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CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

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andrew fischer
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CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Hi all,

Does anybody know exactly when and for which territory was Chris Rea's very first CD album released?

It is well known that the very 1st CD single was Let's Dance CDMAG 299 released in mid 1987.

At the same time, along with CD issue of Dancing with Strangers, earlier albums of Chris were reissued on CDs (CDMAG 50**) presumably in 1987, just about time Magnet became part of WEA (East/West)

On the Beach album was released in Japan on CD in 1986, along with some earlier albums. Moreover, On the Beach MAG 294D UK Double 7'' proposes a CD issue of the brand the album (cat.# CDMAG5069) on the back cover (while all other releases only propose a vinyl LP release). So it seems there really were CD issues before 1987.

But I suspect the very 1st CD issue of a CR album is Shamrock Diaries for Germany and pan-European market, cat.# 825 539-2 and it contains original album version of Josephine (which was believed to appear only on one CD - Herzklopfen), the same as on the original vinyl LP, unlike WEA reissue, cat. # 242 274-2, which is said to be released in 1991 and where the so called French re-record dated Feb 87 is put with wrong time running mentoned and one verse mentoned in the booklet unplayed (though producer pair is mentioned correctly in the liner notes).

To add more, Josephine 7" single for Germany, which is believed to be released 18.05.1985 proposes along with LP and casette, this very CD issue, on the back cover. This single contains 3-35 re-mix version recorded in 1985 and used in extended mix for 12" singles and video released in 1985.

Does anybody own this Shamrock Diaries CD # 825 539-2 to check which version of Josephine is put on it? Or another early CD issue cat. # 610.421? My vinyl copy of Shamrock Diaries, 3rd european press, proposes this CD issue on the back cover, and so does Dutch 7" Josephine single.

But there are some doubts which add more to the confusion.
Both these mentioned CD issues have reference to the matrix with number (82*-***) close to the ones used for 1987 CDMAG 50** reissue series. I am not sure of the version of Josephine used on the Dutch 7" as I do not own it, and my mp3 fan copy of the edit-remix-version (3-45), which is mentioned on this single, turns out to be French re-record (3-54) from WEA Shamrock reissue and 1987 French singles, reduced to 3-45 (the same time mentoned on Dutch 7" and MAG 280 UK 7") by cutting out the acoustic guitar intro. This mp3 fan copy is 100% from a vinyl as the certain scratch is heard. I cannot figure out which release may feature this 3-45 French cut as the singles which mention 3-45 for Josephine contain the re-mix version from 1985 (same to 3-35 / 3-53 / 3-55 versions)

I spent some hours to sort things out and got conpletely comfused...

Thanks a lot to everyone who read this and can help anyhow,

Best regards
Andrey
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by Jim M »

Hi Andrey
My 1st CD is Whatever Happened to Benny Santini.
I'm not sure if it was a rerelease but it shows a release date of 1978 (only date on CD or liner notes)
Magnet records 2292-42368-2YG France CA 835
Also if you go to discography @ http://www.chrisrea.biz he shows this CD.
I find this the best listing of C.R. releases I can find but it is extremely difficult to find all the versions of CD's & album release.
My Shamrock Diaries is shown @ above web site 1985 Magnet 2292-42374-2YG France and he also shows a VPD-1023 CD .
Jim
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Hi Jim, thank for your reply,
Jim M wrote:Hi Andrey
My 1st CD is Whatever Happened to Benny Santini.
I'm not sure if it was a rerelease but it shows a release date of 1978 (only date on CD or liner notes)
Magnet records 2292-42368-2YG France CA 835
The 1st world public CD release ever was in 1981-82, and CD format did not attract much public attention until 1985. So the 1st CR album technically could not be released on CD back in 1978, as well as the next 5 CR albums up to Wired to the Moon.

Your 2292-42368-2YG France CA 835 CD issue is from 1991 WEA reissue series ( cat.# 2292-4***-2 for CDs and WX *** for vinyl LPs). What causes confusion is the fact that most reissues put only the year of original recording (P) 19** without putting the year of the issue (C) 19** and it is often hard to find out the year of a certain issue.
Jim M wrote:Also if you go to discography @ http://www.chrisrea.biz he shows this CD.
I find this the best listing of C.R. releases I can find but it is extremely difficult to find all the versions of CD's & album release.
My Shamrock Diaries is shown @ above web site 1985 Magnet 2292-42374-2YG France and he also shows a VPD-1023 CD .
Jim
Yes, Ronald's site is the best ever public reference source for CR records, with no doubt, though it is still not full and precise. And yes, I forgot about Japanese CD release VPD-1023, it obviously predates On the Beach VDP-1119 release from 1986, so must be issued in 1985 as well! But I still have to double-check.

