When the CD format was launched in 1982, a key target audience were audiophiles who were frustrated with the labor and pop and clicks encountered in playing vinyl records and the wear and poor fidelity encountered in playing cassettes. While one could debate the merits and limitations of the various music formats, I will not do that here. Suffice it to say, the CD format was targeted towards audiophiles. Many audiophiles were classical music enthusiasts, and as such, many major classical music labels embraced the new digital format from the beginning. One was the British Nimbus label.

Years prior to producing CDs, Nimbus developed a reputation for their well-recorded and well-mastered classical music records. Many of these records were recorded, mastered, and manufactured at Nimbus’ facility in Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, Great Britain. In 1982, Nimbus rode the digital wave and began to release CDs, albeit on a limited basis to test market acceptance.

The first Nimbus CD released was a promotional sampler from 1982 entitled Nimbus Natural Sound. This sampler contains 12 classical music works and was released under catalog number NIM 5001. The CD was pressed in West Germany at the Polygram plant and was one of just a handful of Nimbus titles pressed in West Germany. The early West German Nimbus CDs are quite rare. In 1984, Nimbus added CD manufacturing to the Wyastone Leys facility and used it to greatly expand its catalog on CD.

Shown below is the Nimbus Natural Sound sampler CD and the accompanying inserts. Important details are outlined in the figure captions.

The cover for the Nimbus Natural Sound promotional CD sampler (catalog number NIM 5001). Shown is the Nimbus recording studio and pressing plant in Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, Great Britain.

The back cover of the booklet for the Nimbus Natural Sound promotional CD sampler (catalog number NIM 5001). Provided is information on Nimbus Records, including their approach to producing recorded music. As noted in the third paragraph, Nimbus would open its own CD pressing facility in the U.K. in 1984.

The back insert for the Nimbus Natural Sound promotional CD sampler (catalog number NIM 5001). The track list is shown. Note the promotional statement at the bottom next to the CD format logo.

The Nimbus Natural Sound promotional CD sampler (catalog number NIM 5001). The disc states “Made in West Germany” at 9 o’clock, and the matrix code is “NIM 5001 2893006 01”. Also note the statement “Produced in collaboration with PHILIPS” above the CD format logo at 9 o’clock. Philips co-invented the CD with Sony.

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2012 at keithhirsch.com!

Most Target CDs, as early issues, were pressed in West Germany or Japan.  However, perusing this site, you will see a handful of U.S. Target pressings sprinkled about.  The U.S. PDO (Philips-DuPont Optical) plant pressed some CDs early on with the Target motif.  Generally speaking, these U.S. pressings are very rare.  Some of them bear the same color schemes as their earlier West German or Japanese counterparts, while other U.S. pressings have unique color schemes.  Here, we focus on one of the unique rarities.

Let’s consider Neil Young’s 1972 blockbuster, Harvest.  With the hits “Heart of Gold”, “Old Man”, and “The Needle and the Damage Done”, Harvest was an obvious choice for WEA to put on CD at the beginning.  As such, there are West German and Japanese Target pressings that were released jointly on the Warner Bros. and Reprise labels under catalog number 2277-2.  The West German Target CD is not terribly rare and has a red target and silver paint coating, the typical color scheme used for Target CDs on the Warner Bros. label.  As it turns out, there are two U.S. Target CD pressings of Harvest for collectors to consider.

The more common of the two U.S. pressings has the same color scheme as the West German pressing — red target with silver paint coating.  However, a very rare pressing has the colors reversed.  Thus, it has a silver target and red coating.  In this sense, it resembles the color scheme used for Elektra titles.  It took me quite awhile to track down this “Reverse” U.S. Target pressing.  It is not known if this Reverse Target is a test pressing or was simply made in error.

Shown below is the Reverse Target pressing of Harvest and the accompanying inserts.

The cover for the “Reverse” U.S. Target pressing of Neil Young Harvest (Warner Bros./Reprise catalog number 2277-2).  This is the same cover found with other releases of the album.

