The releases of the
US branch of Vertigo are somewhat puzzling. By this we mean not so much
the releases themselves, but rather the often unfathomable policies
of choice and also of packaging. Parent company Mercury, which handled
the label in the USA, put out only one signing of its own on Vertigo
swirl, but chose freely from the British and even German catalogue,
thereby often
changing the packaging for dubitable reasons. Why some albums enjoyed a
US release, while others seemingly more suitable did not, is part of
the ever enigmatic strategies of record companies. We will investigate
this in more detail below. Most albums are not so very rare and at
least
much easier to find than the British counterparts. Promo copies with
different labels were issued. One of these is among the scans further
below. The Vertigo series saw the light of day much later here than in
Britain and started not before the end of 1970.
ALBUMS
US albums have their own catalogue
numbers with the prefix ''VEL'', probably meaning VErtigo Longplay, and
starting to count at VEL 1000. The highest number we have found is VEL
1020.
The matrix numbers are machine-stamped with a few (noted) exceptions.
They read as follows:
VEL 1000 A - M1
as clear cut as it gets: catalogue number, side and mother disc.
The vinyl used on some of the releases is scarily thin, but the
pressings are quite satisfactory nonetheless.
US labels have their own typography on the B-side, see scans below. The
A-side label is identical to the British one. The parent
company appears at the bottom of the label. Exceptions will be duly
noted.
The album covers are made of slightly
thinner board than the British
ones and are not laminated. Many of the surviving copies suffer from
ringwear. The backcover holds a note about the parent company too (see
scan directly below). This, or a similar note, can also appear inside
the gatefold cover or even in very small print on the front.
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There were quite some albums put out on
cassette and stereo-8 tape in the USA. If you own any of these, please
notify us!
Please note that we did not repeat information on line-ups and track
listings if they are already known from the UK counterparts, nor do we
show the covers if they are identical. Naturally,
we will not discuss the music either in case there are no differences
to
the British release.
VEL
1000
JIMMY CAMPBELL - HALF BAKED (1970)
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The Vertigo logo on front is
white.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1000 - A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1000 - B - M1
Rarity scale: SC
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Why this album was chosen to inaugurate
Vertigo in the USA is anybody's guess. This is certainly not one of
early
Vertigo's finest hours and many other LP's that would have been more
apt come to mind easily.
This may serve as a fine example of the US branch changing the
packaging and also an
indication of what they are looking for: maximum readability. So the
red lettering of the UK front cover has gone and is replaced by clear
white.
Readability is improved beyond any doubt, but the red suited the image
much better. The logo on front underwent the same treatment. Also
inside the gatefold the red print of the lyrics is
substituted, this time by black (on light grey) and this is actually no
improvement at all, since the red on grey of the British release is
perfectly readable already. Or did they run out of red ink at the
printing plant?
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which are missing on the UK
release.
VEL
1001
PATTO - ''same'' (1970)
The image on
the cover remained just as it was in Britain, but the cover lost its
texture.
The Vertigo logo on front is red.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1001 - A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1001 - B - M1
Rarity scale: R1
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This is a much more logical choice, as
the Patto debut is one of the best early Vertigo albums.
As was to be expected, the structure of the British cover has been
deleted, this has a flat and smooth surface. The inside of the gatefold
was altered, though.
The beautiful red print on yellow (as fitting to the front image) was
replaced by a prozaic black on white. Perhaps the American ability to
read was a
bit underestimated by the art-directors.
Notes: The inside of
the cover mentions the release of a ''8 tape'' version with catalogue
number VC-8-1001.
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And, thanks to our ever
growing contigent of meticulous readers, we can now present a picture
of both front and back of this rare artifact. The running order has
been revised on this release, to make all four sides approximately of
the same length.
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VEL
1002
IAN MATTHEWS - IF YOU SAW THRO' MY EYES (1971)
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The Vertigo logo on front is
purple.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1002 - A - M3 A2K
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1002 - B - M5 B2B
Rarity scale: SC
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That this was considered suitable for
the US market may be understandable, though it didn't sell too well, of
course.
Both the inside and outside of the cover were tampered with. Title and
artist changed place with the Vertigo logo. The wording was decreased
in size and alined to the right. Readabilty improvement? Of course, the
texture of the British cover was deleted. The lay-out on the inside
was completely worked over. The track-listing now appeared on the left,
so as not to obstruct Ian's face, this time clearly a change for the
better. The lyrics were pulled slightly to the left thereby improving
the, indeed, readabilty, as they are now not any longer spread over the
fold in the middle.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover only.
