This is a page of albums and singles that look like official Dylan singles but are actually from sources other than Columbia or other official record companies. For other Questionable releases, see here. For Questionable video releases, see here. Some of these entries are of items listed on eBay. Because of the very large number of Dylan fakes on eBay, I have now discontinued using eBay as a source. For the official releases of these albums, see International Album Releases, except where noted.
Revised 07 January, 2024.
Acetates/Test Pressings (1962 onwards)
"Rollin' Along" - 10" mono metal acetate, CBS (no catalogue number) (UK), 1962:
 Picture from eBay |
This four track acetate called "Rollin'
Along" (misspelled) has three tracks from Bob Dylan (one twice): on
Side 1 it has House Of The Risin' Sun and Freight Train Blues; on Side 2 a
second version of Freight Train Blues, the same performance but quieter, and
Man Of Constant Sorrow. It comes from the same vendor who offered the Sad
Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands 1966 10" metal acetate below. This "ADVANCE
COPY - NOT FOR SALE" generic label was used by CBS UK so the acetate may be
genuine, but it's listed here until confirmation is received. Thanks to Arie de Reus and Gerd Rundel for information. |
"Blowin' In The Wind" - 7" mono acetate, CBS (no catalogue number) (UK), 1963:
 Picture from eBay |
This supposed acetate uses a UK Emidisc blank and
might be more believably genuine if it contained the album track from The
Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. However, it contains a live TV performance from
Mar 1963, and there is no reason why an acetate would be made of it. The
performance is actually: R-0714 Blowin' In The Wind - live on TV, Mar 1963 (Westinghouse Studios "Folk Songs And More Folk Songs"), from Martin Scorsese documentary film "Bob Dylan: No Direction Home", DVD release, Sep 2005, see VHS & DVD 2000s Part 3 Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay and Dag Braathen for information. |
 Picture from eBay |
"Ain't Gonna Grieve" - 10" acetate, Columbia (no catalogue number) (USA), Aug 1963:
 Scan by Hans Seegers |
R-0031 Ain't Gonna
Grieve - Witmark demo recorded Aug 1963 Now officially released in mono in Oct 2010 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 9 - The Witmark Demos 1962-1964., so no longer a rarity. This acetate has a generic Columbia promo white label with typewritten title "Ain't Gonna Grieve No More" and handwritten "23591" in red. This performance later appeared with eight other Witmark demos on a US Warner Bros/7 Arts Music 12" singled-sided acetate LP in 1967. It also surfaced in a set of US Music Publishers Holding Corporation acetates, see 2004. Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scan. Thanks to Jeff Gold for information that this "1963" acetate is a fake, one of several that were made in the USA around 2000, also for other artists, so is now here. |
"Percy's Song" - audiodisc 12" mono acetate, Columbia (USA), 1964?:
 Picture from eBay |
Q-0001 Percy's Song - mono version of performance
released on The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 in 1991, out-take from
The Times They Are A-Changin’, recorded at Columbia Studios, New York,
23 Oct 1963 This acetate with a Columbia Recording Studios, New York, generic label is in a buff "audiodisc" sleeve and has two versions of the song at 7:40 and 7:00. I haven't allocated them separate "Q" numbers because of its doubtful provenance. Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for finding this on eBay and to Hans Seegers for information that this acetate may well be a fake from an Italian source. |
 Picture from eBay |
"Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie" - audiodisc 12" mono acetate, Columbia (USA), 1964?:
 Picture from eBay |
Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie - live Town Hall, New York, 12 Apr 1963
(mono version), possibly same as from first version of cancelled Columbia
album Bob Dylan In
Concert,
1964,
now released in stereo in 1991 on The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 This acetate with a Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, TN, generic label is in a buff "audiodisc" sleeve. It's unusual that the Nashville studios would be used to produce a Dylan acetate since Bob had no association with those studios before 1966. Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for finding this on eBay and to Hans Seegers for information that this acetate may well be a fake from an Italian source. |
 Picture from eBay |
"Cocaine"/"Long John" - 12" mono acetates, Columbia (USA), 1964?:
 Picture from eBay |
Q-0024 Cocaine
(traditional) - from the "Minnesota Hotel Tape", Minneapolis, MN, 22 Dec 1961, otherwise unreleased Q-0003 Long John (traditional) - from the "Minnesota Hotel Tape", Minneapolis, MN, 22 Dec 1961, otherwise unreleased Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for finding these on eBay in Mar 2008 and to Hans Seegers for information that these acetates may well be fakes from the same Italian source - they use what appears to be a generic label from Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, TN, with handwritten text. Again, it's unusual that the Nashville studios would be used to produce a Dylan acetate since Bob had no association with those studios before 1966. |
 Picture from eBay |
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 Picture from eBay |
Thanks for François Guillez and Gerd Rundel for finding a double-sided 7" disc on eBay on Jun 2022 with exactly the same material and labels!
