Shown here are early Non-Target CDs pressed in Japan for release in Japan. Many of the discs shown are first issues.
Bryan Adams Cuts Like a Knife (A&M, catalog number 38XB-21). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. The matrix code is “38XB-21 11A1 +++++”. This disc is similar in appearance to the contemporary U.S. issue (note that it even bears the original U.S. catalog number of CD-4919), but this Japanese issue is quite rare.
The Allman Brothers Band Eat a Peach (Polydor, catalog number P58P-25005/6). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. This disc was pressed by JVC. Importantly, this is the only issue of the Eat a Peach studio album on two discs (a recent Deluxe Edition contains the studio album on one disc and bonus tracks on a second disc). Additionally, the Japanese P58P issue has a unique mastering when compared to early U.S. and European issues, and many audiophiles prefer the mastering on the Japanese issue. As a result of this preference and its rarity, the P58P set is in great demand with collectors.
Herb Alpert Rise (A&M, catalog number 38XB-6). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “38XB-6 31A1″. This design with the partial black coating was only used for the earliest Japanese A&M issues. This version of Rise is very rare.
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (Capitol, catalog number CP28-1003). This disc, pressed by Toshiba-EMI, was released in 1987 and is said to have been issued without the consent of The Beach Boys or Capitol Records U.S.A. As a result, it was pulled from the shelves shortly after its release. Pet Sounds did not appear again on CD until the official release of the Beach Boys catalog worldwide in 1990. This 1987 Japanese CD has “Un-released Bkg’s” and “Hang On To Your Ego” as bonus tracks, which were not included on the 1990 issue.
Boston Boston (Epic/Sony, catalog number 32 8P-192). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. The matrix code is “32 8P-192 31 +++++”.
Boston Don’t Look Back (Epic/Sony, catalog number 35 8P-7). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “MANUFACTURED BY CBS/SONY RECORDS INC.” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35 8P-7-10 1A4″.
David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (RCA, catalog number RPCD-11). This is the original Japanese issue. It is very similar in appearance to the U.S. RCA issue, also pressed in Japan. Distinguishing features of this Japanese issue are the JASRAC symbol at 3 o’clock and the Japanese catalog number beneath “DAVID BOWIE”. However, note that the disc also bears the U.S. catalog number of PCD1-4702. This disc was pressed by Denon. The matrix code is “PCD-14702 1A1 46″. Therefore, the U.S. catalog number is contained in the matrix code. This disc is extremely rare in my experience.
David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (RCA, catalog number R32P-1037). This is the second Japanese issue. It is an early issue, however, as noted by the copyright date of 1986 beneath the CD format logo at 3 o’clock. The design used for this disc differs slightly from the one used for the original Japanese issue shown above and the U.S. issue. Note that the RCA logo here is blue instead of white. Also, this disc was pressed by JVC, whereas the original Japanese and U.S. issues were pressed by Denon. The matrix code is “R32P-1037-S1C11″. As with the first Japanese issue, this disc also bears the U.S. catalog number of PCD1-4702. This second Japanese issue is very difficult to find.
Carpenters The Singles 1969-1973 (A&M, catalog number 32XB-39). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. The matrix code is “32XB-39 11 +++++”. This disc is noteworthy because it has a rare single mix of “Yesterday Once More” and sped up versions of “Superstar”, “Rainy Days and Mondays”, and “Goodbye to Love”. Later issues do not have this combination of these four songs. This first Japanese issue is both very rare and highly sought after by avid Carpenters fans and collectors.
Chicago Transit Authority Chicago Transit Authority (CBS/Sony, catalog number 48DP 1002-3). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. The matrix code is “48DP-1002 11A1 +++++”.
Eric Clapton History of Eric Clapton (RSO, catalog number P58W 25024/5). Shown is disc two of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by JVC. This set was only issued on CD in Japan and is long out of print. It is highly desirable because it is the only release on CD to contain “Tell the Truth-Jam”, shown as track 7 on the above disc.