The vinyl on our copy is as flimsy as an RCA dynagroove record, but
plays very well.
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Indeed, there were reel-to-reel issues too!
Above an example, which carries the catalogue number M 1002.
Note the incorrect spelling of the artist's name. |
VEL
1003
never released as far as we are aware
VEL
1004
ASSAGAI - ''same'' (1971)
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Cover-art:
Daniel Czubak Associates/Radius
The Vertigo logo on front is
white.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1004 - A - M2
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1004 - B - M1
Rarity scale: R2
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The ridiculous liner-notes, the worst
feature of the British album, are unfortunately kept in place. The
excellent British cover for some (political?) reason did not appeal to
the US
branch, so they designed a completely different cover (courtesy of
in-house artist Czubak, who designed most of the Limelight covers too),
also quite
impressive,
luckily.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover only.
VEL
1005
GENTLE GIANT - ACQUIRING THE TASTE (1971)
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The Vertigo logo on front is
black.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1005 - A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1005 - B - M1
Rarity scale: R1
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As much as it is laudable to release
this early British prog
masterpiece in the USA, it appears also a wasted effort, since probably
almost no one
bothered to listen to this in 1971 for what it was really worth.
The cover again was subtly altered. The red tongue was printed with
slightly more contrast and the lime-green lettering of the British
issue was changed to black, yes you guessed why. Also on the inside
this obsession continues. The fierce light blue on black of the lyrics
was changed into partly sepia on white and partly white on dove-grey.
And yes, we admit, it maybe a bit clearer to read like this.
The disc is inserted into the cover from the inside, ''unipak'' style.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover only.
VEL
1006
CATAPILLA - ''same'' (1971)
Vertigo promo labels had a
small notice at 2 o'clock
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The cover design is the same as
on the British release.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1006 - A-1-1-1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1006 - B-1-1-1
Rarity scale: R2
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Yes, for once we agree. Good choice, no doctoring with the cover, but
now the matrix numbers are suddenly hand-etched!!
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover only.
VEL
1007
JADE WARRIOR - ''same'' (1971)
The cover design is the same as
on the British release.
The Vertigo logo on front is lime-green.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1007 A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1007 B - M1
Rarity scale: R1
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We are thankful for the fact that they left the front cover alone. On
the inside, however, the beautiful purple on white of the printing has
been changed to prozaic black on white for the photo and white on black
for the lyrics.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover only.
VEL
1008
PATTO - HOLD YOUR FIRE (1971)
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Cover-art
by John Youssi.
The Vertigo logo on front is pink.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1008 - A - M2
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1008 - B - M2
For some reason the A-side has hand-etched numbers, while the B-side
has them machine-stamped.
Rarity scale: R2
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We raved sufficiently about this in the
British
section, so we will not repeat this here. Excellent choice.
The over-elaborate cover of the British issue was replaced with a new
design, constituing quite some steps backward, although rather nice in
itself. The main figure is clearly derived from the original cover by
Roger Dean. The abundance of purples, pinks and greens is balanced by
the stark symmetry of the image.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which are nowhere to be found on
the British release.
The cover depicted above has an extra sticker with ''recommended cuts''
for radio use. The label is not the promo label, though.
VEL
1009
JADE WARRIOR - RELEASED (1971)
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Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1009 - A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1009 - B - M1
Now they are machine-stamped again.
Rarity scale: R1
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Another fine choice, though even this
did not sell very well, we guess.
The reducing the of six-part poster cover to a simple gatefold was
solved quite ingeniously. The first four segments were diminished
and placed together on the front. The backcover stayed the same, but
was
augmented with an extra advertising text about the band. At the inside
the one now missing segment with the lyrics was placed on the right and
the
fourth segment was repeated on the left, this time in its original
size.
Quite a puzzle.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which are on
the British release on the inside of the cover.
Our copy is housed in a company innersleeve, that advertises other
Phonogram albums, four of them Vertigo releases (VEL 1008, 1010, 1011
and 2-500). Three of these four have a quite significantly different
cover to the editions that were actually released! If you own a copy
with such a differing cover (there almost certainly must exists proofs
of these), please contact us.
VEL
1010
IAN MATTHEWS - TIGERS WILL SURVIVE (1972)
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1010 A - M2
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1010 B - M2
Rarity scale: SC
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The front is almost identical to the British release, but the dark
brown has been made a shade lighter. The cover still is textured!
Inside
the prozaic black and white was replaced by a much better warm brown.
They also altered the lay-out: the photograph on the right was repaired
to its full glory with the information now projected on it, instead of
in a column of its own. Definitely better like this.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were
nowhere in sight.
