do you know when it was made; I mean the year of pressing of this Swiss Master, I think It is a later re-release. Maybe You know it cheers
The Swiss #01 silver Elektra for Picture Book I have I believe was for the US market before SRC went online Smooth sided jewel, Patent Pending. Clues indicate 1985 is going to be the pressing date for this one
We had a couple threads about CDs pressed in Switzerland and their timeline, with some great info; courtesy of forum member @ffracer Phil Collins Face Value CD Made in Switzerland ? » Made In Switzerland?? Hearbeat City by The Cars » As for the Simply Red disc, I believe it dates back from 1985 and possibly one or two years later. All the "Picture Book" CDs I've seen were mostly manufactured in West Germany or Germany. Again, regarding Swiss CDs, the most "recent" one I've seen is a 1989 title, "Mascalzone Latino" by the late Pino Daniele. I have never seen, or knew about, post-1989 CDs pressed in Switzerland. Hope it helps. edit: I've seen @c-eling replied already
so you mean by the number on the matrix such as 2895****? When I bought it on ebay I thought it was the west Germany Pressing, but when I noticed the bottom in the disc, I fell into uncertainty thanks for this info
To meet US demand, besides the West German for US, Swiss pressings could of been made as well. Uses the Polygram matrix style. Should match early Polygram W. German pressings Inserts are US Printed. Interestingly the booklet is somewhat shorter height wise than standard size
The Picture Book CD pressings are interesting. I'll add my two PolyGram copies to the list. Picture Book [CD][1985 Elektra {Barry Diament uncredited}][WG for US] Catalog Number CD: Elektra 960 452-2 Catalog Number Spine: Elektra 9 60452-2 Pressing: PolyGam WG (Aug 1982-Jan 1986) Label: MADE IN WEST GERMANY BY POLYGRAM Barcode: 0 7559-60452-2 Mastered By [CD]: Barry Diament uncredited Mastered By [LP]: Arun Chakraverty EAC: 100.0 / 100.0 / 88.7 / 74.5 / 83.8 / 86.9 / 62.7 / 76.0 / 86.8 / 86.7 Label Code: LC 0192 Matrix / Runout: 7559 960452-2 Matrix / Runout: 2895 879 01 * Other (Mastering Code): BZ QP (hand etched QP) Hub logo: silverfacehub Label Country: MADE IN WEST GERMANY BY POLYGRAM Label Series: Warner by PolyGram; Warner red ring Second copy is same except "Other (Mastering Code): A C (hand etched) Of other the copies, matrices, EACs, and catalog numbers I have found the following examples: Elektra WEA Germany International 7559-60452-2 (Matrix 755960452-2.3G WME) 99.8 / 99.9 / 88.7 / 74.4 / 83.9 / 86.8 / 62.4 / 76.1 / 86.6 / 86.5 Elektra Germany by Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf Matrix 960 452-2 SRC-01 86.9 / 82.4 / 79.4 / 62.9 / 77.2 / 88.8 / 66.3 / 77.4 / 91.8 / 82.9 Elektra WG Polygram 960 452 - 2 Matrix 7599 960 452-2 2895 879 02 # 86.9 / 82.4 / 79.4 / 62.9 / 77.2 / 88.8 / 66.3 / 77.4 / 91.8 / 82.9 Elektra US BMG Elektra 60452-2. SRC | artwork says EastWest Records 9 60452-2 86.9 / 82.4 / 79.4 / 62.9 / 77.2 / 88.8 / 66.3 / 77.4 / 91.8 / 82.9 EastWest 9031-76993-2 Made in Germany Matrix 903176993-2.3 WME IFPI 00607 98.9 / 98.4 / 100.0 / 96.8 / 97.4 / 99.8 / 93.5 / 100.0 / 98.7 / 98.2 Elektra WG Polygram 960 452-2 Matrix 7539 860452-2 2895 879 01 100.0 / 100.0 / 88.7 / 74.5 / 83.7 / 86.9 / 62.7 / 76.0/ 86.8 / 86.7 My guess is that the first CD glass master pressed was the PolyGram 2895 matrix. Note PolyGram general matrix codes for years are: PolyGram codes (289) for other labels 2891 = 1983 2892 = 1983 2893 = 1983 2894 = 1984 2895 = 1985 2896 = 1986 when it started pressing as PDO, Germany. 2897 = 1987 2898 = 1988 When PDO began operation, it undoubtedly used PolyGram glass masters likely with the newer style Other (Mastering Code): BZ QP (hand etched QP). IO assume it represents the newer stampers. Of the 111 cds I own pressed by PolyGram WG (Aug 1982-Jan 1986), 44 have a hand etched Other (Mastering Code), and 33 initial release dates fall withing the PolyGram WG (Aug 1982-Jan 1986) initial pressing period. Other notable glass master matrix general extension information generally in order of first year of appearance: 01 (without # * .) 02 (without # * .) 03 (without # * .) etc. 01 # 02 # 03 # etc. 01 * 02 * 03 * etc. 01. 02. 03. etc. Other (Mastering Codes) representing stamper appeared generally in the following order: 1st: Other (Mastering Code) representing stampers initially absent. 2nd: Other (Mastering Codes) appears as two letters hand etched typically in matrix band randomly located away from primary matrix 3rd: Other (Mastering Codes) appears as 2 + 2 letters hand etched appearing in two distinctly separate areas of matrix band 4th: Other (Mastering Codes) appears as 2 + 2 letters dot matrix (just to right of primary matrix) and hand etched letter in separate area of matrix band 5th: Other (Mastering Codes) appears as 2 letters dot matrix (just to right of primary matrix). Note that as far as I know, PolyGram only used letters for Other (Mastering Codes) and also used one letter verses two letters for Other (Mastering Codes). They can be very difficult to read and determine the letter intended. Actual examples of early PolyGram codes with hand etched Other (Mastering Codes): 400064 2 02 E F DQ 410021 2 01 BW TJ 800 091-2 02 # EH 811 835-2 01 # BG MA 824 381-2 01 * M NK 413 754-2 01. AG BIS-CD-272 2895 109 02 # KW 7599 25342-2 2895 818 01 * AY JG 7559 960452-2 2895 879 01 * C P 7559 960452-2 2895 879 01 * BX QP Based on the above information and that: Barry Diament stated that he did master the Picture Book CD Barry Diament mastered a lot of early WEA CDs Barry Diament did not receive mastering credit on all CDs Arun Chakraverty seems likely to be the LP credit Arun Chakraverty seems to have mastered few if any CDs. The Picture Book PolyGram 7559 960452-2 2895 879 01 * matrix is for 1985 PolyGram pressed the 7559 960452-2 2895 879 01 * matrix for prior to 1st Gen SRC (Sep 1986-Jul 1987) I assigned the mastering to Barry Diament uncredited. I'm not sure it's definitive or can be proven, but I'm using it until new information comes along. Thanks to all the forum folks who provided me with background information on PolyGram, Barry Diament, SRC, Simply Red, Picture Book and all the participants of this specific thread.
