I would definitely say that the LPU11 Esaul is the oldest recording we have of the song. The Frat Party one was basically live in Mike’s apartment so I wouldn’t really call that a studio recording. It’s basically like the Third Encore performances but the ghetto version. Haha.
Yes, the LPU12 Rhinestone is the same as the 9 track version, just with better volume, etc.
The demo tape that Chester was sent probably had what you said it did. Rhinestone, Esaul, probably RME and Pictureboard. Could have also been Fuse, I could see them doing better versions of those with Mark just like they did for Rhinestone. But probably Pictureboard. What other songs had Mark on writing credits besides those? Slip did right? I think the rest of the stuff from that era was written with Chester.