia JZSP 110939 on red vinyl - A-side (R-0045) scan by Hans Seegers


US promo Columbia JZSP 110939 on black vinyl - A-side (R-0045) scan by Augie Krater


US promo Columbia JZSP 110940 on red vinyl - scan by Hans Seegers

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Columbia JZSP 110940 (USA) promo on red vinyl - A-side (R-0045) scan by Hans Seegers

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Columbia JZSP 110940 (USA) promo on black vinyl - B-side (R-0070) scan by Hans Seegers

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US promo Columbia JZSP 110937 with full version on A-side, scan by Hans Seegers for comparison

R-0045 Like A Rolling Stone Part 1 - A-side (3:02 - full length single is 6:00)

R-0070 Like A Rolling Stone Part 2 - B-side (3:02)
Originally R-0045 was used for both Part 1 and Part 2.


Columbia US acetate - A-side (R-0045) picture from eBay
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for finding two seemingly authentic double-sided acetates on eBay with R-0045/R-0070. The first copy belonged to Bob's then manager, Albert Grossman, and is in a buff sleeve with handwritten text on both sides. The acetate has no labels and also has handwritten text on both sides: "CO 86446 DASH 2" "PART 1/2" "BOB DYLAN" (CO 86446, take 2). The second acetate also has no labels. The matrix number "CO 86446 Dash I" is written in white wax pencil on either side of the disc. Sides A and B are designated "Part I" and "Part 2" respectively, and Dylan's name is written on Side A of the disc. The manila sleeve in which it is housed bears a brief note from producer Tom Wilson to Columbia executive Kenneth Donald Glancy. Wilson writes "Ken - This is the Part I and II version of Dylan single. Have edited 6:00 version also. - Tom".
Columbia US acetate - B-side (R-0070) picture from eBay


Columbia US acetate - B-side (R-0070) picture from eBay


Columbia US acetate - A-side sleeve picture from eBay


Columbia US acetate - B-side sleeve picture from eBay


Columbia US acetate - A-side scan from eBay (R-0045)

Columbia US acetate - B-side scan from eBay (R-0090)

Columbia US acetate - A-side sleeve scan from eBay

Richard Powell also informed me he has a copy of a US radio station promo with the catalogue number COL 4-43346 (W4288) with this split. This is the number used for the regular US single with the full version on the A-side and Gates Of Eden on the B-side (see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965). Comments from Hans Seegers:

"The US promo single was only made for radio stations and it was (for those times) a long song, so they divided it into two parts. When the song became a big hit the company changed their mind and issued a full-length version.*

In Europe there was a different reason:

In France and Spain they released an EP with Like A Rolling Stone (full-length)/Gates of Eden [see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965] and because of that, Holland comes with the divided regular release, because they imported EPs from countries like France. Other countries in Europe did the same. So the reason is money only! There was a price difference for EPs and singles (of course). West Germany and U.K. also released EPs but wisely not this one.

Then Dylan became very big in Europe and the company decided to bring out Like A Rolling Stone as side 1 and Gates of Eden on the back. The only reason to buy the EP now was because it had a cardboard cover! Only in France the single was never released officially. It was released in France for juke-box purposes only with a beautiful fragile sleeve."

The A-side of the US single fades out slowly at the start of the third verse.

*This is disputed in the article "Like A Rolling Stone" by Mark Teehan in "Isis", 216 (page 49). Mark says the full length single was created first and this is confirmed by the promo single matrix numbers, JZSP 110938 for the six minute version and JZSP 110939/JZSP 110940 for the split single.


"Like A Rolling Stone (Part 1)"/"Like A Rolling Stone (Part 2)" - 7" mono promo single with the song split over the A- and B-sides, CBS 201811 (UK), Aug 1965:

LARSUKPromoPart1.jpg (30275 bytes)
CBS 201811 (UK) promo A-side (R-0045) dated - scan by Hans Seegers

UK singles of the time have push-out centres so they can be played at home or in a jukebox. This promo single came in a generic CBS UK sleeve.

