As we turn to spring, I turn my attention to a rare CD recently acquired after much searching.  It’s a CD I never was able to find in a used CD shop despite considerable effort, but eBay saved the day, in a manner of speaking.  It is the West German Polygram pressing of The Motels Little Robbers (Capitol, catalog number CDP 7 46020 2).  This CD was issued in both the U.S. and Europe.

Despite the fact that this album contains the hit “Suddenly Last Summer” and The Motels were very popular through the 1980s, Little Robbers has not remained in print over the years.  In fact, the West German pressing was not followed by later pressings under the original catalog number in any markets.  Thus, there are no U.S. pressings with catalog number CDP 7 46020 2.  Additionally, Little Robbers has never been issued on CD in Japan.

After being out of print for many years, Little Robbers was reissued in the U.S. in 1998 on the Capitol special markets label, One-Way.  That CD is now out of print and popular with collectors (it is much easier to find than the original West German pressing).  Today, the only version that is in print is a “two-fer” CD, in which Little Robbers was combined with The Motels hit record All Four One.  This two-fer appears on the U.K. label BGO Records.

Shown below is the album cover for Little Robbers, along with the back insert and a spine label for the West German pressing, and finally, the West German pressing itself.

The cover for the West German pressing of The Motels Little Robbers (Capitol, catalog number CDP 7 46020 2).

The back insert for the West German pressing of The Motels Little Robbers (Capitol, catalog number CDP 7 46020 2).  Note that there is no barcode.  The catalog number appears in small print in the top right corner.  Also note “Made in West Germany” printed in the bottom center.

A spine label for the West German pressing of The Motels Little Robbers (Capitol, catalog number CDP 7 46020 2).  This is the portion of the back insert that makes up one of two identical side labels when viewed in a jewel case.

The West German pressing of The Motels Little Robbers (Capitol, catalog number CDP 7 46020 2).  The disc was pressed by Polygram.  As is typical for early Capitol-EMI titles, some of the original album artwork has been reproduced on this CD.  Note that it has “Made in West Germany” printed at 9 o’clock.  The matrix code is “746 020-2 2893 339 02”.

Part 1 in this series of “Reprocessed Stereo” Elvis Presley entries covered Elvis’ Golden Records. This post was entered below on December 26, 2009.

In this second installment studying the “fake stereo” Elvis Presley CDs, we look at The King’s self-titled debut album, which includes such hits as “Blue Suede Shoes” and “I Got a Woman”.  Elvis Presley debuted on CD under RCA catalog number PCD1-1254 with the now familiar “STEREO EFFECT REPROCESSED FROM MONOPHONIC” label on the back insert and back cover of the booklet.  As with the fake stereo version of Elvis’ Golden Records, the fake stereo issue of Elvis Presley was in print for only a very short time and only exists as a Japanese Denon plant pressing.  The catalog number suffix, 1254, refers back to the original catalog number of the LP.

The fake stereo Elvis Presley disc was quickly replaced by the far more common mono edition under catalog PCD1-5198.  Inserts with this later issue state “RESTORED TO ORIGINAL MONO DIGITALLY REMASTERED”.  The mono version may be found as a Japanese Denon pressing or as later U.S. pressings.  Since the original fake stereo edition was pulled from the market quickly, copies, when they surface, are normally found with a cut-out notch in the booklet and back insert.

Shown here is the cover, back insert, and disc for the fake stereo issue of Elvis Presley.   Stay tuned in the next couple of months for Part 3 of this four-part series.

The cover for the “fake stereo” CD issue of Elvis Presley (RCA, catalog number PCD1-1254).  This cover is identical to the one used for the subsequent mono issue.  Note the early RCA CD logo.  Also visible is a cut-out mark in the top right corner.  This rare disc is routinely found as a cut-out.

The back insert for the “fake stereo” CD issue of Elvis Presley (RCA, catalog number PCD1-1254).  Note the statement “STEREO EFFECT REPROCESSED FROM MONOPHONIC” in the top left corner.  The cut-out mark is also visible in the top left corner.  As noted along the bottom, this insert was printed in the U.S.

The rare “fake stereo” Elvis Presley CD (RCA, catalog number PCD1-1254).  The disc was pressed in Japan by Denon.  The matrix code is “PCD-11254 1A1 48” and appears in the common Denon “dot-matrix” matrix code font.  Note that the character groups “PCD-11254” and “1A1 48” are separated by 180 degrees in the mirror band.