"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" - 12" stereo acetate, Columbia (USA), 1965:
 Scan by Gerhard Schinzel |
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
- possibly R-0513, stereo version unreleased
until 2015 The performance available on Masterpieces (1978) and Biograph (1985, remastered CD reissue 1997) and the 2000/2001 Essential Bob Dylan/Ultimate Bob Dylan compilations is from the original single and still in mono. 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 Gerhard Schinzel for the scan and to Hans Seegers for information that this acetate may well be a fake from the same Italian source - it again uses what appears to be a generic label from Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, TN. |
"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"/"Visions Of Johanna" - 10" acetate, CBS (no catalogue number) (UK), offered for sale on eBay, 14 Feb 2013:
 Picture from eBay |
Thanks to Anders Lindh and Gerd Rundel for finding this supposed 1966 acetate on eBay. |
Ian Woodward:
"My gut reaction is that it is NOT genuine but that is based largely on the question of "WHY?" Why would CBS in England press up a 10" acetate of these two tracks? It might have helped if the seller had indicated more clearly the differences between these and the regular album tracks. He does refer to different timings, so, if these tracks are shorter, it is just about possible that someone at CBS UK was trying these out for a potential single release. The seller also describes them as "Different versions". Again, it is just about possible that these would have been mixed differently for a potential single release. I'm not convinced but this is within the bounds of possibility. I am also worried about the "Not covered By Contract" stamp. Dylan went out of contract in October 1966 so, again, it is just about possible but I have never seen the likes of this before, nor heard of such a stamp. And I'm not even sure that Dylan going out of contract would have prevented Columbia/CBS from issuing material recorded when he was in contract. After all, in 1973, Columbia/CBS released the "DYLAN" album as soon as he joined Asylum. Finally, what the heck is "M8"? Have you ever seen anything like this before? It is almost as though someone has added it in, with the intention of making it seem more oddball. On the other hand, the colouration and state of the label, in the picture provided at least, does seem to have "age". On balance, I'd place this in the doubtful category (but accept that I could well be proved wrong)."
Roger Ford:
"I'm no expert in detecting fakes, and have no idea how common this sort of pretence might be. But a few thoughts:
It's odd that this disc was made by CBS UK. Most of the other Dylan acetates or other pre-release discs that I can remember seeing have been from Columbia in New York (OK, and one from Fantasy in the US). I can't see that any very early versions of songs would have been deliberately shipped over to the UK (though we know that they did it accidentally for the BoB LP itself!)
If it was indeed produced by UK CBS, what was its purpose, and what was it an advance copy *of*? These two tracks are both two long for any possible single, unless they're edits that we haven't come across before. Maybe advance album tracks for radio stations prior to the release of Blonde On Blonde?
What's the significance of the "Not covered by contract" rubber stamp? The only thing I can think of is that at this time Dylan's newest songs would not have been covered by his publishing contract with Witmark / Warner Bros. In the UK the Blonde On Blonde songs were initially covered by Feldman. But then why not say that? Very odd.
There's surprisingly little information in the ad about the disc, e.g. whether it's an acetate or a vinyl pressing, single or double sided, 45 or 33 rpm (you'd expect that to be on the label, no?), what sort of sleeve it's in, what its provenance is.
Given that the main selling point is that the tracks are different versions and lengths of the songs than on "the stock record", it's surprising that the seller doesn't give the track timings or indicate what "stock record" he's talking about.
I've no idea what the "M8" stamp could signify. Maybe just hocus-pocus?
The mis-spelling of Johanna as Joanna is the sort of mistake someone could well have made at the time, or equally it could be an easy attempt to make it look more intriguing and genuine.
On balance, then, I'd guess it was a fake. If I'm wrong about that, which is quite possible, then I'd be surprised if the *versions* were anything other than the early (Nashville?) mono mixes of these two songs that appeared on all UK (and Canadian) mono copies of Blonde On Blonde. I'd be *really* surprised if they turned out to be previously unheard takes or mixes. They could perhaps be just edits of these two album tracks that might have been considered for release as a UK single in late '66 or '67, though it'd be the first we'd heard of such an intention."
