The title Rubycon relates to a story about Julius Caesar crossing the river Rubycon in 49 BC. He did it for "all or nothing", running into an unstoppable war. Hence the phrase "crossing the Rubycon" points out that a unreversable decision is made -- a point of no return.
TD entered the Manor Studio again in 1975 to record an album on which they developed a new kind of electronic rhythm. Rubycon featured much the same instrumentation as Phaedra. It also showed a certain distance to mainstream rock, in that it was a suite in two parts, taking up two entire sides of the album -- as did Mike Oldfield's mid-'70s albums Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn which were released by Virgin as well.
On the cover, Tangerine Dream fans can find a small photo of Froese's son Jerome hidden inside the gatefold, a touch that can be traced right back to Alpha Centauri. At that time no one could expect that Jerome Froese would become a regular member of Tangerine Dream fifteen year later. When Rubycon was released, it went straight to number 12 in the British charts, staying there for 14 weeks.
In 1995 Virgin re-released the album on CD in the so-called "Definitive Edition" series, featuring the original front cover artwork. In 2001, Rubycon became the first (and by now only) album by Tangerine Dream to be released on Super Audio CD (SACD) by Virgin. In 2005 the album was re-released in Japan with a cardboard sleeve featuring the exact replica of the original LP sleeve.
Promo-CD: VJCP-2514; same as regular release, but with additional red promo sticker
2005: Virgin/Toshiba-EMI
CD: VJCP-68668; cardboard sleeve, obi
Mexico
1977: Virgin/BMG
LP: LA 411
Netherlands
1975: Virgin/Ariola
LP: V 2025; multi-coloured labels, foc
LP: V 2025; green labels, foc
New Zealand
1975: Virgin/EMI
LP: V 2025; multi-coloured labels, foc
197?: Virgin/RTC
LP: V 2044; red labels
LP: V 2044; red/green labels
Spain
1975: Virgin/Ariola
LP: 88 754-I; multi-coloured labels, foc
LP: 88 754-I; red/green labels, foc
1987: Virgin/CBC
LP: E-88 754; dark-red/green labels, foc
198?: Virgin/Polygram
LP: E-88 754; red/green labels, foc
UK
1975: Virgin
LP: V 2025; multi-coloured labels, foc
LP: V 2025; green labels, foc
LP: V 2025; red labels, foc
LP: V 2025; red/green labels, foc
1984: Virgin
LP: OVED 27; red/green labels, foc
LP: OVED 27; white/grey labels, foc
CD: CDV 2025
1995: Virgin
CD: TAND 6
2010: Virgin
LP: VR 2025; multi-coloured labels, foc
USA
1975: Virgin/Atlantic
Promo-LP: VR 13-116; black/white promo labels saying 'sample copy' with numbers ST-VR-753333/34-DJPR; Rubycon, Part One is split in three sections: A 5:48, B 7:38, C 4:08; Rubycon, Part Two is split in three sections: A 4:20, B 6:50, C 6:31
Promo-LP: VR 13-116; black/white promo labels saying 'promotional copy' with numbers ST-VR-753333/34-DJ-MO; some covers with orange sticker 'Promotional Copy - Not For Sale'; Rubycon, Part One and Rubycon, Part Two are split in three sections each (see above)
LP: VR 13-116; black/white labels with numbers ST-VR-753333/34-DJ-RI; Rubycon, Part One and Rubycon, Part Two are split in three sections each (see above)
