Keith Hirsch’s CD Resource

As would be expected, the majority of albums produced in the 1950s were recorded in mono, as stereo was in its infancy.  By the time the compact disc hit the market in the early 1980s, however, stereo recording and playback was the norm.  As a result, it was considered fashionable in certain instances to take [...]

Happy Holidays!  Around this time last year, I posted on the rare West German pressing of Carpenters Christmas Portrait that was released in Europe (for more information, click here). This year, I report another rare pressing of Christmas Portrait.  This is the original Japanese CBS/Sony pressing for the U.S. market (A&M, catalog number CD 3210).  [...]

Back in May, I featured an unusual West German Target CD of Linda Ronstadt Greatest Hits issued by the Columbia House Music Club (click here).  Today I am writing about another rare Ronstadt Target CD, as well as a common variation.  The discs that are the subject of this post are color variations and involve Ronstadt’s [...]

When CDs hit the market in the early ’80s, several samplers, musical assortments, appeared.  Some were promotional discs, while others were sold at retail.  The promotional discs were used in varying manners.  Some were provided to music and audio reviewers.  Some were provided to retail stores to facilitate demonstrations of the new format.  Some were used [...]

If you are a Carpenters fan, then you know that this duo has been immortalized in a plethora of CD box sets over the years.  Perhaps you’ve wondered which box set of Richard and Karen’s works came first.  The answer might surprise you. The first Carpenters CD box set was released in 1986 by A&M [...]

Featured today is another rare Target CD that I obtained recently.  It is a color variation of the West German pressing of U2 War (Island, catalog number 90067-2).  One typically finds the early pressing with a distinctive green target and purple paint coating.  In fact, as the only Island title to be released as a [...]

This is the final installment of the Phonogram CD label series, which began in June of last year.  Below are links to the first five installments. Part 1: Rocket Part 2: RSO and Polydor Part 3: Mercury Part 4: Vertigo Part 5: Casablanca In this final installment, we turn our attention to the Charisma label.  [...]

The latest addition to keithhirsch.com is a Glossary.  I don’t know why I didn’t come up with this sooner.  For those of you new to the site and/or new to CD collecting, I hope you will find the Glossary to be a useful resource.  Please note, however, that it is still under construction.  You may find [...]