Thanks to Ian Woodward and Roger Ford for their input!
Blowin' In The Wind/Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (1963)
"Blowin' In The Wind"/"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" - 7" mono singles, Columbia 4-42856 (USA), Aug 1963:
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Peter Denzler has a sleeve
for the 1963 US single, Columbia 4-42856, that was unauthorised by Columbia
and post-dates the single. The front photo is from 1965 and shows Bob with
an electric guitar! For
the single itself, see
Mono 7" Singles &
EPs 1962-64. It actually came in a generic Columbia sleeve, see
7" Single Sleeves. Ian Woodward has
found yet another "sleeve" design online with a photo from later in the
1960s. Thanks to Hans Seegers and Ian Woodward for further information about these items. |
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 Columbia 4-42856 (USA) - unauthorised front sleeve picture found by Ian Woodward |
Subterranean Homesick Blues/She Belongs To Me (1965)
"Subterranean Homesick Blues"/"She Belongs To Me" - 7" mono singles, Columbia 4-43242 (USA/Canada), 8 Mar 1965:
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Despite the fact that this humorous single sleeve comes from bobdylan.com it is definitely fake! Thanks to Ed Ricardo for spotting that the source photo comes from a 1965 series called "Mountain Men of Crete" by Irving Penn. For the official US single, see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1965. |
 Photo by Irving Penn from Facebook |
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Like A Rolling Stone 7" Singles and EPs (1965)
"Como Una Piedra Que Rueda" [Like A Rolling Stone] - 7" mono single, CBS 5770 (Mexico), 1965; 7" mono EP, CBS EPC 496 (Mexico), 1965:
 CBS 5770 (Mexico) - fake promo sleeve and A-side, picture from eBay |
 CBS 5770 (Mexico) - fake promo sleeve rear, picture from eBay |
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 CBS 5770 (Mexico) - second fake promo sleeve and A-side, picture from eBay |
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 CBS EPC 496 (Mexico) - front and A-side, picture from eBay (second fake promo release - copy with fake promo sticker on label) |
 CBS EPC 496 (Mexico) - front and A-side, picture from eBay (second fake promo release - copy without fake promo sticker on label) |
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Thanks to Manuel García Jara, Michel Pomarede, Sergio Mariano Romay and Martin Gayford for finding these fake Mexican promos on eBay. The records look genuine enough, although the promo stamps are fake, but the sleeves are obviously fake. The second fake EP sleeve even has a 1980s CBS logo!
Positively 4th Street/From A| Buick 6 (1965)
Lay, Lady, Lay"/"Peggy Day" - 7" mono single, CBS 4434 (UK), Jul 1969:
 CBS 201824 (UK) - fake front sleeve, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding this CBS
UK single with a fake picture sleeve on eBay in Jun 2022. This sleeve is the
same on both sides. The original UK single came without a picture sleeve.
The record with this sleeve looks genuine. The Dylan picture has been taken from the 1966 Daniel Kramer photo taken at Aust Ferry, Gloucestershire, used for The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 - No Direction Home: The Soundtrack in 2005. On the Kramer photo, as here, the car number plate is "540 CYN" - for the 2005 video and audio releases it was changed to "1235 RD" (a reference to Rainy Day Women #12 & 35)! |
 Original 1966 Daniel Kramer photo |
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?/Highway 61 Revisited (1965-66)
"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?"/"Highway 61 Revisited" - 7" mono singles, Columbia 4-43477 (USA), Jan 1966:
 "Columbia 43477" (USA) - fake front photo by Francisco Lima |
Thanks to Francisco Lima and Peter Denzler for finding copies of Columbia 4-43477 in fake sleeves. The genuine single did not have a picture sleeve. |
 "Columbia 43477" (USA) - fake rear photo by Francisco Lima |
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 Columbia 4-43477 (USA) - fake rear scan by Peter Denzler |
Rainy Day Women/Pledging My Time (1966)
"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"/"Pledging My Time" - 7" mono singles, Columbia 4-43592 (USA), 22 Mar 1966:
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Thanks to Geoff
Lambourn for finding a copy of the first commercial single variant on eBay with
a fake picture sleeve. This sleeve even has the EMI Columbia logo as then used
in the UK at top right, not a genuine US Columbia logo! It also has "Rainy Day
Woman" instead of "Rainy Day Women" and "Pledding My
