Category: Small objects of desire

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Love and Rockets – ‘Express’ Japanese Mini LP edition CD (Imperial Records / Beggars Banquet, TECI-21238, 2004)

Never one to pass by a Japanese CD that does its best to lovingly recreate the original vinyl edition, this Love and Rockets example had been calling my name from afar for some time…

Love and Rockets 'Express' Japanese LP replica CD - front sleeve design
^ Love and Rockets \’Express\’ Japanese LP replica CD – front sleeve design

If you are familiar with the original UK issue that appeared in late 1986 then you’ll see from the image below that the fold-out poster that accompanied the release has been lovingly shrunk down to CD proportioned size for inclusion in this release, as well as the original sleeve design. It comes with an extra black and white booklet, plus the obligatory ‘obi’ strip, sealed in a plastic cover to keep that mid-’80s post-punk-neo-psychedelia flavour fresh… Continue reading “Love and Rockets – ‘Express’ Japanese Mini LP edition CD (Imperial Records / Beggars Banquet, TECI-21238, 2004)”

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Brian Eno ‘Another Green World’ 3″ CD single (Editions EG/Virgin, CDT41/EDSCD4, 1989)

Definitely one for the the dedicated Eno fan in search of a small object of desire, this 3″ CD single was issued in 1989 on the then popular smaller CD format. The front cover features a still from the opening credits of the UK programme ‘Arena’ from the BBC, which had used the title track from Eno’s ‘Another Green World’. Quite why it was seen fit to bash this out on a CD single I can’t recall, one imagines that the record buying public weren’t champing at the bit for such a release – nevertheless, it has its charms.

Brian Eno 'Another Green World' 3" CD single front cover
^ Brian Eno ‘Another Green World’ 3” CD single front cover

As well as ‘Another Green World’ itself, it comes with three other tracks in what is a fairly eclectic selection of instrumental works; Continue reading “Brian Eno ‘Another Green World’ 3″ CD single (Editions EG/Virgin, CDT41/EDSCD4, 1989)”

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‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’ US die-cut sleeve re-issue CD (MicroWerks, MW060, 2010)

A new release this, as of June 2010 – an American re-issue of the first album by Orchestral ManÅ“uvres in the Dark, this time round packaged in something approaching the style of the original vinyl issue.

Front of sleeve, opened out
^ Front of sleeve, opened out

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves so you can see what the packaging is like. Musically, the CD is like the 2003 CD re-master except that it loses two tracks, the ‘Electricity’ and ‘Almost’ Martin Hannett/Cargo Studios versions. If you’ve already got the CD and aren’t overly fussed about the packaging, walk on by people, nothing to see here and you are losing two tracks. If however you have a thing for a miniature reproduction of such a fantastic sleeve design, this may well be softly cooing your name already…

Back of front cover and inner
^ Back of front cover and inner

Continue reading “‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’ US die-cut sleeve re-issue CD (MicroWerks, MW060, 2010)”

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John Foxx ‘Metamatic’ Japanese mini-LP sleeve CD (Imperial Records, TECI-23190, 2003)

So, how many copies of ‘Metamatic’ must I have on CD by now?! Well, at last count, this tasty little item makes it four separate releases. I’m afraid I couldn’t resist this one as it made such a nice go of reproducing the original album sleeve artwork, which remains one of my all time favourites in its cool grey precision.

John Foxx 'Metamatic' Japanese mini-LP replica CD - Front cover and obi.
^ John Foxx ‘Metamatic’ Japanese mini-LP replica CD – Front cover and obi.

Musically, the CD is the same as the 2001 Edsel label re-issue (EDCD 702), so you get the original album plus 7 bonus tracks, taken from singles of the era. If you are happy with that CD then only packaging junkies only need apply here. I am fully paid-up, card-carrying member of that fraternity, for sure. Continue reading “John Foxx ‘Metamatic’ Japanese mini-LP sleeve CD (Imperial Records, TECI-23190, 2003)”

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Strawberry Switchblade ‘Since Yesterday’ Japanese 3″ CD single (WEA, WQSP-1005, 2004)

How fitting that a band for whom the word ‘cute’ would so often be applied to, to the point of overdose, should see a 3″ CD miniature of their 1984 single ‘Since Yesterday’ appear and which can only be described as… errrrr… cute, when shrunk down to such a size.

Insert (front), CD label and bag
^ Insert (front), CD label and bag

The packaging is a pretty accurate take on the Japanese 7″ release, though the label design differs and it doesn’t include the extra black and white gatefold insert that came with the 7″. It appears to hail from 2004, released as part of a series of ’70s/’80s classic hits to accompany sweets, apparently. Sadly, despite the cover art retained from the original 7 inch single design which lists the original B side too, the CD is a one track only affair, so ‘By The Sea’ is not present – a real shame as it is one of the songs which never made it on to the Japanese 1997 re-issue of the ‘Strawberry Switchblade’ album and remains unissued on CD to date. The version of ‘Since Yesterday’ is the regular 7″ single/album version. Continue reading “Strawberry Switchblade ‘Since Yesterday’ Japanese 3″ CD single (WEA, WQSP-1005, 2004)”