The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 - Bob Dylan Live 1966: The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
This page is part of a list of original releases by release date of international commercially-released regular stereo Dylan albums. They do not contain rarities or obscurities and are not eligible for the Searching For A Gem list. Nevertheless, their interest value or scarcity means they're worth listing here - as far as I know some are not included on any other Internet site. Promo releases of regular albums are now listed here and no longer in the former yearly Promo sections. For releases of this album in Columbia multi-packs, see International Album Releases (Regular) - Multi-Packs. |
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If you have any entries to add to the list or additions/corrections to existing entries, please let me know! Please note I cannot value your Dylan rarities - see the Mission page for reasons why. Contact the dealers on my Trading page for assistance!
Revised 16 September, 2024.
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US release (2CD), Columbia/Legacy C2K 65759, 12 Oct 1998 This album, recorded live with The Hawks (later The Band) at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 17 May 1966, has had a long history before being finally released. The title refers to the fact that bootleg releases of the concert were erroneously attributed to the Royal Albert Hall, London, for many years. Columbia prepared a master of the concert in 1994, which was reportedly rejected by Bob because it was "too clean" and didn't reflect the audience's experience. At least one copy of this master on DAT found its way into the hands of bootleggers to become widely circulated as Guitars Kissing And The Contemporary Fix (the title of a chapter heading in Bob Dylan's book "Tarantula", see Questionable Releases). One track from this abandoned master, I Don't Believe You, was released in error on the recalled release of Biograph, see 1997. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue from this show was released on Biograph in 1985, so appears here in remastered form. |
This title was one of the fifteen Dylan albums scheduled for release in late 2003 as a hybrid CD/SA-CD, although it was subsequently dropped. This would have been playable both in stereo on an ordinary CD player and in perhaps in 5.1 surround sound on an SA-CD player or a DVD player that also plays SA-CDs (Sony's higher range models all do this).
Picture from eBay (Emidisc test pressing) |
The mono test pressing on an Emidisc recording blank with pink handwritten text plays at 33⅓ RPM and lasts 8:20. It is a mono occurrence of this performance with the famous "Judas!" shout and Bob's response, much bootlegged as from the "Royal Albert Hall" concert, and finally released in stereo in 1998. For more details, see 1966. |
Label photo by Alex Greenway (I.B.C. test pressing) |
Covering letter from Brian Carroll, photo by Alex Greenway (I.B.C. acetate) |
The I.B.C. mono acetate contains two tracks recorded live with The Hawks (later The Band) from the concert at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 17 May 1966, finally released in 1998 as The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 - Bob Dylan Live 1966: The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert after years of being one of Dylan's most famous bootlegs. As well as Ballad Of A Thin Man, it includes Like A Rolling Stone with the infamous "Judas!" shout. The record was engineered by Brian Carroll at I.B.C. Recording Studios, 35 Portland Place, London, W1. It has a red I.B.C. generic label with black handwritten text and is accompanied by a covering letter from Brian authenticating the disc as the only copy. Brian has also signed the label. The owner Alex Greenway has researched Brian Carroll and confirmed he was indeed an engineer working for I.B.C. at the time the acetate was made. Again, for more details see 1966.
For Columbia LP-length acetates of the 1966 live performance with The Hawks, see International Album Releases (Dylan-only Compilations) 1965-69.
For performances included in 1991 on a CD with Il Dizionario del Rock, an Italian part-work magazine, which are probably from this concert, also see Questionable Releases.
Vinyl and Tape Releases
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2LP set, Columbia/Legacy CK2-65759-1 (USA), 1998:
The rear of the box misleadingly has "1985" as the original release date. The record labels also have "ORIGINALLY RELEASED 1985" at the bottom. The rear of the inner sleeves are correct.
The records have labels reproducing the mid-1960s Columbia US design. The records of my copy have handwritten matrix numbers: Side 1 - CK 65759-A, Side 2 - CK 65759-B, Side 3 - CK 65759-C, Side 4 - CK 65759-D, plus “BG” handwritten on Sides 1 and 4. (This indicates mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.)
Thanks to Renaud Depierreux for finding a copies on eBay numbered "0216" and "0309" which were part of a limited edition of 1000 available only through bobdylan.com.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - single LPs, Classic Records/Columbia/Legacy CK2-65759-1 (USA),
2003:
The Classic Records web-site gives these the catalogue numbers "CK-65759-A"
and "CK-65759-E",
although these do not appear anywhere on the items ("CK-65759-A" is the matrix
number of Side 1).
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2LP 200gm test pressing, RTI/Columbia/Legacy CK-65759 (USA), 7-8 Aug 2006:
This test pressing was made for Classic Records by RTI (Record Technology Inc.) and dated 7-8 Aug 2006. Both discs come in plain white sleeves that were originally sealed by RTI. Each sleeve has a sticker with a barcode at front top left with text "BOB DYLAN/ROYAL ALBERT HALL/200 GRA" "TCCS 65759Q". The first album sleeve has the following stamped at rear top right: "AUGUST 7 2006 CK - 65759 A/B". The second album sleeve has the following stamped at rear top right: "AUGUST 8 2006 CK - 65759 C/D". Sides 1 and 3 have generic RTI Co. labels, while the reverse sides 2 and 4 have plain white labels. The records have matrix numbers: Side 1 - CK - 65759 - A, Side 2 - CK - 65759 - B, Side 3 - CK - 65759 - C, Side 4 - CK - 65759 - D.