Time" instead of Pledging my Time! Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for
finding a later version with the spelling mistake corrected but still with
the wrong song title and Columbia logo! For the official Columbia US singles, which did not have pictures sleeves, see 1966. |
 Columbia 4-43592 (USA) - fake picture sleeve front found on eBay (second variant with spelling mistake corrected) |
"Bob Dylan" - 7" mono EP, CBS 5779 (Portugal), 1967:
 CBS 5779 (Portugal) - front and A-side of fake promo copy, picture from eBay |
This mono EP had Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 and Pledging My Time from the mono release of Blonde On Blonde on the A-side and Gates Of Eden from Bringing It All Back Home on the B-side. Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding this promo copy on eBay which is almost certainly a fake. The front sleeve bears no resemblance to the genuine design, although the rear sleeve looks accurate. There is a gold sticker on the rear sleeve with "OFERTA [BID]" which is not the usual wording used for promos. The record has generic white CBS labels with "BOB DYLAN" and "CBS 5779" rubber stamped on both sides. The record may be genuine but the labels probably are not. |
 CBS 5779 (Portugal) - rear and B-side of fake promo copy, picture from eBay |
 CBS 5779 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
Just Like A Woman/Obviously 5 Believers (1966)
"Just Like A Woman"/"Obviously 5 Believers" - 7" mono single, Columbia 4-43792 (USA), 18 Aug 1966:
 Columbia 4-43792 (USA) - B-side with fake sleeve, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for pointing out a copy of Columbia 4-43792 (first commercial variant) for auction on eBay with a fake sleeve described as a "special limited edition picture sleeve". For the official US single, which did not have a picture sleeve, see 1966. |
Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands (1966)
"Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" - 10" mono metal acetate (no catalogue number) (UK), 22 Oct 1966:
 A-side picture from eBay |
This "alternate take" is timed at 4:56 (the album version from
Blonde On Blonde is 11:17). The acetate is single-sided, and has a
white label with the CBS logo, the address of CBS Recording Studios, 31-37
Whitfield Street, London, W1P 5RE, and typewritten text. It is dated "22 Oct
'66". However, the CBS Studios in Whitfield Street were not opened until
1972, as confirmed by Derek Barker of "Isis" magazine, who visited there
when they were brand new. Also, the modern postcode system was not in use in
1966, so the address would have just been "London W1". The acetate is
therefore included here and an R-number has not been assigned to the take.
I'm assuming it's just an edit of the mono album track. Q-0026 Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands - mono edit (4:56) This acetate sold on eBay for $530! Caveat emptor... |
 B-side picture from eBay (blank) |
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for finding this on eBay and to Derek Barker for information.
Bob Dylan EP (1967)
"Bob Dylan" - 7" mono promo EP release, CBS 5769 (Portugal), 1967:
 CBS 5769 (Portugal) - fake front sleeve and A-side with promo sticker, picture from eBay (variant 1) |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding a copy of
this 1967 Portuguese EP (variant 1) for auction on eBay with a fake
sleeve and a fake promo sticker on the A-side. For the official Portuguese EP see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1966-68. |
 CBS 5769 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
Bob Dylan EP (1968)
"Bob Dylan" - 7" mono promo EP release, CBS 6475 (Portugal), 1968:
 CBS 6475 (Portugal) - fake promo sleeve front, photo from eBay |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding a fake promo copy of this 1968 Portuguese EP on eBay with a different (anachronistic) front sleeve that was never used by CBS. The real rear sleeves have two folded-over flaps with the printer's name printed either at the right or the centre of the bottom flap. The fake sleeve has no folded-over flaps and no printer's name. The record has white labels with the CBS Portugal circumference text and "BOB DYLAN/CBS 6475" rubber stamped on both sides. The sides are identical except for the stamped text being slightly differently placed. As far as I know CBS Portugal never made promos with this label style. |
 CBS 6475 (Portugal) - fake promo sleeve rear, photo from eBay |
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 CBS 6475 (Portugal) - fake promo B-side, photo from eBay |
 CBS 6475 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
For the official Portuguese EP see Mono 7" Singles & EPs 1966-68.