For the first post of 2010, we turn our attention to a classic rock staple from 1976 from Eagles — Hotel California.  Obviously nothing needs to be said about the album, so I will just get to our featured CD.  The disc in the spotlight is a Japan-for-U.S. pressing from the Daio Kosan pressing plant (Asylum, catalog number 103-2).  This pressing is featured for a couple of reasons.  For one thing, it is a very rare disc in my experience.  Secondly, it has an unusual color scheme for a disc on the Asylum label.

The Daio Kosan pressing is actually one of two Japan-for-U.S. pressings of Hotel California.  The other was pressed by Sanyo and was released under the same catalog number, 103-2.  From what I can tell, the Sanyo pressing is the earlier of the two.  This is because the Sanyo pressing is found with inserts printed in Japan and with no barcode on the back insert, while the Daio Kosan pressing is found with inserts printed in the U.S.A. that have a barcode.  The inserts with the Daio Kosan pressing appear identical to those found with the early U.S. pressings that followed.  At first, I thought perhaps that the U.S. inserts with the Daio Kosan pressing were not the original ones, but my copy came in an early smooth-edge jewel case (smooth top and bottom edges instead of ridges).  As such, I believe the U.S. inserts are the original ones for the Daio Kosan pressing.

The Sanyo pressing is the more common of the two Japan-for-U.S. pressings based on what I have seen in used CD stores and for sale on the Internet.  The two pressings are shown below.  Note the red ring and red Asylum logo on the Daio Kosan pressing.  This is the only Asylum disc I have found with red accents.  (The red color scheme is typical of discs issued in the U.S. on the Atlantic and Elektra labels, however.)  By contrast, the Sanyo pressing has a yellow ring and yellow Asylum logo, which is typical for early Asylum CDs issued in the U.S.  Perhaps this Daio Kosan pressing is an error, though I have not seen a yellow version.

The Japanese Daio Kosan pressing of Eagles Hotel California (Asylum, catalog number 103-2).  The red ring and red Asylum logo are atypical for an Asylum release, and this is the only Asylum disc I have found with these items printed in red.  The disc has “MADE IN JAPAN BY DAIO KOSAN CO., LTD.” printed along the perimeter.  The matrix code is “18 H804-2A 103-2”.  This disc came with inserts printed in the U.S.A.  The back insert has a barcode.

The Japanese Sanyo pressing of Eagles Hotel California (Asylum, catalog number 103-2).  The yellow ring and yellow Asylum logo are typical for an Asylum release.  Although the disc simply has “MADE IN JAPAN” printed along the perimeter, note that it also has “MANUFACTURED BY SANYO JAPAN” stamped in the mirror band.  The matrix code is “00103-2 508028”.  This disc came with inserts printed in Japan.  The back insert has no barcode.  In my experience, this disc is more common than the Daio Kosan pressing shown above.

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 a mono recording and convert it to “fake stereo”.  Unfortunately, the results were often unappealing to the ear, to be kind.  In 1984, RCA decided to release four Elvis Presley albums, originally recorded in mono, on CD in the U.S. in what they called “reprocessed stereo”.  The four albums released in fake stereo were Elvis’ Golden Records; 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong — Elvis’ Golden Records, Vol. 2; Elvis Presley; and Elvis.  The inserts with these CDs were labeled “Stereo effect reprocessed from monophonic”.

These fake stereo Elvis CDs were unpopular with fans and audiophiles alike due to the poor sound.  As a result of what turned out to be a failed experiment, RCA quickly pulled the fake stereo Elvis CDs from the market and replaced them with mono versions.  The fake stereo CDs today are quite rare.  All four only exist as Japanese pressings.  Despite their poor sound and being rejected upon release, they are highly sought after today by Elvis fans and CD collectors.

Featured here is one of the four Elvis fake stereo CDs, Elvis’ Golden Records, which was released by RCA under catalog number PCD11707.  RCA approached this and the other three fake stereo CDs with a sense of history by preserving the original LP catalog numbers.  In the case of Elvis’ Golden Records, 1707 was part of the original LP catalog number.

Elvis’ Golden Records is the most common of the four fake stereo Elvis CDs, but it is still quite rare.  This CD was replaced with a mono version under catalog number PCD1-5196.  The mono issue was in print for many years and exists as Japanese and U.S. pressings.

Shown below are pictures of the cover, back insert, and disc for the fake stereo issue of Elvis’ Golden Records.  In the coming months, I will feature the remaining three fake stereo discs, though I will not do this in consecutive months.  In the interest of keeping things fresh on keithhirsch.com, I will intersperse other rare and unique early CD pressings.

The cover for the “fake stereo” CD issue of Elvis’ Golden Records (RCA, catalog number PCD11707).  This cover is actually identical to the one used for the subsequent mono issue.  Note the early RCA CD logo in the bottom left corner.