The back insert for the Reverse U.S. Target pressing of Neil Young Harvest (Warner Bros./Reprise catalog number 2277-2).  This insert was printed in the U.S., and there is no barcode.

A spine label for the Reverse U.S. Target pressing of Neil Young Harvest (Warner Bros./Reprise catalog number 2277-2).  The original European catalog number, 244 131, is also shown.  This spine label is found with other Target pressings of Harvest. 

The Reverse U.S. Target pressing of Neil Young Harvest (Warner Bros./Reprise catalog number 2277-2).  The color scheme resembles the one used for West German Target pressings on the Elektra label.  Note the Warner Bros. label at 9 o’clock.  As shown above, the inserts reference the Reprise label.  The same label discrepancy is seen with West German Target pressings of Harvest.  The matrix code for this U.S. pressing is “7599 02277-2 2893 223 05”.

Happy Holidays!  It’s time yet again to celebrate the holiday season on keithhirsch.com with an early Christmas CD.  This year, we grace this site with a compilation from one of the great crooners — Bing Crosby.  In 1986, MCA Records released Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs on CD in the U.S. (catalog number MCAD-5765).  The original version to hit store shelves back in ’86 was pressed in Japan.

This CD features 14 Christmas classics that Crosby recorded with Decca Records, including his staple, “White Christmas”.  Track 15 is a recorded holiday greeting that Crosby and others gave to employees of Decca in 1940.  This CD was compiled and remastered by well-known mastering engineer Steve Hoffman, and the back cover of the booklet states “RESTORED TO THE ORIGINAL MONO FROM THE DECCA MASTERS”.  As a result, this CD sounds outstanding.  Crosby’s baritone is warm and rich on this CD.  It is trite in the audiophile world, but this CD has that “in-the-room” feel.

The original CD issue of Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs was pressed in Japan by JVC.  While the Japanese pressing is difficult to find, this compilation stayed in print for many years, and U.S. pressings are rather common.

Shown below is the cover and back insert for Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs.  Also shown is the original Japanese pressing.

Warm wishes to all of you this holiday season.

The cover for Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs (MCA, catalog number MCAD-5765).

The back insert for Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs (MCA, catalog number MCAD-5765). 

The Japanese pressing of Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs (MCA, catalog number MCAD-5765).  The disc was pressed by JVC, and the matrix code is “MCAD-5765-U1E11”.  Note the paragraph at 4 o’clock that states “COMPILED AND REMASTERED BY STEVE HOFFMAN.  RESTORED TO THE ORIGINAL MONO FROM THE DECCA MASTERS.”

1978 saw a three-man band from the U.K. break onto the music scene with a fresh punk/rock/reggae sound and creative, insecure, honest, and sometimes humorous lyrics. That band, of course, is none other than The Police, led by frontman Sting and joined by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. Their debut album, the distinctively titled Outlandos d’Amour, contained the hits and still widely played “So Lonely”, “Roxanne”, and “Can’t Stand Losing You”.

So, what about Outlandos d’Amour on CD? With The Police’s popularity in overdrive when the CD format was launched globally in 1983, it should be no surprise that their record label, A&M, wasted little time getting their music out on the shiny silver discs. For collectors of early CD pressings, there are many interesting Japanese and West German Police pressings to seek out (the first Japanese issue of Synchronicity was featured here in September of 2007; click here). Getting back to Outlandos d’Amour, let’s have a look at the first European issue, a rather unique early CD.

When A&M released their first CDs in Europe in 1983-84, they partnered with CBS/Sony. As such, these early A&M CDs resemble the early European CBS/Sony releases. They have the same label design and similar catalog number formats — a CDA prefix and five-digit suffix is common for A&M titles and CDCBS, CDEPC, and similar prefixes with five-digit suffixes are found for CBS/Sony titles. These early A&M titles were, therefore, pressed in Japan by CBS/Sony. Examples of A&M titles resembling CBS/Sony releases are Joe Jackson Night and Day (catalog number CDA 64906) and Styx Paradise Theater (catalog number CDA 63719).