Lay, Lady, Lay/Peggy Day (1969)
"Lay, Lady, Lay"/"Peggy Day" - 7" mono juke box single, Columbia(?) JBS 44926 (USA?), 1969:
 Columbia JBS 44926 (USA) - front of fake sleeve, photo from eBay |
Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding this fake jukebox single on eBay in 2019 in what is described as a "fan club" sleeve. The record itself has a previously unknown catalogue number of "JBS 44296" (Juke Box Single) and looks significantly different from the genuine 1969 jukebox single, which came with jukebox strips but without a picture sleeve. |
Columbia JBS 44926 (USA) - fake front and A-side, photo from eBay |
Columbia JBS 44926 (USA) - fake rear, B-side, mini front sleeves and jukebox strips, photo from eBay |
 Columbia 4-44926 (USA) - promo A-side scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
 Columbia 4-44926 (USA) - jukebox strips scan by Manuel García Jara (genuine release) |
The rear of the sleeve is plain white, and the single comes with mini front sleeves and jukebox strips, as a genuine jukebox single might.
"Lay, Lady, Lay"/"Peggy Day" - 7" mono single, CBS 4434 (UK), Jul 1969:
 CBS 4434 (UK) - fake front sleeve, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding this CBS UK single with a fake picture sleeve on eBay in Jun 2022. This sleeve is the same on both sides. The original UK single came without a picture sleeve. The record with this sleeve looks genuine. |
"Lay, Lady, Lay"/"Peggy Day" - 7" mono promo singles, CBS 4434 (Portugal), Jul 1969:
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Thanks to Paul Prince and Manuel García Jara for information about fake promo copies of the Portuguese single CBS 4434 for sale on eBay. The front sleeve is completely fake, and the rear sleeve does not have the correct text at the bottom. |
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Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You/Country Pie (1969)
"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"/"Country Pie" - 7" mono single, CBS 4611 (Portugal), 19 Dec 1969:
 CBS 4611 (Portugal) - fake promo front, photo from eBay |
Thanks to Paul Prince and Manuel García Jara for information about fake promo copies of CBS 4611 for sale on eBay. The front sleeve is completely fake, and the rear sleeve does not have the correct text at the bottom. The legitimate Portuguese single initially had a spelling mistake on the spine of the sleeve - "BOB DYLAM" instead of "BOB DYLAN". This sleeve was withdrawn and the mistake corrected. |
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 CBS 4611 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
If Not For You/New Morning (1971)
"If Not For You"/"Tomorrow Is A Long Time" - 7" stereo single, Columbia AE7-1039 (USA), Nov 1971?:
 Columbia AE7-1039 (USA) - front photo from eBay |
Thanks for Gerd Rundel for finding this on eBay, but I'm assured by Arie de Reus and Hans Seegers that it's a fake. There is no single with the sleeve! This has therefore been added here. |
Watching The River Flow/Spanish Is The Loving Tongue (1971)
"Watching The River Flow"/"Spanish Is The Loving Tongue" - 7" stereo single, CBS 7329 (Portugal), Jun 1971:
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Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding a copy of the third variant of this Portuguese record for sale on eBay with a fake picture sleeve. The record is probably genuine but the promo sticker on the A-side is not. |
Bob Dylan/The Band - On A Night Like This/You Angel You (1974)
Bob Dylan/The Band - "On A Night Like This"/"You Angel You" - 7" stereo single, Asylum N-S-07-2 (Portugal), Feb 1974:
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Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a copy of this single on eBay with a fake picture sleeve. The record looks like a genuine copy with a fake promo sticker. Rod MacBeath has a second fake promo copy. This time the genuine record is housed in a fake promo sleeve and there is a fake promo sticker on the B-side. |
 Asylum N-S-07-2 (Portugal) - genuine A-side in fake promo sleeve with fake promo sticker, scan by Rod MacBeath |
 Asylum N-S-07-2 (Portugal) - genuine B-side in fake promo sleeve with fake promo sticker, scan by Rod MacBeath |
