CREATE TABLE table_203_686 (id NUMBER, "release date" CLOB, "album" CLOB, "record label" CLOB, "uk albums chart" NUMBER, "u.s. billboard 200 chart" NUMBER)

previous to 2000 how many albums were released ?
SELECT COUNT("album") FROM table_203_686 WHERE "release date" < 2000
SELECT COUNT("album") FROM "table_203_686" WHERE "release date" < 2000