John Coltrane Blue Train (Blue Note, catalog number CP35-3088). The matrix code is “CP35-3088 1A1″, and it is believed that this disc was pressed by Toshiba-EMI. The design shown was used for many early Toshiba-EMI CDs in Japan, and this class of discs is often referred to as “black-triangle CDs”. Black-triangle CDs are very popular with collectors. This issue of Blue Train is very rare.
Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (Fantasy, catalog number VDP-5039). The disc was pressed by JVC and was released in Japan by Fantasy in conjunction with Victor Musical Industries (VMI). Although this design was only used by VMI in Japan in the mid-’80s, it was used for many years in the U.S. by Varese Sarabande for film soundtracks.
Miles Davis Birth of the Cool (Capitol, catalog number CP32-5181). The disc was pressed by Toshiba, and the matrix code is “CP32-5181 1A3 TO”. Despite the significance of this album, this original Japanese issue is rare in my experience.
Miles Davis Kind of Blue (CBS/Sony, catalog number 35DP 62). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35DP-62 11A9″. This is another rare first issue of a seminal Miles Davis album.
Deep Purple Machine Head (Warner Bros., catalog number 32XD-564). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “32XD-564 11A1 +++++”. This is a popular disc with collectors.
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) Out of the Blue (Jet (CBS/Sony), catalog number 42DP 479). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “42DP-479 11 +++++”. This disc is very popular among collectors.
Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive (A&M, catalog number D50Y3093). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “D50Y3093-1 11 +++++”). This is a rare first issue.
Genesis Duke (Virgin/Charisma, catalog number 32VD-1036). The disc was pressed by Toshiba, and the matrix code is “32VD-1036 1A1 TO”. This disc and other original Japanese Genesis issues with the black-triangle design are in great demand with collectors.
Heart Dreamboat Annie (Capitol, catalog number CP32-5404). This disc was pressed by Toshiba, and the matrix code is “CP32-5404 1A1 TO”. This disc is rather difficult to find in my experience.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love (Polydor, catalog number P33P-25023). This disc was pressed by JVC and is quite rare. This first issue and other original Japanese Jimi Hendrix issues from the Polydor P33P and P58P series are highly sought after by collectors.
Billie Holiday The Lady: Complete Collection Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (CBS/Sony, catalog number 00DP570-7). Shown is disc one of the eight-disc box set. The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “00DP-570 11 +++++”. This represents one of the first box sets issued by CBS/Sony.
Buddy Holly From The Original Master Tapes (MCA, catalog number 32XD-151). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “32XD-151 11 +++++”. Difficult to see in this picture is the text at 4 o’clock that reads “Buddy Holly died in February 1959. He was 22 years old.”
Julio Iglesias De Niña a Mujer (Epic/Sony, catalog number 35 8P-1). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35 8P-1-6 1A2″. This represents the first title in the initial Epic/Sony CD series.
Iron Maiden Powerslave (EMI, catalog number CP32-5043). The matrix code is “CP32-5043 1B6″, and the disc was mostly likely pressed by Toshiba-EMI. This is arguably the rarest and most desirable of the Iron Maiden black-triangle CDs.
Joe Jackson Night and Day (A&M, catalog number D32Y3033). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “D32Y-3033 11 +++++”. This disc is very rare in my experience.
Joe Jackson Body and Soul (A&M, catalog number 32XB-82). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony, and the matrix code is “32XB-82 11 +++++”. This is another rare Joe Jackson first issue.
Michael Jackson Off the Wall (Epic/Sony, catalog number 35 8P-2). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “MANUFACTURED BY CBS/SONY RECORDS INC.” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35 8P-2-1 1C1″. The matrix code is stamped in a crude font, indicative of an early CBS/Sony pressing. Additionally, the aluminum portions visible on the label side of this disc have a gold tone. It is believed that CBS/Sony only applied gold to a limited number of its earliest discs.
