This is a NZ pressing
Bob Dylan - Masterpieces
CBS Records
Cat# S3BP 220502
Runout/Matrix codes (etched):S3BP 220502-1- 3579-700, S3BP 220502-B 3580-700, S3BP 220502 C 3581-700, S3BP 220502-D 3582-700, S3BP 220502-E 33619-700, (extremely faint etching) S3BP 220XXX - F 3324-700
1978
NZ release
Tri gatefold packaging is in very good condition, very light mildew spots to the front cover - difficult to see. Light spine damage to the top, this has been repaired/stabilised with removeable clear tape (see the photograph - difficult to see!) Very clean, no tears, no seam splits, no writing anywhere outside on the tri gatefold cover.
The previous owner has NOT written their details in these areas:
Cover is completely unmarked, inside and out
Record labels, all six, are completely unmarked
New inner plastic sleeves
All three vinyl media have been inspected visually. All three are in very good condition, in fact I can only see a couple very light marks/scratches on Record 3.
I then played all six sides of this superb release, just fantastic! There is some low level surface noise during quiet periods on Record 1, Record 2 has an even lesser level of surface noise but both don't have significant issues with surface noise.
Record 3 has a couple of visible (light) marks so I paid special attention to this record.
Very nice play on each track EXCEPT Side 1, last two tracks. "I Want You" has medium level clicks - not bad but audible. However the last track, "Rainy Day Women" ("Everyone wants to get stoned" .... VERY 1970s "Giggle Smoke" song although Dylan has always said it was not about drugs. Lots of online discussion about this song, even now!) has significant clicks at the beginning and one mistrack!
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/bob-dylan/rainy-day-women-12-and-35
I then investigated further with a microscope, what I found was not good. Just in from the beginning of the last track are NOT scratches but dimples! Something heavy has "bounced around" in this area, causing the dimples. No amount of cleaning will solve this problem - the vinyl is damaged in this area. Sad, such a great song!
Here is EXACTLY what happens on the last track, Record 3 Side 5
Track begins, instrumental intro. About 5 seconds in, light clicks begin. Dylan starts singing "Well, they'll stone you when you're trying to be so gooX (X = mistrack on the word good) goes back to so goo so goo so goo ad infinitum. A little nudge and Dylan continues with the song, there are no further significant clicks after this mistrack.
Next I took a close listen to Side 6 (same record) and all songs are great, no significant issues BUT the last track (Sara) has low level but noticeable clicks throughout the song - still very enjoyable but there are those clicks.
New outer protective plastic album sleeve
RECORD 1
Tracks: Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Mr Tambourine Man, Just Like A Woman, I Shall Be Released, Tears Of Rage, All Along The Watchtower, One More Cup Of Coffee, Like A Rolling Stone, The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo), Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Lay Lady Lay, Idiot Wind
RECORD 2
Tracks: Mixed Up Confusion, Positively 4th Street, Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Spanish Is The Loving Tongue, George Jackson (Big Band version), Rita May, Blowin' In The Wind, Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall, The Times They Are A-Changin', Masters Of War, Hurricane
RECORD 3
Tracks: Maggie's Farm, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Mozambique, This Wheel's On Fire, I Want You, ***Rainy Day Women #12 & 35***, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Song To Woody, It Ain't Me Babe, Love Minus Zero/No Limit, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, If Not For You, If You See Her Say Hello, Sara
*** indicates serious issues, read the description above!
The new owner could either put up with the problem on Record 3 or substitute with another copy of Record 3 (which may be difficult as this is a NZ pressing)
Overall though, this album is just fantastic if Dylan is "your thing" - Dylan is such a master of deep, meaningful and thought provoking lyrics covering such diverse subjects as political, social, philosophical, and literary observations. He was a hero to the counter-culture of the 1970's, particulary in civil rights and anti-war movements. Listening to his music once again, over 40 years later, his lyrics still have a great deal of relevance in contemporary times.