Thanks to Bruce Mulle for information and photos.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2LP 200gm test pressing, Classic Records/Columbia/Legacy CK 65759 (USA), Aug 2006:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2LP 200gm boxed set, Classic Records/Columbia/Legacy CK2-65759-1 (USA), 2006:
The rear of the box again misleadingly has "1985" as the original release date. The record labels also have "ORIGINALLY RELEASED 1985" at the bottom as above. The records of Gerd's copy have handwritten matrix numbers: Side 1 - CK 65759-A, Side 2 - CK 65759-B, Side 3 - CK 65759-C, Side 4 - CK 65759-D, plus “BG” handwritten on Sides 1 and 4, exactly the same as those of my 1998 copy above.
Thanks to Jean-Pol Hiernaux for information and to Stuart Moore and Gerd Rundel for the scans.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - promotional single cassette release, Columbia/Legacy (no catalogue number) (UK), 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - stereo cassette release, Columbia/Legacy 491485 4 (NL), Nov 1998:
Thanks to Manuel García Jara and Francisco Fernández García for information and pictures.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - promotional two cassette set, Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan), 6 Nov 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - stereo cassette release, Columbia/Legacy 491485-4 (Turkey), 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - stereo cassette release, Sony Music 491485 4 (India), Dec 1998:
This release again comes on a double-length cassette, with timings 41:23 (Side 1) and 48:12 (Side 2). It has a date of "12/98" and a price of 150 rupees (about $3.29). There is a three-fold double-sided insert. The cassette has a clear case with white text and the incorrect information "Originally Recorded 1966, Originally Released 1985" on both sides.
Thanks to Paul van Oost for information and scans.
CD Releases
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - promo 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy C2K 65759 (CK 65760/CK 65761) (USA), Oct 1998:
This promo release has different CD labels from the regular US release which include the song titles and the text "Demonstration - Not for Sale". The example from eBay came in plain jewel cases, while Jack from Canada's copy comes in a slimline 2CD jewel case with the standard front and rear inserts. Gerd Rundel has the same 2CD promo set as Jack - CD1 should have catalogue number "CK 65760" but is misprinted as "CK 65761". The second CD's catalogue number is correct at "CK 65761".
Thanks to Peter Good and Hervé from France for information, and to Jack from Canada for scans. Thanks to Renaud Depierreux for finding a copy of this promo set on eBay with a press kit consisting of a 2-page promo letter, the liner notes and a four-page printed promo booklet.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy C2K 65759 (CK 65760/CK 65761) (USA), 13 Oct 1998:
Note the truncated CD title, just "LIVE 1966", also the big "STEREO"/"360 SOUND"/arrows symbol (from the 1960s Columbia record labels). These CDs have no song titles.
Thanks to Jack from Canada for scans.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy COL 491485 2 (Austria for Europe), Oct 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music 88697732892 (Europe), Dec 2010:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - promo 2CD-R set, Columbia/Legacy COL1-CD1/COL2-CD2 (Australia), Oct 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy 491485 2 (Australia), Oct 1998:
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - promotional 2CD set, Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan), 6 Nov 1998:
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - slipcase front with obi and information sticker, scan by Wil Gielen |
Unlike the Japanese promo cassette set above, this set comes
with the full commercial artwork. It's packaged in a card slipcase with a side
obi with price ¥3,780. The date is given on the
obi as
"98-11-6" with the US release date of "98-10-13" below. There is no
promo indication apart from the word "SAMPLE" in the clear centre of each
CD. The set is in a resealable clear plastic wallet with an information
sticker advertising Time Out Of Mind and the exclusive Japanese
Dylan Alive 2CD single set with rare live tracks, see
1998. The two CDs are in a slimline jewel case, and inside the slipcase
there are two booklets, a 56-page booklet in English, and a 60-page booklet
in English and Japanese. Thanks to Wil Gielen for information and scans. |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - obi scan by Wil Gielen |
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Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - information sticker scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - slipcase front scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - front insert scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - rear insert scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - front of booklet 1, scan by Wil Gielen |
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Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - front of booklet 2, scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758-9 (Japan) - slipcase rear scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758 (Japan) - promo CD1 scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758 (Japan) - detail of promo CD1, scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8759 (Japan) - promo CD2 scan by Wil Gielen |
Sony Records SRCS 8758 (Japan) - detail of promo CD2, scan by Wil Gielen |
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music C2K 65759 (Taiwan), 1998:
Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music C2K 65759 (Taiwan) - spine of outer slipcase,
scan by Jack from Canada
Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music C2K 65759 (USA for Taiwan) - spine of inner slipcase,
scan by Jack from Canada
The Taiwanese release of Live 1966 consists of a sealed US copy packaged inside an outer slipcase and then sealed again. Inside the outer slipcase is an extra 48-page Chinese language booklet in addition to the 56-page booklet normally included with the 2CD set. The Chinese booklet includes some never-before-seen pictures of Dylan, an essay in Chinese about Dylan’s career before 1966, and Chinese translations of all the lyrics of the songs that Dylan performed on 17 May 1966.
Thanks to Jeffy from Taiwan and Jack from Canada for information and scans.
"The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live 1966 - The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert" - 2CD set, Columbia 2-491485 (Brazil), 2002:
Columbia 2-491485 (Brazil) - front of outer slipcase |
This set comes in a
card slipcase and is part of a series of reissues of "Live" Columbia
albums (also including Bob Dylan At Budokan in this section and MTV Unplugged, see 1995).
It has a single width 2CD jewel case. The album packaging is minimal, with
just the front picture and track listings, no other album artwork.
The rear insert is plain on the reverse, the front insert has just the
tracklisting. The CDs are plain red with just the title in silver, again
truncated to "LIVE 1966". As can be seen, the inside of the front insert has only the tracklisting with Brazilian copyright numbers, there is no other information. Thanks to Alexandre Froemming for this album. |
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Columbia 2-491485 (Brazil) - rear of outer slipcase |
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Columbia 2-491485 (Brazil) - CD1 |
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