 Asylum N-S-07-2 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine picture sleeve) |
Bob Dylan/The Band - "En Una Noche Como Esta [On A Night Like This]"/"Tú Ángel Tú [You Angel You]" - stereo 7" singles, Asylum/Gamma G-1328 (Mexico), 1974 (two releases):
 Asylum/Gamma G-1328 (Mexico) - fake front photo from eBay |
Thanks for Sergio Mariano Romay for finding this Mexican record with a fake sleeve on eBay. The record is a genuine copy that should come in a Gamma sleeve |
 Asylum/Gamma G-1328 (Mexico) - fake rear photo from eBay |
Bob Dylan/The Band - Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)/The Band - Stage Fright (1974)
Bob Dylan/The Band - "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)"/The Band - "Stage Fright" - 7" single, Asylum NS-07-6 (Portugal), 1974:
 Asylum NS-07-6 (Portugal) - fake front and genuine single, photo from eBay |
Thanks for Sergio Mariano Romay for finding this Portuguese record with a fake sleeve on eBay. |
 Asylum NS-07-6 (Portugal) - front scan by Kenneth Robson (genuine release) |
Tangled Up In Blue/If You See Her, Say Hello (1975)
"Tangled Up In Blue"/"If You See Her, Say Hello" - 7" promo and commercial stereo singles, CBS 3160 (NL/Portugal/Spain), May 1975:
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Thanks to Kenneth Robson for scans of the Portuguese single, which has a unique cover photo showing Bob live. Thanks also to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a "promo" Portuguese copy on eBay with a different textured sleeve that is almost certainly fake. |
 CBS 3160 (Portugal) - front scan by Kenneth Robson (genuine release) |
Hurricane (Part I)/Hurricane (Part II) (1975)
"Hurricane (Part I)"/"Hurricane (Part II)" - 7" commercial single, CBS 3841 (Spain), Nov 1975:
 CBS 3841 (Spain) - fake front scan by Stefan Haras |
The apparently attractive sleeve for the Spanish Hurricane single is really a blatant fake. The "No. 1 in USA" logo (printed, not a sticker) is actually taken from Asylum Spanish singles like the Eagles example shown. The real CBS Spain "NO. UNO EN USA" logo is shown on a Spanish Chicago single. The Hurricane single actually only reached #33 in the USA, although the Desire album did reach #1 (and was sold in Spain with this logo on the front sleeve). |
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 CBS 3841 (Spain) - front scan by Magnus Sjöberg (genuine release) |
Thanks to Magnus Sjöberg, Manuel García Jara and Stefan Haras for information and scans.
"Hurricane (Part I)"/"Hurricane (Part II)" - 7" commercial single, CBS 3841 (Portugal), Jan 1976:
 CBS 3841 (Portugal) - front of "promo" copy, scan by Michel Pomarede |
Michel Pomarede has what purports to be a radio station promo copy bought on eBay. The sleeve is of thick card and slightly yellowing. The front sleeve has a completely different photo of Rubin Carter, not used anywhere else worldwide, and lacks the Portuguese text. The rear sleeve is similar to that of the commercial copy but does not have folded-over flaps and opens at the top, not the side. The A-side has what looks like the variant 2 label design and a white promo sticker. This copy also comes with the double-sided insert shown. The authenticity of the sleeve is questionable although the record is almost certainly official (even if the promo sticker is not). Manuel García Jara has found a second copy with a fake sleeve. This time there is a "promo" stamp on the rear with "OFERTA VENDA PROHIBIDA [BID SALE PROHIBITED" but no promo sticker on the record, which also looks genuine. |
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 CBS 3841 (Portugal) - rear of fake sleeve with "promo" stamp and B-side, picture from eBay |
 CBS 3841 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
Thanks to Michel Pomarede for information and scans.
Catfish/Golden Loom (1975)
"Catfish"/"Golden Loom" - 10" metal acetates, CBS (no catalogue numbers) (UK?), 1975:
 Catfish - A-side picture from eBay |
These supposed 10" metal acetates contain Catfish
and Golden Loom,
the Desire out-takes recorded at Columbia Studios , New York, on 29
Jul 1975, but not released until 1991 on The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3.