The A-side of the UK single fades out at the start of the third verse more quickly than the US single.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.

LARSUKPromo.jpg (30892 bytes)
CBS 201811 UK promo B-side (R-0070) - scan by Hans Seegers


"Like A Rolling Stone - Part 1"/"Like A Rolling Stone - Part 2" - 7" mono commercial single with the song split over the A- and B-sides, CBS 1.952 (NL), 2 Aug 1965:


CBS 1.952 (NL) - front scan by Hans Seegers (original single, red text - rear is the same)

CBS 1.952 (NL) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (original single variant 1 - R-0045)

CBS 1.952 (NL) - detail of A-side scan by Hans Seegers (original single variant 1 -"(1.952)", "45 RPM")


CBS 1.952 (NL) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (original single variant 1 - R-0070)

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CBS 1.952 (NL) - front scan by Hans Seegers (original single, orange text - rear is the same)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - A-side scan by Jim Siddy (original single variant 2 - R-0045)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - detail of A-side scan by Jim Siddy (original single variant 2 - "(1.952)", "45 rpm")


CBS 1.952 (NL) - B-side scan by Jim Siddy (original single variant 2 - R-0070)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - detail of B-side scan by Jim Siddy (original single variant 2 - "(1.952)", "45 RPM" - same as variant 1)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - front scan by Hans Seegers (replacement single)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - A-side scan by Hans Seegers (replacement single)


CBS 1.952 (NL) - detail of A-side, scan by Hans Seegers (replacement single - "(43346)", "45 rpm")

Although most countries had the Like A Rolling Stone/Gates of Eden combination as the commercial single, this Dutch single was released with the split song. This is the only commercial single with the split, and was also exported to West Germany! It was, however, quickly withdrawn and replaced by a later commercial release with the same catalogue number and the full song on the A-side plus Gates Of Eden on the B-side, see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965. Most copies of this single did not have a sealed sleeve, but an insert folded along the bottom edge. However, Joop van Seters says that he used to own a copy with a regular sealed sleeve. Joop identifies two different variants of this single:

Variant 1 - Sealed sleeve with red titles and name. Labels: both sides "45 RPM" (text to the left of the centre hole differently placed on A-side)
Variant 2 - Sleeve folded along the bottom edge with orange titles and name. Labels: A-side "45 rpm", B-side "45 RPM" (the B-side is in fact exactly the same as that of variant 1)

Jim Siddy points out that the original single has "(1.952)" repeated to the right of the centre hole under "1.952" in larger type, whereas on the replacement single this is "(43346)" (the Columbia US catalogue number). This single with the split song was released on 2 Aug 1965, and the replacement single entered the Dutch charts on 28 Aug 1965, having been released on 23 Aug 1965.


CBS 1.933 (NL) - front picture from www.45cat.com
Frans Hagendoorn has a copy of CBS 1.952 with the song split over both sides with a B-side label of If You Were The Only Boy In The World by Barbra Streisand. This was the B-side of Happy Days Are Here Again (CBS 1.933). I have not heard any other reports of mislabelled singles like this.
CBS 1.933 (NL) - B-side picture from www.45cat.com

Thanks to Hans Seegers, Jim Siddy, Manuel García Jara and Frans Hagendoorn for information and scans.


"Like A Rolling Stone Part 1"/"Like A Rolling Stone Part 2" - 7" mono jukebox single with the song split over the A- and B-sides, CBS 1692 (France), Oct 1965:

LARSFrFront.jpg (26462 bytes)
CBS 1692 (France) - front scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)

This single with the split was only released for jukebox use in France, which released commercially the Like A Rolling Stone/Gates of Eden combination as an EP (CBS EP 6107) with the same picture sleeve, see here.

Thanks to Tom Willems for information that the Dutch and French singles don't have the same edit. On the French single Part 1 fades out during the instrumental part between the second refrain and the third verse. On the Dutch single the Part 1 fade out starts during the start of the third verse (as the US single above). I've used the same R- numbers for Parts 1 and 2 for all releases to avoid confusion.