Thanks a lot again for further comments on this,

best regards
Andrey
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Hi all.

I finally have managed to make sure that 1st Japanese Shamrock Diaries CD was issued back in 1985 and thus contains the original (LP) album version of Josephine (4.26).

All Japanese CDs issued prior to 1992 have a letter-code identifier for the exact year of the issue. For Shamrock Diaries VDP-1023 this code is 'I' which means in comes from 1985. Thus, this issue is the very 1st CD release of a CR album. I still suspect first European CD releases come from 1985 as well.

As an avid fan of Japanese CD sound, I have made a seemingly complete list of all Japanese CD issues of CR works with exact relese dates:

International albums released on CD in Japan

1985-07-21 VDP-1023 Shamrock Diaries
1986-08-25 VDP-1119 On the Beach
1986-10-21 VDP-1144 Whatever Happened
1986-10-21 VDP-1145 Tennis
1986-10-21 VDP-1146 Wired to the Moon
1987-09-15 VDP-1232 Dancing with Strangers
1987-09-01 VDP-1233 Deltics
1987-09-01 VDP-1234 Chris Rea
1987-09-01 VDP-1235 Water Sign
1988-11-07 VDP-1370 New Light
1989-12-06 VDP-1516 The Road to Hell
1991-04-21 VICP-5041 Auberge (Victor Musical Industries)
1991-07-25 WMC5-401 Auberge (WEA K.K. / M.M.G. inc. reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-402 Whatever Happened (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-403 Deltics (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-404 Tennis (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-405 Chris Rea (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-406 Water Sign (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-407 Wired to the Moon (2nd reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-408 Shamrock Diaries (reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-409 On the Beach (reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-410 Dancing with Strangers (reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-411 New Light (reissue)
1991-07-25 WMC5-412 The Road to Hell (reissue)
1992-12-10 AMCE-498 God’s Great Banana Skin
1993-12-21 AMCE-637 Espresso Logic
1994-11-30 AMCE-769 The Best of
1996-12-21 AMCE-951 La Passione
1997-06-25 AMCE-2222 The Best of (reissue)
1997-11-25 AMCE-3020 On the Beach (2nd reissue)
1998-02-25 AMCE-2520 The Blue Cafe
1999-11-10 AMCE-7098 The Road to Hell Part II
2000-10-25 AMCE-7208 King of the Beach
2001-11-28 AMCE-7307 The Very Best of
2003-03-21 VICP-62249 Stony Road
2004-03-24 VICP-62638 Blue Jukebox
2005-11-23 WPCR-12202 Heartbeats
2007-01-25 WPCR-75216 On the Beach (3rd reissue)
2008 TECI-24556 Fool If You Think It’s Over
2008 TECI-34555 Fool If You Think It’s Over (CD/DVD)
2013 WPCR-78038 On the Beach (4th reissue)

Japan only CD compilations

1988 CDS-15 Vol.II
1989 CDS-36 Vol. III (digipack)
1991 5CS-36 The Collection 1978-1991

Japan only CD-EPs (mini-albums)

1987-12-01 VDP-28013 Snow
1990-03-21 VICP-2001 Ing…
1997 ASCD-177 Bits of Chris

CD singles released in Japan

1988-10-21 VDPS-1016 I Can Hear Your Heartbeat (3’’ snap pack CD, tanzaku sleeve)
1989-12-16 VDPS-1091 The Road to Hell Part 2 (3’’ snap pack CD, tanzaku sleeve)
1991-07-25 WMC5-391 Auberge (5’’)
1991-07-25 WMD5-4069 Looking for the Summer (3’’ snap-pack picture sleeve)
1992-**-** AMCE-499 Nothing to Fear (5’’)
1998-**-** AMCE-2569 Sweet Summer Day (5’’)

Most of these items were marketed as promo-items and the number of copies issued was no more than a couple of thousands for each CD issue. Moreover, all of these recordings were specially re-mastered, thus they provide the best available sound of Chris Rea.


Glad to see anyone commenting on this,

best regards
Andrey
Last edited by andrew fischer on 25 Aug 2014, 10:17, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by ann268 »

Hi Andrey,

I wouldn't have a clue when the first CD's hit the market. I bought a few second hand, Deltics, Tennis, Water Sign and Wired to the moon do not have the digital sound, they're AAD quality, Shamrock Dairies is DDD. In that time it was mostly a rarity, so I guess this is the first orginally CD in the European market. Mine are pressed in Germany and have the French Codes you mentioned.
Hope this helps you a little bit...