VEL
1011
THOMAS F. BROWNE - WEDNESDAY'S CHILD (1972)
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Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1011 - A - M1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1011 - B - M1
Rarity scale: R2
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Maybe because of its partly
''american'' sound this was released in the USA too, a very
conservative record by any standard.
There were some slight lay-out changes made to the front. The name and
title were moved to the top left and resized to fit in. Hard to see the
advantage of this. Inside and back were left unaltered.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which are nowhere at all on
the British release.
VEL
1012
JADE WARRIOR - LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM (1972)
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1012 A - CT2
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1012 B - CT2
Rarity scale: R1
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The front is identical to the British release. Inside
the sand-yellow was replaced by white and the elegant font of the
lyrics by a prozaic lettering. The fourth and fifth photograph were
replaced by only one other -unclear- photo. Why did they do that?
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which on the UK release were on
the inside of the cover.
VEL
1013
never released as far as we are aware
VEL
1014
never released as far as we are aware
VEL
1015
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP - GLUGGO (1973)
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Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1015 - A - PR6
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1011 - B - PR1
Rarity scale: R1
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We found two label variations of this album, the left one boasting
typography that is quite uncharacteristic for Vertigo.
This is discussed in the first
Germany
album section (6360 102). The gimmix cover was maintained, thank you
very much.
VEL
1016
ATLANTIS - ''same'' (1973)
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1016 - A - PR1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1016 - B - PR1
Rarity scale: R1
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This is discussed in the second
Germany
album section (6360 609). Unfortunately, the otherwise so diligent
art-work bosses kept the worst designed Vertigo cover ever just as it
was.
An opportunity gone to waste.
Notes: The usual
Mercury wording is reappearing at the bottom of the label.
VEL 1017
SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND - NEXT
(1973)
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Line-up: Zal Cleminson,
gtr, voc/ Chris Glén, bsgtr, voc/ Alex Harvey, voc, gtr, harm/
Hugh McKenna, keyb, voc/ Ted McKenna, dr, voc.
Production: Phil Wainman.
Cover-design by unknown.
Photography by
unknown.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at
Audio International.
Track listing A-side:
Swampsnake (Alex Harvey + Hugh McKenna) 4'54''/ Gang Bang (Alex Harvey
+ Hugh McKenna) 4'42''/ The Faith Healer (Alex Harvey + Hugh McKenna)
7'21''.
Track listing B-side:
Giddy Up A Ding Dong (F.Bell + P.Latanzi) 3'14''/ Next (Jacques Brel +
E.Elau + Mort Schuman) 4'02''/ Vambo Marble Eye (Alex Harvey + Hugh
McKenna) 4'25''/ The Last Of The Teenage Dolls Parts 1 2 3 (Alex Harvey
+ Hugh McKenna) 7'15''.
The Vertigo logo on front is white.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1017 A-PR1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1017 B-PR1
Rarity scale: R2
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The follow-up to the not so
overwhelming ''Framed'' is definitely better than that record, but not
as good as the still-to-come ''Tomorrow belongs to me''. That being
said, there is still some very enjoyable material, most of all the
longer tracks. While both Swampsnake
and Gang bang (which sports
extreme female-hostile lyrics) trod well-known paths, The faith healer shows promise
through a real architectural built-up and an ominous atmosphere. This
hard-rock combined with epic elements takes advantage from its finely
honed arrangement. The single Giddy
up a ding dong is disappointing fake rock 'n' roll. The Brel
cover Next has a fabulous
arrangement and profits strongly from Harvey's theatrical talent, all
tongue in cheek. Vambo marble eye
sounds like Slade on vacation and is mainly palatable by virtue of its
debile lyrics and the great guitar parts. The best is saved for the
end. The last of the teenage idols
balances precariously on the thin edge between parody and deep-digging
seriousness. The opposition between dark and muscular rock and totally
flipped-out sarcastic passages makes for the highlight on this quite
patchy album.
The luxurious silver and black foil cover of the British issue has been
replaced by simple red and black, surely a cheaper piece to
manufacture. Harvey gestures triumphantly wearing dull clothes. On the
back small portraits of the band members
The lettering is the same as always, but cannot do much harm in this
poor graphical design.
Notes: In Britain this
was assigned the catalogue number 6360 102, but had, of course, a
spaceship label.
The Phonogram credit is now added to the Mercury wording.
VEL
1018
ATLANTIS - IT'S GETTING BETTER (1973)
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Cover-design:
John Youssi
Photography by
Serge Seymour.