Jim Siddy's copy comes in a generic CBS France 7" sleeve.

Thanks to Hans Seegers for further information and scans.

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CBS 1952 (France) - rear scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)

LARSFrLabel1.jpg (19357 bytes)
CBS 1692 (France) - A-side (R-0045) scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)


CBS 1692 (France) - A-side (R-0045) in generic sleeve, scan by Jim Siddy (jukebox single)


CBS 1692 (France) - detail of A-side, scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)


CBS 1692 (France) - B-side (R-0070) scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)

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CBS EP 6107 (France) - front scan by Hans Seegers (EP)


CBS 1952 (France) - detail of rear, scan by Hans Seegers (jukebox single)


"Highway 61 Revisited" - mono vinyl LP, Columbia CL 2389 (USA/Canada), 30 Aug 1965:

H61RUSMonoFront.jpg (25782 bytes)
Columbia CL 2389 (USA) - front scan by Hans Seegers
R-0488 Highway 61 Revisited - mono album version (3:20) slightly shorter than stereo album version (3:28)
This version also appeared on the B-side of the Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? 7" single, see 1966. R-0488 is included on the mono release of Highway 61 Revisited as part of the 9CD set The Original Mono Recordings in Oct 2010, so is no longer a rarity.

Thanks to Larry Crum for pointing out this occurrence of what was then a rarity. For full details of releases of this mono album, see Mono Album Releases. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the scan.


"Highway 61 Revisited" - stereo vinyl LP, Columbia CS 9189 (USA/Canada), 30 Aug 1965:
For full details of these albums and the stereo releases of this title without the rarity, see International Album Releases.


Columbia CS 9189 (USA) - front scan by Gerd Rundel (stickers and "360º Sound" logo plus demo sticker)

R-0046 From A Buick 6 - alternate take with harmonica intro (take 4, 30 Jul 1965, 3:06)
This alternate take is also on the Sony Music Japan promo-only 2CD set Dylan Ga Rock (1993 release only, not the 2010 release)

This affects only the original US and Canadian stereo pressings of the album, also all Japanese stereo LP pressings on CBS/Sony from 1968. Note the "360º Sound" stereo logo with the left and right arrows at the top of the front album sleeve, with the text and main photograph dropped to accommodate it, so there's no lower border. To compare it with the mono LP sleeve, see Mono Album Releases.

Take 4 has now been released on The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (6CD Deluxe Edition) CD2, track 19, and The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) CD6, track 4. Because the 6CD Deluxe Edition is widely available, R-0046 is no longer a rarity.


Columbia CS 9189 (USA) - rear with free limited edition print, scan by Gerd Rundel

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Columbia CS 9189 (USA) - limited edition print, scan by Hans Seegers


Columbia CS 9189 (USA) - front scan by Hans Seegers with "Like A Rolling Stone" sticker only

Columbia CS 9189 (USA) - rear scan by Hans Seegers

Columbia CS 9189 (Canada) - front scan by Gerd Rundel (1960s and early 1970s releases)
H61RJpnLP.jpg (35401 bytes)
CBS/Sony SONP-50345 (Japan, 1970) with side obi - front scan by Hans Seegers
Dylan 'n Rock A.jpg (43801 bytes)
Dylan Ga Rock (1993) Sony Music XDCS 93111-2 (Japan) - digipak scan by Anthony Perry (includes R-0046)

The first stereo US pressing was not withdrawn, but allowed to sell out. A new master was made with a different matrix number (but the same serial number, CS-9189), and used for all subsequent LP, cassette and CD releases. Robert Johnson adds that his US copy with matrix number XSM110640-1B also has the alternate take, as has Chip Ordway's US copy with matrix number XSM110640-1C.

Peter Sjöblom from Sweden informs me that the first Canadian stereo pressing with the same serial number (CS-9189) also had the alternate take with the harmonica - the matrix number on this pressing is XSM110640-1A (same as the first US pressing). Also, despite previous advice, Gerd Rundel's early 1970s Canadian release of CS 9189 with new style record labels also has the rarity. This copy has stamped matrix numbers: Side 1 - XSM110640-1A, Side 2 - XSM110641-1A (again the same as the US first pressing).


