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

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