The Vertigo logo on front is
white.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1018 - A - PR1
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1018 - B -PR2
Rarity scale: R1
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The contents of this album are
discussed on the second
Germany page
(6360 614).
Thumbs up for the graphic department which confined the ridiculous
German cover-design to the dustbin. The image now used is a lot better:
Atlantis perishes in the ocean under a dramatic sky. They could have
pasted the logo a bit more carefully, though, even before Photoshop. On
the back a great portrait of singer Inga Rumpf and a small photograph
of the rest of the band, transferred from the German cover-design.
The position of the title should have been solved in a less obvious way.
VEL
1019
is an album ''Earth'' by Vangelis.
We have never seen a copy with a swirl label yet.
VEL 1020
CRICKETS - REMNANTS
(1973)
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Line-up: Jerry Allison, dr/
Sonny Curtis, gtr, voc/ Ric Grech, bsgtr, vl, voc/ Steve Krikorian,
voc, harm/ Albert Lee, voc, keyb, gtr/ Nick Van Maarth, voc, gtr.
Production: Bob Montgomery
Cover-art by
Paul Milosevich.
Cover-design by Mari Vostal.
Photography by
John F.Livzey.
Liner notes: none.
Cover manufactured
by unknown.
Recorded at The
Soundship, Nashville.
Track listing A-side: Find
Out What's Happening (J.Crutchfield) 4'37''/ Lay Lady Lay Down (Nick
van Maarth) 3'05''/ Rock And Roll Man (Kenny O'Dell) 3'23''/ I'm Gonna
Ruin Your Health (Steve Krikorian) 3'22''/ Rhyme And Time (Albert Lee)
3'54''/ Decoy Baker (Jerry Allison) 2'40''.
Track listing B-side:
Losin' Streak (Nick van Maarth) 2'40''/ Atmore (R.Sawyer + J.David)
5'23''/ The Truth Is Still The Same (Sonny Curtis) 3'06''/ Hitchhike
Out To Venus (Steve Krikorian) 3'10''/ Ooh Las Vegas (Ric Grech + Gram
Parsons) 2'55''/ Draggin' Chains (John Ramsey) 2'35''.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 1020 A-1 - II - I
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 1020 B-6
These are hand-etched
on our copy
Rarity scale: R2
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There you are: the only native swirl
release from the USA. The Crickets were the backing band for Buddy
Holly and indeed, one of the members (drummer Allison) is still there.
He has assembled a bunch of very supple and handy musicians, who
unfortunately do not deliver the goods on this LP. Everything is very
relaxed, mind you, but the kind of relaxation that gives us the gribes.
There are some country harmonies, a slice of southern rock, commonplace
harmony vocals, a watery ode in Mississippi style, some acceptable
violins and a clear production. The sum does not offer anything that we
haven't heard much better elsewhere. Ooh
Las Vegas must be the worst of all, but it also contains an
excellent guitar part which must be mentioned. Hey, that's no way to
say goodbye!
Six painted portraits on a barely acceptable execution level is one
thing. The backgrounds before which they are placed are another:
chaotic, childish, uninspired and hasty, brrrr..... On the back a group
photograph framed within a peppermint stick pattern that defies
criticism. What a horrible mistake at all levels.
The lettering is awkwardly placed, difficult to decipher and too
commonplace to figure on an album. Another blunder...
VEL
2-500
APHRODITE'S CHILD - 666 (1972)
Matrix number A-side:
VEL 2-500 - A - M2
Matrix number B-side:
VEL 2-500 - B - 1
Matrix number C-side:
VEL 2-500 - C - M2
Matrix number D-side:
VEL 2-500 - D - M2
Rarity scale: R1
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Only a minor intervention hit the cover. The wording ''2 record set''
was inserted in the upper left corner and ''composed by Vangelis
Papathanassiou, lyrics by Costas Ferris'' was added under the bible
citation low in the middle of the front. The inner illustration by
Dubré was left in place.
Notes: There are
running time indications on the label, which are absent on the British
edition.
MK 7
ALEX HARVEY - ALEX HARVEY TALKS ABOUT
EVERYTHING
(1974)
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Track listing A-side: Vambo
() 5'02''/ Dialogue I 6'35''/ Man In The Jar () 8'11''/ Dialogue
II 0'18''/ Dialogue III 5'06''
Track listing B-side:
Dialogue IV 6'05''/ Sergeant Fury () 3'26''/ Dialogue V
5'52''/ Anthem () 7'42''/ Dialogue VI 0'23''.
The Vertigo logo on front is black.