Picture from www.amazon.com
The photos of the sealed US LP above show a copy of the album still in the original shrink-wrap. Like the mono LP (see Mono Album Releases), it has a white sticker with violet text advertising Like A Rolling Stone - the single had been released before the album. It also has a red sticker with white text advertising that the package contains a free picture suitable for framing. The picture, a pencil drawing by "Lambert", is still in the shrink-wrap on the back of the album, covering most of the rear of the album sleeve. Thanks to Robert Kornovich for information from a book called "The Label: The Story of Columbia Records" by Gary Marmorstein (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2007) which says the picture was included by Columbia with the earliest copies of the album in one US region only.

All mono releases of Highway 61 Revisited are now rarities in their own right, see Mono Album Releases, and the album was unavailable on CD until the release in 2010 of the 9CD set Bob Dylan: The Original Mono Recordings, see here. However, the mono Highway 61 Revisited album contains the mono mix of the standard take of From A Buick 6, not a mono version of R-0046.

Thanks to Hanns Peter Bushoff for bringing to my attention what seems like an error by Greil Marcus in his book "Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan At The Crossroads". On page 240 Greil writes: Phantom Engineer. This frantic early version of the Highway 61 Revisited number "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (one take was mistakenly included on some copies of the album) can be found on Dimestore Medicine (Joker bootleg), the 3CD Church With No Upstairs (Hanging Dog bootleg) and, from 25 July 1965, on Live in Newport 1965 (Document bootleg).

This is the take released on The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 in 1991 (wrongly listed by me until recently as R-0394). I can find no evidence that an alternate take of It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry was ever included on any Highway 61 Revisited pressings, so I can only assume that Greil is confusing it with R-0046 as listed here. The bootleg albums mentioned contain the Phantom Engineer take.

Like A Rolling Stone was produced by Tom Wilson before the rest of the Highway 61 Revisited sessions, which were produced by Bob Johnston. In his book "Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan At The Crossroads" Greil Marcus also writes that pre-release copies of the album omitted Tom Wilson's name as producer of the song, but Bob Johnston ordered them to be withdrawn and Tom Wilson credited. Are copies of the album without the Tom Wilson credit in circulation?

Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans. Further information from Christopher Casale, Frank, Peter Sjöblom, Robert Johnson and Chip Ordway.


"Highway 61 Revisited" - stereo vinyl LPs, CBS/Sony SONP-50345 (Japan), 1970; CBS/Sony SOPL-225 (Japan), 1974; CBS/Sony 25AP 273 (Japan), 1976:

H61RJpnLP.jpg (35401 bytes)
CBS/Sony SONP-50345 (Japan, 1970) with side obi - front scan by Hans Seegers
Hans Seegers informs me that all Japanese stereo pressings did not contain the alternate take of From A Buick 6, as previously reported. The first stereo album containing this song released in Japan had the standard take. This album, titled Bob Dylan Vol. 2 and with a Freewheelin' style cover, was on the CBS label, CBS YS-585-C (before CBS was taken over by Sony), see International Albums (Other Dylan-only Compilations). (The album was Highway 61 Revisited without Like A Rolling Stone, which had already been released in Japan on the compilation Bob Dylan Vol. 1. It was replaced by Maggie's Farm from Bringing It All Back Home.)

Sony took over CBS in 1968 and the Highway 61 Revisited album was released in Japan with its original tracklisting for the first time in 1970 as Sony SONP 50345 with the US stereo cover as shown above left, but with the rarity. All subsequent Japanese stereo pressings of the album contained R-0046 as well.