Billy Joel 52nd Street (CBS/Sony, catalog number 35DP 1). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “MANUFACTURED BY CBS/SONY RECORDS INC.” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35DP-1-2 1B4″. This represents the first title in the initial CBS/Sony pop/rock/jazz CD series. This disc is very popular with collectors by virtue of the historically significant catalog number.
Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DJM, catalog number 23PD-103-4). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The matrix code is “23PD103 B8B18G”. Based on this matrix code format and the font used, it is believed that this disc was pressed at the Sanyo plant. This is actually the second Japanese issue of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but the first to have the discs pressed in Japan. An earlier issue released under a 32PD catalog number is simply the West German pressing released in Europe modified for release in Japan through the addition of an OBI strip and a Japanese lyric sheet insert.
Quincy Jones The Dude (A&M, catalog number 38XB-1). This disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “38XB-1 11A1 +++++”. Like the 38XB version of Herb Alpert Rise shown in this gallery above, this copy of The Dude has the partial black coating that was used for only a select number of early Japanese A&M titles. Particularly noteworthy the fact that The Dude was the first title in the initial Japanese A&M CD series.
The Kinks Kinks Part 1: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround (PRT, catalog number 28CP-6). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “28CP-6 1″. Although the copyright date on the disc is 1988, this represents the first Japanese issue of this renowned album.
Kiss Double Platinum (Casablanca, catalog number P58C-20020-21). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by JVC. This set and other Kiss Japanese first issues from the P58C and P33C series are popular with collectors and command a premium.
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (Swan Song, catalog number 55XD-661/2). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by JVC. As a result of the widespread popularity of Led Zeppelin, this set and other first Japanese issues from the 55XD and 32XD series are in great demand and command high prices. In addition to showing the Japanese catalog number of 55XD-661, note that the disc also shows the original U.S. catalog number for disc one, 200-2-1. In fact, both discs from this set show the U.S. catalog number in the matrix code. Importantly, this disc lacks the cough segment at the end of “In My Time of Dying”. Later pressings, including common U.S. pressings with catalog number SS 200-2, have the cough segment.
John Lennon Shaved Fish (EMI, catalog number CP32-5453). The disc was pressed by Toshiba-EMI, and the matrix code is “CP32-5453 1A1 TO”. As with the first CD issues marketed in the U.S. and Europe, this Japanese issue was mastered without noise reduction. Later pressings for all markets were remastered with noise reduction, which led to an inferior-sounding product. As a result, the first issues without noise reduction are in high demand. Note that this discs bears the Japanese catalog number of CP32-5453 and also the original U.S./European catalog number of CDP 7 46642 2.
Chuck Mangione Feels So Good (A&M, catalog number D32Y3085). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “D32Y-3085 11 +++++”. This disc is very rare in my experience.
Paul McCartney and Wings Wings Over America (EMI/Odeon, catalog number CP28-5456-57). Shown is disc one of the two-disc set. The disc was pressed by Toshiba-EMI, and the matrix code is “CP28-5456 1A3 TO”. Note that the disc also shows the original European catalog number of CDP 7 46715 2, which is also used now for the set marketed in the U.S. on the Capitol label. This first Japanese issue is rare and, like most any rare recording related to Paul McCartney and the Beatles, is in great demand.
Paul McCartney Tug of War (EMI/Odeon, catalog number CP35-3001). This is the first title in the initial Toshiba-EMI black-triangle series. The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “MANUFACTURED BY CBS/SONY RECORDS INC.” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “CP35-3001-1 1A1″. The matrix code is stamped in a crude font used only on the earliest CBS/Sony plant pressings. CBS/Sony plant pressings were limited to only a select number of black-triangle titles and are rare. It is especially uncommon to see such an early CBS/Sony plant pressing for a non-CBS/Sony title.
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (Epic/Sony, catalog number 25 8P-5074). The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony. It has “CSR” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “DP-2676 1″. This first issue is very difficult to locate.