The original European issue of Outlandos d’Amour is an unusual one. It doesn’t fit the mold described above. It has a CBS/Sony-like catalog number — CDA 68502 — and the back insert states that the disc was pressed by CBS/Sony in Japan. However, the actual disc was pressed in Japan by JVC. What’s more, the disc bears the original U.S. catalog number, CD-4753. Despite showing the U.S. catalog number, the disc is a unique pressing that was never actually issued in the U.S. It is only found with the European CDA 68502 inserts. The disc also bears ID number “DIDP 10180”, which is not found on U.S. issues.

I have never seen a Japanese CBS/Sony pressing of Outlandos d’Amour for the European market. Additionally, I have never seen an Outlandos d’Amour CD bearing catalog number CDA 68502. The Japan-for-Europe issue described here is unique and is very rare in my experience.

Shown below are the inserts for the Japan-for-Europe issue of Outlandos d’Amour and the CD.

The cover for the Japan-for-Europe CD issue of The Police Outlandos d’Amour (A&M, catalog number CDA 68502). This is the same cover found with other releases of the album.

The back insert for the Japan-for-Europe CD issue of The Police Outlandos d’Amour (A&M, catalog number CDA 68502). There is no barcode. The copyright paragraph at the bottom states that the disc was made in Japan by CBS/Sony, while it was actually pressed in Japan by JVC.

A spine label for the Japan-for-Europe CD issue of The Police Outlandos d’Amour (A&M, catalog number CDA 68502). With the exception of the different font for the catalog number, it resembles the spine label for the original U.S. CD issue.

The Japan-for-Europe CD of The Police Outlandos d’Amour (A&M, catalog number CDA 68502). The disc was pressed by JVC and bears the original U.S. catalog number, CD-4753. This disc was not issued in the U.S. Note “DIDP 10180” printed beneath the catalog number at 6 o’clock. This DIDP number is unique to the European issue. The matrix code is “DIDP 10180 2E11”.

1986 saw the release of piano player Bruce Hornsby’s debut blockbuster album with his band, The Range, entitled The Way It Is.  The album is famous for its three hits, “Mandolin Rain”, “Every Little Kiss”, and, of course, the thought-provoking title track.  While you may be very familiar with the album, you may not be aware of the rare first issue on CD, which was quickly replaced with the version we all know.

The standard U.S. CD of The Way It Is was released in 1986 and remains in print under RCA catalog number PCD1-5904.  Since it was released in 1986, the first copies that hit store shelves were pressed in Japan.  Numerous U.S. pressings have followed.  Before this version was released, however, RCA issued The Way It Is on CD in the U.S. under catalog number PCD1-8058.  The 8058 issue only exists as a Japanese pressing since it was replaced quickly by the 5904 issue.  This rare disc was pressed in Japan by Denon and contains “PCD-18058” in the matrix code.

There are key differences between the two versions of the album: The 8058 issue has a unique album cover and also has unique versions of the songs “Down the Road Tonight” and “The River Runs Low”.  It is possible that RCA reissued the album as PCD1-5904 to capitalize on its popularity back in 1986.

It should be noted that there are variations in the booklet content with the 8058 issue.  Some copies are found with a list of “RCA COMPACT DISC BEST SELLERS” inside, while other copies have a booklet that folds open to reveal album artwork and lyrics.  The album covers are the same for the two 8058 booklets.

The back insert for the 5904 issue references the first version through the statement “Previously released as PCD1-8058”.  Shown below is the album cover and back insert along with the CD for the original 8058 issue.  This disc is quite rare, but it can be found in used CD shops and online with persistence.

The cover for the rare first U.S. CD issue of Bruce Hornsby and The Range The Way It Is (RCA, catalog number PCD1-8058).  The cover was changed when the album was reissued under catalog number PCD1-5904.