CBS/Sony SONP-50345 (Japan, 1970) - rear scan by Hans Seegers


CBS/Sony SOPL-225 (Japan, 1974) with top obi - front scan by Hans Seegers


CBS/Sony SOPL-225 (Japan, 1974) with top obi - rear scan by Hans Seegers


CBS/Sony 25AP 273 (Japan, 1976) with gold side obi - front scan by Hans Seegers

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CBS/Sony 25AP 273 (Japan, 1976) with dark red side obi - front scan by Hans Seegers

H61RJpn25AP273Back.jpg (32607 bytes)
CBS/Sony 25AP 273 (Japan, 1976) with side obi - rear scan by Hans Seegers


CBS/Sony 25AP 273 (Japan, 1976) with alternate side obi - rear scan by Hans Seegers

Also shown here are the 1974 release SOPL-225 and the 1976 release Sony 25AP 273. Note the apparently anachronistic 1976 picture of Bob from Hard Rain on the 1976 obi! In fact the rear of the obi was generic for the year, and lists the 19 Dylan albums then available in Japan, with Hard Rain the latest. It's worth mentioning that the obi is an essential part of a Japanese rarity, especially since they are easy to lose. It is therefore best not to buy a Japanese item that is without its obi, unless you are desperate for the material, or the price is very low. (Thanks to Hans Seegers for this information.)

The current Japanese CD release of Highway 61 Revisited has the standard take of From A Buick 6, and as far as I know all previous Japanese CD releases were the same.


"Positively 4th Street"/"From A Buick 6" - 7" promo and commercial mono singles, Columbia 4-43389 (USA), Sep 1965:


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - front scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial singles)

R-0044-2 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - early, slower, version released on a 7" single as Positively 4th Street by mistake and withdrawn very quickly (take 17, recorded at Columbia Recording Studios, New York, 30 Jul 1965)
Take 17 has now been released in stereo on The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (6CD Deluxe Edition) CD4, track 2, and The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (18 CD Collector's Edition) CD6, track 19. Because R-0044 is in mono, it remains a rarity.


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - rear scan by Hans Seegers (promo and commercial singles)


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - A-side scan by Arie de Reus (promo single with writing)

Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - A-side scan by Bob Radil (promo single without writing)


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - B-side scan by Hans Seegers (promo single)


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - A-side scan by Yan Friis (commercial single)

Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - B-side scan by Yan Friis (commercial single)

This is also available as an acetate (not shown). The matrix numbers Renaud Depierreux's mispressed commercial single are Side 1 - ZSP 111386-1A, Side 2 - ZSP 111387-1A. The promo single from Arie de Reus has matrix numbers: Side 1 - ZSP 111386-1C, Side 2- ZSP 111387-1D, and has "NOT" and "OOPS!" handwritten on it in black and red marker pen, presumably by a radio station employee! It has a date stamped on it of "Sep 15 1965" and has From A Buick 6 on the B-side as shown. This single came in the regular picture sleeve. Danny Jones has a copy with matrix numbers: Side 1 - ZSP 111386-1D, Side 2 - ZSP 111387-1D. Bob Radil's copy has no writing but plays the unexpected track.

See Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965 for the regular single of Positively 4th Street and 1966 for the regular single of Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?, which has an longer version of Highway 61 Revisited on the B-side.

R-0044 was reportedly the version available on the bobdylan.com Performances page in 1998 (BDC10, see the Online Performances page). Thanks to David Burgess for news that R-0044 has also appeared by mistake in 2014 in the Spotify online version of The Band's A Musical History, a 5CD+DVD set in a book that included the regular mono single version of Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? on CD1, see 2005.

Thanks to Keith Owen and Renaud Depierreux for information and to Hans Seegers, Arie de Reus and Yan Friis for the scans.


"Positively 4th Street"" - 10" mono acetates, Columbia 4-43389 (USA), Sep 1965:


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - acetate of A-side, picture from eBay with timing of 3:50 (R-0698)
R-0698 Positively 4th Street - longer than released version with "one, two, three, four" countdown in male voice, probably Bob Johnston's

This version is unique to this one acetate as the countdown was trimmed off the single. Another acetate owned by Hans Seegers which does not have the rarity is also shown.

Thanks to Arie de Reus for finding this on eBay.


Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - acetate of A-side, picture from eBay in "audiodisc" sleeve

Columbia 4-43389 (USA) - acetate of A-side, scan by Hans Seegers with timing of 3:47 (not rarity)

"Positively 4th Street" - 7" mono EP releases, CBS EP 6210 (France), Nov 1965:

P4thStEPFrTestSideA.jpg (20292 bytes)
CBS EP 6210 (France) - test pressing A-side with R-0368, scan by Hans Seegers
R-0368 Mr. Tambourine Man - cut version (2:25)

The other two tracks were From A Buick 6 and On The Road Again - regular (mono) album versions

The French EP sleeve was 17.8cm square while the Spanish EP below is bigger at 18.5cm square! Note the unique "languette" or index tab on the right edge of the sleeve of the French release - these were included by all record companies in France at the time on both albums and EPs. They are easily broken off, but their absence reduces the value of the item considerably to a serious collector.

P4thStEPFrTestSideB.jpg (20090 bytes)
CBS EP 6210 (France) - test pressing B-side, scan by Hans Seegers


CBS EP 6210 (France) - A-side with R-0368, scan by Manuel García Jara

P4thStFrontFrance.jpg (34824 bytes)
CBS EP 6210 (France) - front with languette, scan by Hans Seegers

P4thStBackFrance1.jpg (28242 bytes)
CBS EP 6210 (France) - rear with blank reverse of languette, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 1)

P4thStBackFrance2.jpg (31181 bytes)
CBS EP 6210 (France) - rear with the printing on the reverse side of the languette, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2)


CBS EP 6210 (France) - detail of front with languette, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 1)


CBS EP 6210 (France) - detail of rear with languette, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2)


CBS EP 6210 (France) - B-side scan by Manuel García Jara

The test pressing of the French EP is two separate single-sided discs with white labels and the song titles handwritten ("Dylan" is misspelled "Dilan" on the A-side). The sleeve is the same as the first French version shown above with the rear sleeve having the catalogue number above the CBS logo, Bob Dylan underlined and bordered in white, and the printer shown as “Imp. Jean Colombet - Paris", "Printed in France” near the spine. The sleeve is in laminated cardboard and has no flaps.

 This EP has two different sleeves, one with the printed side of the languette facing the front, and the other with the tab in a different position with the printed side facing the rear. Hans Seegers adds: "There were also 4 singles in France with "languettes". Those languettes were very fragile and CBS France stopped using them in July 1971, so Watching The River Flow was the last one." The first version of the French EP has the text "Imp. Jean Colombet - Paris -15, Printed in France." on the back, the second has "DILLARD et Cie. Imp. Paris, Imprimé en France".

Thanks to Hans Seegers and Manuel García Jara for information and scans.


"Positively 4th Street" - 7" mono EP releases, CBS EP 6.210 (Spain), Sep 1966:


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - front (without languette) scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1 without printer credit, red text)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - rear scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1 with CBS logo at top right, printer credits at bottom, red text)

P4thStFrontSpain.jpg (33273 bytes)
CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - front (without languette) scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2 with printer credit, pink text)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of front, scan by Hans Seegers (variant 2 with printer credit, pink text)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - front (without languette) scan by Hans Seegers (variant 3 without printer credit, pink text)

P4thStBackSpain.jpg (26870 bytes)
CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - rear (without languette) scan by Hans Seegers (variants 2 and 3 with CBS logo at top left, no printer credits at bottom, pink text)

These EPs were made in Spain by Discophon of Barcelona for CBS Spain, and CBS 6.201 was one of four Dylan EPs released simultaneously in Sep 1966. They again had the cut version of Mr. Tambourine Man on Side 1. This time the sleeves had no languette.

Sleeve variants:

Variant 1: This is extremely rare and only was available the first days of its release. It is almost identical to the French sleeve: the text on the front and rear is red, not pink as the most common sleeve of this Spanish EP. The rear has the CBS logo in the same position as French EP at top right. The bottom of the rear sleeve has the text "DISCOPHON - BARCELONA PRINTED IN SPAIN" on left and the printer's information "LIM-J. CORRALES, 42 - ESPLUGAS LL." on right. This sleeve variant has the same spine as the French EP, but it does not have a languette.

