UK LP variants: The River

[eddy_wehbe]

As far as I know, there are at least 8 versions of the UK vinyl pressing of The River.

The River UK versions.jpg (9.67 MiB) Viewed 155 times

(save the image or open it in a new tab to zoom in)

Version 1:
- Sunburst labels
- No label code on labels
- "Made In England" at the bottom of labels
- No double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "S CBS 88510" on right side in large font
-- "S CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "S CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in small font
Discogs

Version 2:
- Sunburst labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- "Made In England" at the bottom of labels
- No double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "S CBS 88510" on right side in large font
-- "S CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "S CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in small font
My copy

Version 3:
- Sunburst labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- "Made In England" at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "S CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "S CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "S CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
My copy

Version 4:
- Sunburst labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- "Made In England" at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
My copy | Discogs

Version 5:
- Sunburst labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- Nothing at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
My copy

Version 6:
- Sunburst labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- "CBS & CBS INC." at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
My copy

Version 7:
- Red labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- "CBS AND CBS INC." at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
Discogs (a promo copy)

Version 8:
- Red labels
- Label code "LC 0149" on labels
- Nothing at the bottom of labels
- Double-arrow symbol on the left side of labels
- Catalog numbers on labels:
-- "CBS 88510" on left side in small font
-- "CBS 84622" (disc 1) or "CBS 84623" (disc 2) on right side in large font
My copy


Notes:
- I think I listed all the versions in the correct chronological order
- Please have a look at your copies and tell me if you have one that's any different from the ones I listed.


Hype stickers:

There is one hype sticker that I've seen with many copies of version 3. I've also seen it with one copy of version 4 on eBay, but I need to see more such copies to be sure that this is not a mistake (someone swapped sleeves).

hype sticker.jpg (133.86 KiB) Viewed 206 times

Promo stamps:

Some copies of version 3 (B.L.'s copy below, My copy) have a promo stamp on the rear cover, sometimes on the top-left corner and sometimes on the bottom-left corner. It reads "PROPERTY OF CBS / DEMONSTRATION ONLY / Not For Sale".

promo stamp.jpg (472.99 KiB) Viewed 159 times

Inner sleeves:

Based on the copies I've seen, there seems to be 3 types of inner sleeves, distinguished by the cut at the top (see below scans).
Version 1: comes with type 1 inner sleeves
Version 2: comes with type 1 inner sleeves
Version 3: comes with type 1 and type 2 inner sleeves
Version 4: comes with type 1 inner sleeves
Version 5: comes with type 1 inner sleeves
Version 6: comes with type 1 and type 3 inner sleeves
Version 7: ???
Version 8: comes with type 2 and type 3 inner sleeves

Inner sleeve

inner sleeves.jpg (446.37 KiB) Viewed 195 times

UK Springsteen discography inserts:

Based on the copies I've seen, some versions come with the 4-album discography insert; none come with the 7-album discography insert. However, I have seen some copies of version 3 with a 4-album discography insert that has a "YOU'VE GOT TO BE BOSS TO BE THE 'BOSS'" header.
Version 1: no discography insert
Version 2: comes with a 4-album discography insert type 1
Version 3: comes with a 4-album discography insert type 1 or type 2
Version 4: comes with a 4-album discography insert type 1
Version 5: comes with a 4-album discography insert type 1
Version 6: comes with a 4-album discography insert type 1
Version 7: ???
Version 8: no discography insert

4-album discography insert type 1 (front/back)

discography-4albums-typ1.jpg (216.45 KiB) Viewed 206 times

4-album discography insert type 2 (front)

discography-4albums-typ2.jpg.jpg (200.34 KiB) Viewed 196 times

7-album discography insert (front/back)

discography-7albums.jpg (200.97 KiB) Viewed 206 times

[eddy_wehbe]

I discovered a new version (version 1 above) and bought some that I didn't have, so I decided to update this thread with more scans and details.

[B.L.]

Version 3 promo stamped

[eddy_wehbe]

Version 3 promo stamped

Good find. I updated the original post accordingly.

[eddy_wehbe]

Version 3 promo stamped

Good find. I updated the original post accordingly.

I recieved a promo stamped copy of version 3, but the stamp has a different position on the rear sleeve. Main post updated accordingly.