The back insert for the rare first U.S. CD issue of Bruce Hornsby and The Range The Way It Is (RCA, catalog number PCD1-8058).  The photo shown here was used for the cover of the common reissue with catalog number PCD1-5904.

The rare first U.S. CD issue of Bruce Hornsby and The Range The Way It Is (RCA, catalog number PCD1-8058).  The disc was pressed in Japan by Denon.  The matrix code contains “PCD-18058” in the typical Denon plant dot-matrix font.

A jazz album that belongs on any enthusiast’s shelf is the 1957 western-themed collection by Sonny Rollins appropriately titled Way Out West. This album is a classic down to the cover photo of Rollins standing in the desert donning his tenor sax and western duds.

Fantasy, Inc./Contemporary Records released the first issues of this saxohphone must-have on CD in 1986 in Europe and Japan. CD buyers were treated to three bonus tracks, alternate takes of three tracks from the album. Thus, these early CDs have nine tracks instead of the standard six. Fantasy/Contemporary drew attention to the extra tracks by titling these first issues Way Out West Plus. Additionally, the label used an alternate photo of Rollins from the desert shoot for the cover.

As stated, Way Out West Plus was released on CD in 1986 in Europe and Japan. The European issue was released under catalog number CDCOP 006 and was pressed in West Germany. The Japanese issue was released under catalog number VDJ-1551 and was pressed in Japan. After these early CDs went out of print, consumers for years were left with various releases of the standard six-track album until a remaster in 2009 brought back the three alternate takes. (The remaster, however, is titled Way Out West and uses the standard cover photo.)

Shown below is the unique cover for Way Out West Plus, the back insert showing the track list, and the West German and Japanese pressings. The Japanese pressing is popular with collectors, but the West German pressing is rarer in my experience.

The cover for the European issue of Sonny Rollins Way Out West Plus (Contemporary, catalog number CDCOP 006). This CD was released in 1986. The cover features a different photo than the standard one used for Way Out West. The original Japanese issue of Way Out West Plus has the same cover except that “WAY OUT WEST PLUS” is printed in black instead of red.

The back insert for the Japanese issue of of Sonny Rollins Way Out West Plus (Contemporary, catalog number VDJ-1551). This CD was released in 1986. The yellow sticker is a U.S. distribution sticker and is adhered to the back of the jewel case. As noted, there are nine tracks, including three alternate takes. The original European issue has the same nine tracks and the same running order. Standard versions of Way Out West are missing the alternate takes.

The West German pressing Sonny Rollins Way Out West Plus for the European market (Contemporary, catalog number CDCOP 006). This disc was pressed by Sonopress, and the matrix code is “B-8347 / CDCOP 006 B”.

The Japanese issue of Sonny Rollins Way Out West Plus (Contemporary, catalog number VDJ-1551). This disc was pressed by JVC, and the matrix code is “VDJ-1551-1-S3D23”.

Over the years, I have featured several rare Target CDs here, including some unusual color variations.  You will find examples both in posts and in the Target CD Galleries.  Two years ago, I posted about a rare “reverse” color variation of U2 War.  A few others exist, and in my experience, reverse Target CDs are very rare.  It is not clear whether these pressings were made in error or if WEA made them in limited quantities as test pressings to evaluate different color schemes.  Regardless, they are very rare.  Similar to the U2 disc, we feature here a reverse Target CD of The Best of Carly Simon (Elektra, catalog number 109-2).

Nothing really needs to be said of this wonderful compilation that hasn’t already been said elsewhere, so let’s get to the discs.  First, the Target pressings were made in West Germany by Polygram.  The standard pressing, which can be found online without great difficulty, bears the typical Elektra color scheme, meaning a silver target and orange paint coating.  The text is printed in silver.  For the reverse Target pressing, then, we see an orange target with a silver paint coating.  The text is printed in black for this variation. 

The inserts are identical for the two pressings and were printed in West Germany.  The matrix codes are also identical for the two discs — “7559 00109-2 2893 279 01”.