The records have white CBS labels, so are presumably from the UK or another
European country, but come in buff US "audiodisc" sleeves. The A-sides have
"1975", "CATFISH" or "GOLDEN LOOM" plus "BOB DYLAN" typewritten, the B-sides
are blank. Thanks to François Guillez and T. J. Jenkins for information. |
 Catfish - B-side picture from eBay (blank) |
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 Golden Loom - B-side picture from eBay (blank) |
Mozambique/Oh, Sister (1976)
"Mozambique"/"Oh, Sister" - 7" promo and commercial stereo singles, CBS 4113 (Portugal), Apr 1976:
 CBS 4113 (Portugal) - fake promo front and genuine record, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a "promo" Portuguese copy on eBay with a different sleeve that is almost certainly fake. The record is genuine but has a fake promo sticker. |
 CBS 4113 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (1976)
"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"/"Rita May" - 7" single, CBS 4859 (Portugal), Dec 1976:
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Thanks to Manuel García Jara for finding a fake Portuguese promo single on eBay. The record is probably genuine but the sleeve and promo sticker are fake. |
 CBS 4859 (Portugal) - front scan by Hans Seegers (genuine release) |
Changing Of The Guards (1978)
"Changing Of The Guards" - 7" promo single, Columbia 3-10851 (USA), 24 Oct 1978:
 Columbia 3-10851 (US promo) - short version (R-0147), first label variation with fake sleeve, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Wiebke Dittmer for finding a promo copy of Columbia 3-10851 for auction on eBay with a fake sleeve described as a "special limited edition picture sleeve". For the promo single itself, which did not have a picture sleeve, see 1978. |
 Columbia 3-10851 (US promo) - full version, first label variation with fake sleeve, picture from eBay |
Heart Of Mine (1981)
"Heart Of Mine" - 7" promo single, Columbia 18-02510 (USA), Sep 1981:
 Columbia 18-02510 (USA) - promo copy in fake sleeve, picture found by Sergio Mariano Romay |
Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a promo copy of Columbia 18-02510 for auction with a fake sleeve described as "PROMOTION USE ONLY - NOT FOR SALE". For the genuine promo single, which had the regular picture sleeve, see 1981. |
USA for Africa - We Are The World (1985)
USA For Africa (Various Artists) - "Somos El Mundo [We Are The World]"/Quincy Jones - "Gracia [Grace]" - 7" commercial single, CBS 8648 (Mexico), Mar 1985:
 CBS 8648 (Mexico) - 7" single with fake promo sleeve, photo from eBay |
This single can be found on eBay with at least two
different fake
promo sleeves! The single looks genuine in both photos, but really only came with a
generic sleeve. It has orange/yellow CBS labels. Thanks to Manuel García Jara for information. |
 CBS 8648 (Mexico) - 7" single with second fake promo sleeve, photo from eBay |
USA for Africa - "We Are The World"/Third World - "Sense Of Purpose" - stereo 7" single, CBS CBSA 4930 (Thailand?), 1985(?):
 CBS CBSA 4930 (NL?) - front scan by Simon Blokker (fake) |
 CBS CBSA 4930 (NL?) - rear scan by Simon Blokker (fake) |
 CBS CBSA 4930 (NL?) - A-side scan by Simon Blokker (fake) |
 CBS CBSA 4930 (NL?) - B-side scan by Simon Blokker (fake) |
 CBS CBSA 4930 (NL) - A-side scan by Manuel García Jara (genuine release) |
 Columbia 38-04733 (USA) - promo A-side picture from www.discogs.com (genuine release) |
This pirated single has the charity song We Are The World by USA For Africa on the A-side, and another 1985 single on the B-side. The catalogue number, CBS CBSA 4930, is actually that of a 1984 CBS single by Alison Moyet, A-side Invisible, B-side Hitch Hike. The sleeve looks like a bad photocopy of the US single sleeve. The artist name on the A-side of this single is listed wrongly as "USA All Stars". It has the logo of the Dutch copyright organisations "BIEM/STEMRA" but was almost certainly made in Asia, probably Thailand. It also has an EU Label Code of "LC|0151", which according to www.discogs.com was never used - "LC|0149" was CBS Records and "LC|0162" was Columbia.
For all official releases containing We Are The World see 1985.
Thanks to Simon Blokker and Manuel García Jara for information and scans.
The Usual/Got My Mind Made Up (1987)
"The Usual"/"Got My Mind Made Up" - 7" promo singles, CBS 651148 7 (NL/Portugal), 5 Oct 1987:
 CBS 651148 7 (Portugal) - fake promo front and genuine record, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a "promo" Portuguese copy on eBay with a different sleeve that is almost certainly fake. Also, Ger Hemel has what purports to be a promo Dutch copy of CBS 651148 7 with a unique sleeve that is again almost certainly fake. For all official releases containing The Usual see 1987. |
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 CBS 651148 7 (NL) - 7" rear scan by Ger Hemel ("promo" copy) |
|
Silvio/When Did You Leave Heaven? (1988)
"Silvio"/"When Did You Leave Heaven?" - 7" "promo" release, CBS 651406 7 (NL), Jul 1988:
 CBS 651406 7 (NL) - front scan by Ger Hemel (7" "promo" single) |
Ger Hemel also has what purports to be a promo Dutch copy of CBS 651406 7 with a unique sleeve that is again almost certainly fake. |
|