The back insert for the “fake stereo” CD issue of Elvis’ Golden Records (RCA, catalog number PCD11707).  Note the statement “Stereo effect reprocessed from monophonic” printed below the track list.  Also note “Printed in Japan” at the end of the copyright line.  This indicates an early RCA CD issue.  Most Japan-for-U.S. RCA CDs are found with inserts printed in the U.S.

The rare “fake stereo” Elvis’ Golden Records CD (RCA, catalog number PCD11707).  The disc was pressed in Japan by Denon.  This is an early Denon pressing by virtue of the matrix code being stamped in a crude font on the plastic ring.  Although difficult to read in this picture, the matrix code is “PCD 11707 A-11”.  Note that the character groups “PCD 11707” and “A-11” are separated by 180 degrees in the plastic ring.  Japanese Denon pressings are typically found with matrix codes stamped in a dot-matrix font in the mirror band.

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).  This copy, like subsequent U.S. pressings, is labeled “The SPECIAL EDITION” on the cover.  The Special Edition has 21 tracks and has the choir track on “Ave Maria” included.  It was noted last year that the original European version matched the LP content, with 17 tracks and with no choir track on “Ave Maria”.  This version was quickly replaced in Europe with the Special Edition.

In short, the disc featured this year is a rare pressing of a common version of Christmas Portrait.  For the collectors in the crowd, this Japanese pressing, as a CBS/Sony pressing, has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring.  The matrix code is “DIDX-186 11A1”, and the disc has “Made in Japan” printed at 6 o’clock.  The inserts were printed in the U.S.A.

Shown below are pictures of the Japanese pressing and the accompanying inserts.  Compare the cover here to the rare European cover posted last year.

The cover for the U.S. issue of Carpenters Christmas Portrait (A&M, catalog number CD 3210).  The poster in the painting is labeled “The SPECIAL EDITION” and highlights the content instead of listing the actual tracks.

The back insert for the U.S. issue of Carpenters Christmas Portrait (A&M, catalog number CD 3210).  As noted in the lower right corner, this insert was printed in the U.S.A.  Importantly, 21 tracks are listed.  The LP and rare original European CD have just 17 tracks.

The rare Japanese CBS/Sony pressing of Carpenters Christmas Portrait for the U.S. market (A&M, catalog number CD 3210).  The disc has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “DIDX-186 11A1”.  Note that the disc has “Made in Japan” printed at 6 o’clock.

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 1984 pop standards effort with Nelson Riddle, Lush Life (Asylum, catalog number 9 60387-2).

The two color variations of Lush Life are West German Target pressings.  Both discs are standard retail issues, as opposed to Columbia House mail-order releases.  The common version of Lush Life, and it is rather common as Target CDs go, has a royal blue target and yellow paint coating.  The rare version, and it is extremely rare in my experience, has a purple target and light blue paint coating.  You may be thinking that a Target CD on the Asylum label should have a purple target and light blue coating.  Well, it depends.  Asylum Targets that bear the older lower-case ‘a’ logo were issued in the purple/light blue combination (see the aforementioned post on the Ronstadt Greatest Hits Target).  However, Asylum Targets that bear the later capital ‘A’ over a “sunrise” logo (see the pictures below) were issued in the royal blue/yellow combination.

Lush Life was issued with the newer Asylum logo, so the royal blue/yellow combination would be expected.  I suspect the purple/light blue disc is either a simple error or a test disc.  Pictures of the two variations are shown below.   Both discs have the same matrix code — “7559 60387-2 2895 184 02 #”.  They also have identical inserts, which were printed in West Germany.

As stated above, the purple/light blue version is very rare.  I just obtained it this week, after years of searching.  By contrast, I have seen the royal blue/yellow version in used CD shops and on eBay many times over the years.

The common West German Target pressing of Linda Ronstadt Lush Life (Asylum, catalog number 9 60387-2).  This color combination is typical of Target CDs that bear the newer Asylum logo showing a capital ‘A’ over a “sunrise”.

The very rare West German Target pressing of Linda Ronstadt Lush Life (Asylum, catalog number 9 60387-2).  This color combination is typical of Target CDs that bear the older lower-case ‘a’ Asylum logo.  It is believed that this pressing of Lush Life is an error or a test pressing.

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 in a similar fashion at industry trade shows.  Some were even given away with CD players.  As would be expected, many of these early samplers were pressed in Japan or West Germany.

Some early CD samplers covered a given theme, such as rock or pop compilations, while many others featured popular artists of the time on a given record label.  Since we are talking of the 1980s, it should not be surprising to find that many of these samplers had a sci-fi theme and treated the CD as a sort of space-age technology.