It took me several years to track down the reverse Carly Simon pressing.  Whatever the reason WEA pressed it, it seems they did not press many copies.  If you go searching for it, you will likely encounter many standard Target copies along the way, not to mention piles upon piles of Non-Target pressings that are always to be found in used CD shops.  Still, I am aware of a few other reverse copies aside from the one in my collection, so it is out there.

Shown below are both Target pressings of The Best of Carly Simon.

The standard West German Target pressing of Carly Simon The Best of Carly Simon (Elektra, catalog number 109-2).   The disc bears the standard Target color scheme for the Elektra label.  The European catalog number, 252 025, is shown beneath the U.S. catalog number at 9 o’clock.

The rare “reverse” West German Target pressing of Carly Simon The Best of Carly Simon (Elektra, catalog number 109-2).   Compared to the disc shown above, the colors of the target and paint coating are reversed.

Classical and orchestral music have not gotten a lot of “airtime” on keithhirsch.com, and that’s unfortunate.  It’s not that I am averse to these genres.  I am not.  In fact, I have a fair number of early classical and orchestral CDs and enjoy listening to them.  So it’s high time that I give an excellent orchestral CD its due.  This one is a bit unique.

Featured here is Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa, performed by The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of legendary conductor Erich Kunzel.  The specific pressing of interest was released in 1984 on the Moss Music Group (MMG) label under catalog number MCD 10005.  The disc was pressed in Japan.  (Yes, given that it is a Sousa CD, I should have posted this for July 4th.  Unfortunately, I didn’t obtain it until July 8th!) 

As a CD released in 1984, there is evidence of it being an early pressing.  It was pressed by Matsushita.  As is only seen on the earliest such pressings, the disc has the text “MADE BY MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND.CO.,LTD.” and the Technics electronics brand logo stamped on the plastic ring (Technics was owned by Matushita).  The matrix code is simply “MCD-10005 3”.

When I spotted the spine label for this CD in a bin at a used CD shop, I immediately identified it as an early issue.  So I opened the jewel case and was pleased to see the early Matsushita pressing (these pressings aren’t so easy to find).  However, something struck me as being odd when I looked at the booklet cover.  There were impressions as though someone had written inside the booklet.  I have found used CDs over the years with handwritten blurbs, track times, or markings to highlight preferred songs.  This was different.  I could see that the writing was in the form of large, sweeping cursive.  So I thought to myself, could the booklet be autographed?

Next I opened the booklet, and lo and behold, it was signed “To Tim Best Wishes Erich Kunzel” in black ink.  That’s not something I see every day.  What a bonus!  The collector might ask whether the signature increases the value of this disc.  Probably not.  Maybe a little.  That doesn’t really concern me.  I just like the fact that it is autographed by one of the great conductors of the 20th and early 21st centuries, making this a unique and likely one-of-a-kind copy of this early Sousa CD.

Shown below are the Sousa inserts and CD, as well as the autographed page.  This just goes to show that you never know what you will find in the bins.

The cover for the early Japanese pressing of Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa (MMG, catalog number MCD 10005).

The back insert for the early Japanese pressing of Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa (MMG, catalog number MCD 10005).  As noted along the bottom, it is dated 1984 and was printed in Japan.

A spine label for the early Japanese pressing of Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa (MMG, catalog number MCD 10005).

The early Japanese pressing of Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa (MMG, catalog number MCD 10005).  The disc was pressed by Matsushita.  It has “MADE BY MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND.CO.,LTD.” and the Technics logo stamped on the plastic ring, and the matrix code is “MCD-10005 3”.  Note that the disc states “Made in Japan” below the CD format logo at 3 o’clock.  It is dated 1984 along the perimeter.

The inside front cover of the booklet for Peaches and Cream: Dances and Marches by John Philip Sousa (MMG, catalog number MCD 10005) autographed by conductor Erich Kunzel.  It is signed “To Tim Best Wishes Erich Kunzel”.  Shown also is the next page of the booklet.