Question regarding Serial numbers on CDs.

I am currently cataloging my music collection onto the Keep Trak Music Library software and I am seeing a huge number of single CDs with the serial number ending with -2 (example= 924192-2). This is done by numerous companies. Does anyone know why? I'm just curious. Thanks.

Steve

 

Just a catalog number in general as far as I'm aware. Maybe Steve or one of the other industry folks here can give you a better answer than mine.

 

The -2 designates CD version, -4 cassette, and -1 LP.

 

from http://www.howstuffworks.com/upc.htm
manufacturer identification number is the the first six digits of the UPC number. The next five digits are the item number
The last digit of the UPC code is called a check digit. This digit lets the scanner determine if it scanned the number correctly or not

 

That number looks like a Universal/Polygram catalog number. I believe older catalog numbers are longer, with first 4 digits being a designation for a particular artist.

 

Correct. But, UPC numbers for music generally follow the pattern I described. Check your CD, LPs and cassettes and report back.

 

What about CD's with only 4 numbers?

 

What does -3 denote?

 

Not sure I follow, can you give an example.

I've never seen the -3 designation regularly. Do you have any examples?

 

Groove Note GRV1021-3 Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd "Tango"
Groove Note GRV1012-3 Eden Atwood "Waves - The Bossa Nova Sessions"
Groove Note GRV1022-3 Eden Atwood "This Is Always - The Ballad Session"
Groove Note GRV1015-3 The Ray Brown Trio "Soular Energy"
Groove Note GRV1009-3 The Bill Cunliffe Trio "Live at Bernie's"

etc

These are SACDs.

 

Geoff,

Hmmm. Those would appear to be more of an in-house Groove Note designation catalog number. Any examples where the -3 is actually part of the bar code i.e. how the -2 is used on most every CD?

 

I don't record bar codes in my listings. I don't see those numbers as that useful. Sorry I misinterpreted the question.

 

Actually Geoff, you were on the money. It's Sam that's confused. Look at the first post, he's talking catalog numbers and not UPC codes.

 

Well, not necessarily. Pull out just about any CD...hang on I'll grab one....

OK, first CD within reach: Robert Plant Fate of Nations 7 92264-2

Now I'll bet if you find a cassette version, the catalog number will be 7 99264-4, and the LP 7 99264-1.

 

Oh I know there are some that are very long like your chosen Robert Plant, but then there's the short ones like I own. Example, Canadian pressing of Jackson Browne Running On Empty cat # CD 113. I can't imagine the US. cat. # would be much different. Then there's the WB Deep Purple Machine Head which has the same cat #'s in both Canada and the US. CD 3100. How do you explain that one?

 

I have a few to look at...

Cocteau Twins: Treasure
The CD, CAD 412
The LP, CAD 412

No barcode on either one. But then both are the UK 4AD releases.

And then there's Chuck Mangione's Feels So Good, CD 3219. The barcode does have 7502-13219-2.

The original post was just about the catalog numbers, but they are obviously tied to the barcode too when used. Many CD's do in fact end in a "-2", mostly being WB related discs

 

Well Dave, the -2 rule doesn't hold true for everything under the sun, but I will make a quick rundown of artists I have on CD where this holds true (no particular order):

Metallica - Elektra
Elvis - BMG
Led Zep - Atlantic
Eric Clapton -Polydor/Reprise
Beatles - Capitol
Alice In Chains - Columbia (barcode only)
U2 - Island
Oasis - Columbia (barcode only)
Pink Floyd - Capitol
Van Halen - Warner
Hendrix -Reprise/EH
Joe Jackson - A&M
Tom Petty -Warner
David Bowie - RCA (Barcode only)
Dire Straits - Warner
....and we could go on and on....

Just trying to she some light on the original question "This is done by numerous companies. Does anyone know why? I'm just curious. "

 

Sorry, Dave, but both of those adhere to the -2 extension here: 113-2 for the Jackson Browne, and 3100-2 for the Deep Purple (this goes for all WEA titles betwen US/Canada, AFAIK - CD ___ up north, ___-2 down here). In the catalog number, I believe it was originally just for ease of demarcation between various formats in a numerical way, thus it could also be used in a bar code and contain the same information (note that many barcodes, though not all, contain the catalog number - some catalog numbers, like EMI's, expanded to include ALL of the barcode information!).