Many of these early samplers, especially the promotional discs, are quite rare.  As a collector, I have acquired many of these promotional and commercial samplers and thought it would be a good idea to feature one of them here every so often.  I actually have featured a couple such discs in the past.  Back on July 4, 2007, I posted the rare Japanese sampler from Epic/Sony, American Best Selection, which featured Epic/Sony artists that had topped the U.S. charts in the early ’80s. More on this sampler may be found here.  On March 30, 2008, I posted The Edison CD Sampler, which is a rare CD sampler of early Edison recordings.  You may find that post here.

Continuing on, I decided to feature here an unusual sampler issued together by Sony and WEA (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) entitled 20 Years of Golden Greats.  This is a rare promotional compilation of WEA artists.  The disc and inserts bear the Sony logo, suggesting that this sampler was used by Sony to promote the CD format.  The copyright date on the disc is 1984, and the disc was pressed in West Germany by Polygram.  Unfortunately, I do not know where this sampler was issued or to whom it was distributed.

The label side of the 20 Years of Golden Greats CD shows no catalog number, but the inserts show the simple catalog number SONY I (roman numeral I).  The matrix code on the disc is “SONY 1 2895 101 01 #”.  Shown below is the disc, front cover, and back cover, where you can see the track list for this sampler.

Over time, I will highlight other promotional and commercial samplers pressed in different countries and issued in different markets.

The rare promotional sampler, 20 Years of Golden Greats (Sony/WEA, catalog number Sony 1).  The disc was pressed in West Germany by Polygram and bears a copyright date of 1984.  The disc is a compilation of WEA artists and was presumably used by Sony to promote the CD format.  The matrix code is “SONY 1 2895 101 01 #”.  The disc is not actually labeled a promo, but a promotional statement appears on the back insert (see the third picture below).

The cover for the promotional sampler, 20 Years of Golden Greats (Sony/WEA, catalog number Sony 1).

The back insert for the promotional sampler, 20 Years of Golden Greats (Sony/WEA, catalog number Sony 1), showing the track listing.  Despite the presence of the Sony logo, all artists are from WEA labels (the disc, shown above, bears both the WEA and Sony logos).  Note the promotional statement in the top left corner.  As can be seen at the bottom, the inserts were printed in West Germany.

Update: The poll associated with this entry closed on October 22nd.  The results are shown below.  Thanks to all who voted!

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 in Japan and is titled Carpenters Collection.  This set contains 12 CDs and was released under catalog number D300Y3243.  The ‘300’ in the catalog number likely reflects a retail price back then of ¥30,000.

Carpenters Collection contains the ten studio albums from Ticket to Ride through Voice of the Heart.  Disc 11 is Live at The Palladium, a live album that has never been released on CD in the U.S.  This also represents the first release of this live album on CD.  Disc 12 is a 5″ CD single of “Honolulu City Lights”, with “Slow Dance” serving as the “B-side”.  This disc represents the first release of these two songs on CD.

The individual CDs show catalog numbers D300Y3243-1 through D300Y3243-12 and are each packaged in a standard jewel case with a booklet and back insert.  The discs are housed in a white box with a 188-page book.  The book provides lyrics in Japanese and English as well as other Carpenters tidbits, such as a “Singles Chartgraphy”.

All 12 discs in this set were pressed by CBS/Sony.  1986 was a changeover period for the CBS/Sony plant in terms of pressing equipment, so some discs show the early CBS/Sony neat, stamped matrix code font, while others in the set show a later “laser-etched” matrix code font.  Although barcodes began appearing on Japanese CD issues by 1986, these discs do not have barcodes since they are part of the box set and were, therefore, not sold separately.  The discs also do not have obi strips.

In my experience, Carpenters Collection is very rare.  I have only seen the complete set for sale once and have occasionally seen individual titles offered.  It appears as though the sellers of these individual discs were not aware that they came from a box set.

Shown below are pictures of the front of the Carpenters Collection box, the covers to Live at the Palladium and “Honolulu City Lights”/”Slow Dance”, and one disc from the set.

The cover to the box for Carpenters Collection (A&M, catalog number D300Y3243).

The cover for Carpenters Live at The Palladium from the Carpenters Collection box set (A&M, catalog number D300Y3243-11).   This is the first CD issue of this album.

The cover for the Carpenters “Honolulu City Lights” 5″ CD single from the Carpenters Collection box set (A&M, catalog number D300Y3243-12).   The “B-side” is “Slow Dance”.  This disc represents the first release of these two songs on CD.

Carpenters A Kind of Hush CD from the Carpenters Collection box set (A&M, catalog number D300Y3243-7).  The disc was pressed by CBS/Sony.  It has “CSR” stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “D300Y-3243-7 21A2 +++++”.