update There is an Alsdorf pressing of the Switserland/Polygram master: 960 452-2 Elektra Germany by Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf. Matrix: RECORD SERVICE/960452-2 03 100.0 / 100.0 / 88.7 / 74.5 / 83.8 / 86.9 / 62.7 / 76.0/ 86.8 / 86.7 Silver from edge to center hole.
Anyone discussing the 25th Ann. edition of the STARS album on vinyl? How is it compared to the original etc?
Ok but which mastering of Picture Book is the best sounding? I have the original 1985 WG press, wonder if the 1992 Grundman remaster sounds better?
Simply Red Release Dates: Picture Book 11 Oct 1985 Men and Women 09 Mar 1987 A New Flame 13 Feb 1989 Stars 30 Oct 1991 You've Got It single Oct 1989 (A New Flame album) Both "A New Flame" and "Stars" credit the Mastering Engineer as Bernie Grundman The single "You've Got It" Elektra – 9 66663-2 Maxi-Single credits Barry Diament on the Back of CD (traycard). per Essential Barry Diament masterings Post #723 Simply Red - Men And Women If memory serves, I also did "Picture Book" and after I left Atlantic, the CD single for "You've Got It" (four songs total including a live "Holding Back the Years" and "I Wish"). and Essential Barry Diament masterings #839 pig whisperer said: The credit for Simply Red's "Men And Women" on the All Music site is Ted Jensen. Could this be for the LP? Is there a credit in the CD booklet? Barry, there isn't a credit for the "A New Flame" album on All Music - you did the four track "You've Got It" single from this album - and I wonder if you also did the album? Simply Red - "You've Got It" CD single (four songs total including a live "Holding Back the Years" and "I Wish"). Simply Red - A New Flame (A New Flame - Simply Red | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic ??) Diament response to pig whisperer: I definitely did the EP (after Atlantic). As to the ones while at Atlantic, again, I must invoke the memory issue but if I'm correct, in addition to the first album "Picture Book" (which I definitely remember - one of those exceptions that stayed in memory), I think I might have done "Stars", "A New Flame" and "Men and Women" (Ted J did the vinyl). I know I did a bunch of Simply Red CDs. Since Diament left Atlantic in 1987 and "A New Flame" (1989) and "Stars" (1991) were released later, the Bernie Grundman credit on both their initial releases seems solid. So I have no evidence that later CDs were mastered by Diament. Prehaps there exists a reissue or later release with his mastering.
Picture Book - Elektra 960 452-2 with full silver face Matrix: 7559 960452-2 2895 079 02 # GV The interesting aspect (dates) may be the hub inscription ‘MADE IN W. GERMANY BY PDO HANOVER’ With Other; 86.9 / 82.4 / 79.4 / 62.9 / 77.2 / 88.8 / 66.3 / 77.4 / 91.8 / 82.9
I have an early German CD with those peak levels and it sounds amazing! I found a DADC yesterday that has different peaks and sounds a bit brighter, more digital. I don't think the peak levels have been posted yet, so here they are: US DADC 89/84.3/81.2/64.3/79/90.9/67.9/79.2/93.9/84.8
Nice find George, that Swiss for US is the only Picture Book I've ever come across out and about! I forgot about this thread
Funny thing, I already owned and loved the WG (same mastering as your Swiss CD) and saw a DADC and a Swiss CD for cheap in a used store. Since I never heard anything about Swiss CDs and I like a lot of my DADC CDs, I bought the latter.
Michigan must of still been in it's cassette phase Man it's like a lottery if I ever run into doubles of something (WG/Japan) related.
Yeah, it doesn't happen to me often either, but its sweet when it does. I can recall a few times where I had like ten different copies of a given used CD to choose from. That was the glory days of Princeton Record Exchange.
Still not quite sure which one is the Diament mastering, since the German disc credits Arun Chakraverty... or maybe I'm lost. What are the peak values for a confirmed Diament Picture Book?