Best Regards,
Ann
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Hi Ann,

Thaks a lot for your comment, the discs with the French codes are reissues, but DDD mark on Shamrock Diaries (my copy has it as well) is an amazing thing, it was real rarity back in 1985, Dire Straits's Brothers on Arms is considered a pioneer DDD record, and Chris first DDD issue was released the same year... Interesting! By the way, my Japenese copy of 1987 Dancing with Strangers CD is AAD (digital remaster) and New Light is ADD... How strange! Seems like Chris was not content with the digital recording and mixing process...

Best regards
Andrey
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by tz5632 »

Does anybody own this Shamrock Diaries CD # 825 539-2 to check which version of Josephine is put on it?
Hi Andrey,

I have the a.m. SHAMROCK DIARIES CD from 1985 - and the Josephine version is running 4,26.

Kind regards
Tobias
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Thank you very much!

Thus, it surely must be issued back in 1985 as well as Japanese CD.

It is also good to know if the CD issue # 610.421 / CDMAG5062 has the same.

BTW, I found out the 1st CD re-issue of Shamrock Diaries comes from 1987/88 (# 242 374-2). But I think it already features 1987 French version of Josephine.

best regards
Andrey
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by ann268 »

Hi,

Maybe i'm complicating you're question, the version of Shamrock Dairies, 2292-42374-2,
has also a version of Josephine of 4.26 m.
My Dancing with strangers (2292-42378-2) is an ADD, also strange...Differs from the Japanese one.
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Dear Ann,

Thanks for complication )))

Are you sure the REAL playing time is 4.26 not 3.54? Because on the back cover and inside the inlay they put the running time incorrectly, as well as the 3rd verse of the song is still printed in the liner notes, while 3.54 version omits this verse.

For Dancing with Stangers, the Japanese release does not mention the SPARS code straightforwardly, it only puts it as Digital Remaster, so it may be either AAD or ADD (or on a very rare occasion DAD). Japanese release of Shamrock Diaries (DDD) is put as Digital Remix.

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Andrey
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by ann268 »

I'll clock it for you okay Andrey ;). Then will be sure.


And you're right, about 3.55 minutes. Other than the disc and cover say!
Ann
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by poolie »

Hi Andrey
Just to add my 2 penneth to this discussion. I have a copy of the printed "Chris Rea Discography" issued to fan club members back in the days of typewriters (remember them?) and compiled by my late friend Paul Mullen and Andy Simons and whilst there is a disclaimer that the information is based upon record collections of fans and information from other reliable sources this is what it says. As an introduction it states that" Albums up to Shamrock Diaries were originally released on LP and cassette with CDs only being released retrospectively". Against Shamrock Diaries it lists the LP and cassette being released in May 1985 and the CD in June 1985 with the catalogue numbers for Magnet being CDMAG5062 and for WEA 242 374-2. As it happens this is the CD copy which I have and it lists the Josephine track as 4.26 and has an acoustic type intro.The dates for issue of CDs for other albums prior to Diaries is December 1985 for all of them from Benny to Water Sign. Apologies if this causes more confusion !!
Poolie
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Re: CR's 1st ever CD album issue (Shamrock Diaries?)

Post by andrew fischer »

Hi Poolie,

thank you very much, this adds no confusion at all, but, quite opposite, makes perfect sense, since this seems like a really reliable information you have shared.

It 100% proves that Shamrock was the 1st CD of Chris issued worldwide in 1985. I only assumed that back catalogue prior to Shamrock being released not in 1985 but later, ca. 1987-1988, as I read about CD reissuing in the 1988 magazine articles/adverts, e.g.: Image or Image

I thought Shamrock CD 242 374-2 was a reissue, unlike VICP-1023, 825 539-2, CDMAG5062 and 610.421 as WEA barcodes/cat.numbers only appeared in 1987 when Magnet became a part of WEA.

Maybe there WAS indeed a reissue series in 1987/88, I only know of 1991 WEA reissue series with barcodes 2292-4****-2, and Shamrock CD from this series, 2292-42374-2, has 1987 French version of Josephine:
Image

If there really was a reissue in 1987/88 I wonder which version of Josie did it have...

A smaller confusion - reissue Shamrock vinyl LP with cat.# 242 374-1 / WX 190 (I do not know the eaxct year of this issue), has 1987 French version of Josephine as well: Image

best regards
Andrey
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