Matrix number A-side:
MK-7 A-PR2
Matrix number B-side:
MK-7 B-PR1
These are hand-etched
on our copy
Rarity scale: R2 (including
the bonus single, see below)
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This isn't so hot an item as it would
seem. Tracks from the current album ''The impossible dream'' are
alternated with very serious interviews, although Harvey must be hard
to understand to an American audience, as his charming Scottish brogue
is relentlessly applied to all his conversation. He surely is a very
sympathetic character. A bonus single and a ''script'' is included with
this promo only release, the latter being not much more than a
cue-sheet with time-table. The single (with the catalogue number
VEPL-2) has its own sleeve, almost identical to the album cover, but
not any material that is not on the
album. It is duly marked ''highlights only'' on label and sleeve. Both
sides of the album as well as of the single have a ''small swirl''
design. The label strangely misspells ''includes'' as ''encludes''.
No need to contemplate the design of the cover: there is none. The same
goes for the bonus single.
|
Just as a nice intermezzo: another 8track release (on Mercury), that bravely shows our beloved logo. |
SINGLES
There quite some singles known
from the USA. We are not sure about the B-side of some. Please drop us
a line if you know of these.
All US singles we have seen have the
B-side style label on both sides. Promo singles feature at the end of
the list. The matrix numbers on all of these
are hand-etched:
VE 100 RONNO
A: 4th Hour Of My Sleep. B: Powers Of Darkness.
VE 101 IAN MATTHEWS
A: Hearts. B: If You Saw Thru' My Eyes.
VE 102 IAN MATTHEWS
A: Reno, Nevada. B: Desert Inn.
VE 103 IAN MATTHEWS
A: Da Doo Ron Ron. B: Never Again.
VE 104 THOMAS F.BROWNE
A: Gentle Sarah. B: Carry My Load.
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Promo picture sleeve and label for VE 104, Thomas F. Browne, Gentle Sarah/ Carry my load
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VE 105 IAN MATTHEWS
A: Tigers Will Survive. B: Hope You Know.
VE 106 JADE WARRIOR
A: We Have Reason To Believe. B: Barazinbar
VE 107 APHRODITE'S CHILD
A: Babylon. B: Break.
VE 108 JADE WARRIOR
A: A Winter's Tale. B: The Demon Trucker
(depicted below).
VE 109 MARSHA HUNT
A: Somebody To Love. B: (Oh No! Not) The Beast Day.
VE 110 SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
A: Don't Let It Bring You Down. B: Today Gluggo Tomorrow The
World.
VE 111 CRICKETS
A: Ooh Las Vegas. B: Rhyme & Time.
VE 112 SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
A: Living In A Back Street. B: Sure Need A Helping Hand.
VE 113 ALEX HARVEY SENSATIONAL BAND
A: Swampstake. B: Gang Bang.
VE 200 ALEX HARVEY SENSATIONAL BAND
A: Sergeant Fury. B: Tomahawk Kid (some list Gang bang as B-side).
VE 201 BROWN'S HOME BREW
A or B: Cincinnati Floor. other side???????
VE 202 THIN LIZZY
A: Showdown. B: Night Life.
VE 203 KRAFTWERK
A: Autobahn. B: Morgenspaziergang.
VE 204 KRAFTWERK
A: Kometenmelodie 2. B: Mitternacht.
VE 205 THIN LIZZY
A: Wild One. B: Freedom Song.
VE DJ-1 RONNO
A: 4th Hour Of My Sleep (mono). B: 4th Hour Of My Sleep (stereo).
VE DJ-3 IAN MATTHEWS
A: Reno, Nevada (mono). B: Reno, Nevada (stereo).
VE DJ-5 JADE WARRIOR
A: Barazinbar (stereo). B: Barazinbar (stereo too!).
VE DJ-6 BROWN'S HOME BREW
A: Cincinnati Floor (stereo). B: Cincinnati Floor (mono).
VE DJ-7 THIN LIZZY
A: Showdown (stereo). B: Showdown (stereo too!).
VE DJ-8 KRAFTWERK
A & B: Autobahn [both sides same]
(also depicted below)
The label points to the commercial release with the catalogue number VE
203.
VE DJ-9 KRAFTWERK
A: Autobahn. B: Autobahn [different edit: 5'46'' instead of 3'27''].
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Promo (radio) picture sleeve for VEPL 1, Aphrodite's Child, Vertigo album 666
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Promo label for VE DJ- 1 |
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Stock copy label of VE 108 with
upside-down logo.
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Some US singles came in this
generic company sleeve.
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Corrected
promo copy label for VE DJ-8
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