 CBS 651406 7 (NL) - A-side scan by Ger Hemel (7" "promo" single with stamp) |
|
Most Of The Time (1989)
 Picture from eBay |
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for finding this item on eBay which purports to be a UK 12" acetate with two versions of Most Of The Time from Oh Mercy. It has CBS Whitfield Street Studios labels with typed text and comes in a CBS UK 12" single card sleeve. Arie de Reus has confirmed that this item is not genuine. Work-in-progress recordings from the Oh Mercy sessions were created only in the USA. The distinctive CBS UK 12" single sleeve is genuine but was never used for any UK Dylan 12" single releases, which is why it isn't listed on my Singles Sleeves page. |
 Picture from eBay |
Shooting Star (1989)
 Picture from eBay |
Thanks again to Gerd Rundel for finding this item on eBay which purports to be a UK 12" acetate with two versions of Shooting Star from Oh Mercy. It again has CBS Whitfield Street Studios labels with typed text and comes again in a CBS UK 12" single card sleeve. Like the previous "acetate" this item is not genuine. |
 Picture from eBay |
Series Of Dreams (1989)
 Picture from eBay |
Thanks again to Gerd Rundel for finding this item on eBay which purports to be a UK 12" acetate with two versions of Series Of Dreams, the out-take from Oh Mercy released in 1991 on The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 [Rare and Unreleased] 1961-1991. It again has CBS Whitfield Street Studios labels with typed text and comes again in a CBS UK 12" single card sleeve. Like the previous "acetate" this item is not genuine. |
 Picture from eBay |
These three discs belonged to a departed US collector who had in the past contributed to my web-site. Before his death he sold off most of his collection through Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX, but there were some that Heritage wouldn't sell because they didn't think they were authentic. His son is now selling these on eBay and these are three of them. I have no doubt that the original owner bought them in good faith and believed them to be genuine. The seller claims they come from aborted first recording sessions for Oh Mercy in the UK with Ronnie Wood, but I haven't found any evidence such sessions ever took place.
Unbelievable/10,000 Men (1990)
"Unbelievable"/"10,000 Men" - 7" promo single, CBS 656304 7 ("Portugal"), 17 Sep 1990:
 CBS 656304 7 ("Portugal") - fake promo front and genuine record, picture from eBay |
Thanks to Sergio Mariano Romay for finding a "promo" Portuguese copy on eBay with a sleeve that is almost certainly fake. The record is genuine but is actually from Holland, not Portugal at all... There was not actually a Portuguese release for this single. |
 CBS 656304 7 (NL) - front scan (my copy, genuine release) |
Greatest Hits (1990s)
"Bob Dylan Greatest Hits" - 5-track 3" mini-CD single, ARC B-5 (Japan), 1990s(?):
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - front with obi, photo by Wil Gielen/Gerd Rundel |
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - "JASRAC" sticker on rear of jewel case, scan by Wil Gielen |
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - CD scan by Gerd Rundel |
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - outside of unfolded front insert, scan by Gerd Rundel |
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - obi scan by Wil Gielen |
| This "semi-official" 3"
mini-CD release comes in a
thin CD single jewel case and has five tracks: Like A Rolling Stone; Blowin'
In The Wind (mistitled "Blowin' The Wind" on both the insert and the CD);
The Times They Are A-Changin'; Just Like A Woman; All Along The Watchtower.
There is a folded insert with the English song lyrics on the inside. Wil Gielen's copy has an obi with price ¥1,200 and a "JASRAC" (the Japanese
copyright organisation) sticker on the rear of the jewel case. These CDs
were sold in Japan in places like petrol stations and supermarkets until the
law there was changed to prohibit them. It's possible they were authorised
by JASRAC because copyright fees were paid but not by the record companies
like Sony. Thanks to Gerd Rundel and Wil Gielen for information and pictures. |
 ARC B-5 (Japan) - inside of unfolded front insert, scan by Gerd Rundel |
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Murder Most Foul (2020)
"Murder Most Foul" - promo CD single, Columbia BDCRP-2020 ("USA"), 27 Apr 2020:
 Columbia BDCRP-2020 ("USA") - front of fake promo card sleeve, picture from Facebook |
These pictures were posted on Facebook by someone calling themselves “Einstein disguised as Robin Hood” and appear to show front and back of a promo card sleeve with two different CD designs. Note "Murder MUST Foul" on the second disc - both are almost certainly pirated. The second disc has the web address "www.mpo.fr". This is the genuine web-site of French pressing company "Moularges et Plastiques de l'Ouest [Western Mouldings & Plastics] but their role for Sony/Columbia has exclusively been to press many of the most recent vinyl records. |
 Columbia BDCRP-2020 ("USA") - rear of fake promo card sleeve, picture from Facebook |
|
 Second fake promo CD, picture from Facebook |
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