When we consider early Japanese CD pressings, we are normally concerned with discs released in the U.S., European, and Japanese markets. In many cases, unique Japanese pressings were produced for each of these primary CD markets. For smaller markets in the early days of the format, one of these primary issues would be imported for resale. In some rare instances, a Japanese pressing for one of the primary markets was issued with inserts specific to the smaller market. Here, we consider such a release in Canada.

At the dawn of the CD format, Canada often received U.S. releases as imports, complete with U.S. inserts. However, CBS Records, in the mid-’80s, printed inserts specific to the Canadian market. Prior to CD production starting up in Canada, CBS released Japanese CBS/Sony or U.S. DADC pressings with the Canadian inserts. Generally speaking, these “mixed” releases are quite rare.

Nearly 11 years ago, we reviewed a Japan-for-Canada issue of Santana’s 1981 album, Zebop! (go here). For this post, let’s look at a similar issue of the famous acoustic guitar trio, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco De Lucia, Friday Night in San Francisco.

1981’s Friday Night in San Francisco brings together three of the greatest guitarists of all time for a mostly live performance. Consisting of five tracks, Di Meola, McLaughlin, and De Lucia are in top form, feeding off of one another for a serious and also fun set. Sheer brilliance.

CBS/Sony made Friday Night in San Francisco one of its first CD releases in Japan in 1982 under catalog number 35DP 9. A rare Japan-for-U.S. issue followed soon after on the Columbia label, with the disc showing the Japanese catalog number in the matrix code. Even rarer than the Japan-for-U.S. release is the Japan-for-Canada issue. As was typical for CBS, this Canadian issue of Friday Night in San Francisco borrows the U.S. catalog number, CK 37152.

The early Canadian issue features a Japanese CBS/Sony pressing, the same one issued in the U.S. The disc has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35DP-9 91A2”. The project number “DIDP 50009”, derived from the Japanese catalog number, is printed beneath the U.S. catalog number at 3 o’clock. “MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN” is printed along the perimeter.

The inserts are unique to Canada. The back insert states “Distributed by CBS Records Canada Ltd.” in English and French. Most of the text is printed in English.

Shown below is the cover and back insert for the early Canadian issue of Friday Night in San Francisco, along with the Japanese CBS/Sony pressing.

The cover for the original Canadian issue of Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia Friday Night in San Francisco (Columbia, catalog number CK 37152). This is the standard cover artwork for this album.

The back insert for the original Canadian issue of Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia Friday Night in San Francisco (Columbia, catalog number CK 37152). Note the text “Distributed by CBS Records Canada Ltd.” printed in English and French along the bottom.

The Japan-for-U.S. pressing of Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia Friday Night in San Francisco (Columbia, catalog number CK 37152). This disc was issued with the above Canadian inserts. The disc has “CSR COMPACT DISC” repeating in the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “35DP-9 91A2”.