Variant 2: This sleeve has the text in pink with printer's information at bottom left of front. The rear has the CBS logo at top left.

Variant 3: Same as variant 2 without printer's information on front.


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1 with printer credits)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of rear, scan by Manuel García Jara (variants 2 & 3 without printer credits)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - A-side with R-0368, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - B-side scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - A-side with R-0368, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2A)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - spine scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 1 only)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2A - bottom line next to "OD")


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - B-side scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2A)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - A-side with R-0368, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2B)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2B - bottom line next to "LA")


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2B)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - B-side scan by Manuel García Jara (variant 2B)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - inner sleeve front scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - A-side with R-0368, scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C)

CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C - bottom line next to "RE")


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - detail of A-side, scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - B-side scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C)


CBS EP 6.210 (Spain) - inner sleeve rear scan by Stefan Haras (variant 2C)

Label variants:

Variant 1: The text "(7E PART 56.453)" is to the right of the centre hole on both sides.

Variant 2: The text "(7E PART 56.453)" is to the left of the centre hole on both sides. The "BIEM" logo, “Cara 1 & 2”, “45 rpm” and tracklist are in smaller text.

There are (so far) three sub-variants of variant #2 with the elements to the left of the centre hole - “Cara 1 & 2”, “45 rpm” and "(7E PART 56.453)" differently positioned. The tracklist is also differently positioned vertically.

Combinations:

Manuel García Jara has four combinations of sleeve and labels:

Combination 1: Sleeve variant 1 + Labels variant 1. This is extremely rare.

Combination 2: Sleeve variant 2 + Labels variant 2A.

Combination 3: Sleeve variant 3 + Labels variant 2A. This is the most common.

Combination 4: Sleeve variant 3 + Labels variant 2B. This is the most common.

Stefan Haras' copy (label variant 2C) comes in a generic inner sleeve as shown.

Thanks to Hans Seegers, Manuel García Jara and Stefan Haras for information and scans.


"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" - 8" mono acetate, Columbia CO 87184 (USA), Dec 1965:

R-0530 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - slightly longer version than that released as a single in Jan 1966

Confirmation of this item required!


"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" - 8" & 12" stereo acetates, Columbia CO 87184 (USA), Dec 1965:

CrawlUSStereoAcetate.jpg (17309 bytes)
Photograph from eBay
R-0513 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - stereo version, still officially unreleased

The left-hand acetate has an "audiodisc" generic label and typed text. It was manufactured for Columbia by Capitol Magnetics, Winchester, VA. The right-hand acetate has a generic label from Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, TN, with red handwriting. The length is shown as 3:37.

Unfortunately this stereo version did not appear (even in very poor quality) on a CBS Spanish single in 1972 as previously misreported. The performance available on Masterpieces (1978) and Biograph (1985, remastered CD release 1997) and the 2000 Essential Bob Dylan/Ultimate Bob Dylan compilations is from the original single and still in mono!


Scan by Gerhard Schinzel

The single version released in Nov 2015 on the 18CD Collector's Edition of The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (CD10, track 12) is in stereo and has been remixed from the original tapes. R-0513 will still remain a rarity, because of the limited availability of this massive set.

Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for finding the audiodisc acetate on eBay and to Gerhard Schinzel for the scan of the Columbia acetate.


Mono Singles & EPs for 1965

SHBNor.jpg (19946 bytes)
Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965
These are now here: Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965. Mono LPs have their own pages, see International Mono Releases.

BIABHUSMonoFront.jpg (20730 bytes)
Bringing It All Back Home
(1965, mono)

H61RUSMonoFront.jpg (25782 bytes)
Highway 61 Revisited
(1965, mono)


Promotional/Regular Items for 1965


Living In Another Country: International Stereo Releases

Stereo promo items for 1965 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.

Bringing It All Back Home 1965
Bringing It All Back Home (1965, stereo)

Highway 61 Revisited 1965
Highway 61 Revisited (1965, stereo)


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