In April 2020, Bob Dylan is set to embark on his ninth tour of Japan. Sony Japan will commemorate the event on March 25 with a new 2-CD set, Japanese Single Collection. It brings together 20 years' worth of A-sides released from 1965 to 1985, presented in the order they were released in Japan, including the rarity "George Jackson (Big Band Version)."
As far as packaging, the album cover was newly designed in Japan and the illustrated booklet includes discographical information and scans of the original Japanese picture sleeves. The music is pressed on the Japanese Blu-Spec CD2 format, compatible with standard CD players.
To tie-in with the new set, Sony Japan will also release a pink vinyl reissue of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" b/w "She Belongs To Me," utilizing the 2010 mono remasters.
Though Amazon U.S. links are not available at the time of writing, fans can order the single and the 2-CD set from Amazon Japan, HMV, CDJapan, or Tower Records (still big in Japan!) CDJapan buyers will receive a postcard with the Japanese Single Collection album artwork while supplies last.
So, Dylan collectors, get ready to place those pre-orders. We've got the links and a full track listing below!
Bob Dylan, Japanese Single Collection (Sony Japan, 2020) (Amazon U.S. [not live] / Amazon Japan / HMV Japan / CDJapan [with bonus postcard] / Tower Records Japan)
CD 1:
- Subterranean Homesick Blues
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Positively 4th Street
- Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?
- One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
- I Want You
- Just Like a Women
- Blowin' in the Wind
- The Times They Are a-Changin'
- Lay, Lady Lay
- Take a Message to Mary
- Watching the River Flow
- When I Paint My Masterpiece
- George Jackson (Big Band Version)
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door
- A Fool Such as I
Track 1 released on Japanese CBS single LL-764-C, 1965.
Track 2 released on Japanese CBS single LL-821-C, 1965.
Track 3 released on Japanese CBS single LL-847-C, 1965.
Track 4 released on Japanese CBS single LL-882-C, 1966.
Track 5 released on Japanese CBS single LL-919-C, 1966.
Track 6 released on Japanese CBS single LL-928-C, 1966.
Track 7 released on Japanese CBS single LL-956-C, 1966.
Track 8 released on Japanese CBS single LL-987-C, 1966.
Track 9 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SONG-80132, 1968.
Track 10 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SONG-80156, 1969.
Track 11 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single CBSA-82001, 1969.
Track 12 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single CBSA-82070, 1970.
Track 13 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SBSA-82116, 1971.
Track 14 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single CBSA-82132, 1971.
Track 15 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPA-1, 1972.
Track 16 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-257, 1973.
Track 17 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-269, 1974.
CD 2:
- On A Night Like This
- Something There Is About You
- Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) (Before the Flood version)
- Tangled Up in Blue
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Hurricane (Part 1)
- Mozambique
- One More Cup of Coffee
- Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again (Hard Rain version)
- Baby, Stop Crying
- Gotta Serve Somebody
- Man Gave Names to All the Animals
- Sweetheart Like You
- Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)
Track 1 released on Japanese Asylum single P-1293Y, 1974.
Track 2 released on Japanese Asylum single P-1315Y, 1974.
Track 3 released on Japanese Asylum single P-1293Y, 1974.
Track 4 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-307, 1975.
Track 5 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-321, 1975.
Track 6 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-349, 1975.
Track 7 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single SOPB-360, 1976.
Track 8 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 06SP-1, 1976.
Track 9 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 06SP-126, 1976.
Track 10 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 06SP-241, 1978.
Track 11 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 06SP-410, 1979.
Track 12 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 06SP-433, 1979.
Track 13 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 07SP-765, 1983.
Track 14 released on Japanese CBS/Sony single 07SP-901, 1985.
Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues/She Belongs To Me [pink vinyl] (originally Japanese CBS single LL-764-C, 1965 -- reissued Sony Japan, 2020) (Amazon U.S. [not live] / Amazon Japan / HMV Japan / CDJapan / Tower Records Japan)
Side A: Subterranean Homesick Blues
Side B: She Belongs To Me
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Why? What's the point of this thing (money pit)?
Dylan (Sony) usually releases something when he tours Japan (as he will in April). It’s been going on for several years. Nice to have the big band version of George Jackson included.
I wonder if "Lay Lady Lay" will be mono. The US single was mono, but it was not issued on a mono LP back in the day, so it was not part of the Bob Dylan mono albums collection that came out a few years ago.
Who makes these decisions? CD2 Track 9 (06SP126) has a "B" side known as Rita May. This Japanese single I have owned for many years. It has a nice picture sleeve with the lyrics on the backside of the PS. Rita May does not exist on any CD worldwide to my knowledge. Why? Common sense took a hike. My 45 is in immaculate condition, I will continue to enjoy what I have and you will not see me buying your singles collection. For me Rita May would be the price of admission alone. I won't bother continuing with other curiosities. My friend and I have talked about this subject matter for so many years. What a disappointment.
Rita May was released on Masterpieces (which was released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand in 1978 and later in CD and available in the US as an import). So, it has been on CD before. But I understand then frustration. It could be argued it would be worse if one rare track was on it.
Thank you Craig for reminding me that Rita May appears on Masterpieces. I forgot. I have the vinyl import but never bought that one on CD.
I found one other place where Rita May (titles Rita Mae on this release) is on cd! It’s a Japanese
compilation called “Dylan ga Rock [Limited Release]” and it’s available on cdjapan. I actually have this somewhere in my collection. I totally agree that Rita May should be more easily available. Band of the Hand (1986 single) has never appeared on cd but is available on mp3 and I’d love a cd copy. There are 15 or so b-sides that Dylan has that need to be collected on to an way to obtain cd.