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CD: ABBA - THE VISITORS (c)1982 HYPER RARE West Germany CD POLYDOR PROTOTYPE Promo
Hier verkaufe ich aus meiner alten 80er Jahre Jugend,meiner PRIVATEN CD-Sammlung , den äusserst seltene und sehr gesuchte "ORIGINAL" PROTOTYPEN von ABBA - THE VISITORS", der CD und Schallplattenfirma "POLYDOR" West Germany by POLYGRAM, aus dem Jahre (c) 1982!!
Das Besondere Highlight ist,das es sich hierbei um die MEGARARE 1st. press PROTOYPE Display handelt!!
Dieses Schmuckstück gab es NIE im Öffentlichen Handel zu erwerben,sondern gab es nur ausschließlich für Mitarbeiter der POLYGRAM FIRMA! Davon gab es auch nur eine ganz geringe Stückzahl! Diese PROTOTYPEN WURDEN Zwecks Probeaufnahmen verwendet! EINE ECHTE RARITÄT aus dem Hause POLYDOR!!
Zustand des PROTOTYPES:
Anmerkungen
In the run-up to the official launch of the CD format in late 1982, PolyGram produced a number of different prototype discs of differing musical genres to test their manufacturing processes and eventually promote the new format among the press.
The chosen pop CD prototype was The Visitors, seemingly chosen because it had been mostly digitally recorded and it was the then latest record by PolyGram’s best-selling European artist, Abba.
In all, there were three different prototypes of The Visitors produced, each with different characteristics. Only one of these versions is known to be playable – the other two only appear to have been preserved encased in plastic in commemorative pieces presented to PolyGram staff to celebrate the launch of the new format.
All three versions have identical disc faces, which feature a different textual layout to the publicly released version. The most notable of these is that the catalogue number is printed as 8000 112 on the prototypes but appears as 800 011-2 on the released version.
ABBA - The Visitors (Prototype 1)
The first version can be identified from its data side, which features no matrix number etched on the inner hub and strange grooves throughout the disc unlike any subsequent CDs. It is highly unlikely to have been playable.
ABBA - The Visitors (Prototype 2)
The second version may have been playable but it is doubtful whether it played The Visitors. The data side’s matrix number is 400 029-2, which corresponds with the early classical release, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s version of Tchaikovsky’s Symphonie Nr. 6. As a result, it seems likely that this ‘dummy’ version was produced for marketing purposes.
ABBA - The Visitors (Prototype 3)
The third version was definitely playable and was sent out to the press with pre-production CD players for review purposes. Among these reviewers were Bjorn, Benny and Abba’s manager Stig Anderson, who were presented with copies (and a CD player) by PolyGram in August 1982. While the third version was essentially the finished product, it wasn’t the one that made it into the shops in October 1982…
ABBA - The Visitors (Commercial Release)
Barcode und andere Identifikationsmerkmale
- Rights Society: GEMA
- Label Code: LC 0309
The first Abba CDs ever produced were never designed for public consumption. Indeed, they predate the release of the first CDs to the general public. The story of Abba on CD began in the technical laboratories of PolyGram in West Germany.
In the run-up to the official launch of the CD format in late 1982, PolyGram produced a number of different prototype discs of differing musical genres to test their manufacturing processes and eventually promote the new format among the press.
The chosen pop CD prototype was The Visitors, seemingly chosen because it had been mostly digitally recorded and it was the then latest record by PolyGram’s best-selling European artist, Abba.
In all, there were three different prototypes of The Visitors produced, each with different characteristics. Only one of these versions is known to be playable – the other two only appear to have been preserved encased in plastic in commemorative pieces presented to PolyGram staff to celebrate the launch of the new format.
Hier die ABBA Internet Seite:https://abbaoncd.wordpress.com/european-cds/prototypes-1982/
Perhaps the ultimate CD collectable memorabilia. Manufactured before CDs were available to the general public to promote the launch of the new media as well as testing the manufacturing process. A plastic display block containing a prototype of the first commercially produced CD by Abba "The visitors". Disc was probably pressed before they have decided how to arrange catalogue numbers since it's marked "8000 112" and not 800 011-2. This is the earliest version commonly refered to as Prototype 1. Block measures 157 x 143 x 21 mm and shipping weight close to 900 grams.
Would be the crown piece of any serious collectors collection?
Only a handful known to exist and rarely if ever, appears on the market.
Serious offers welcome!
Polygram - The first CD pressing plant in West Germany was owned by Polygram Records. This plant, which opened in August 1982, was located in Hannover, West Germany. CDs that were pressed by Polygram had "Made in West Germany by Polygram" on the label, except when they did lego pressings for other companies(like EMI and RCA Victor). In October 1985 Polygram transferred control of their West German pressing plant to a joint venture between Philips and DuPont Optical. This company, Philips DuPont Optical or "PDO," was used to press CDs for a number of companies. It was then they started to use hubetchings specifying which pressing plant the disc originated from, perhaps as a measure to control quality. Discs produced by the old pressing plant in Hannover before October 1985 will therefore have no etching in the hubarea. Pressings dating after that same date will most likely either have "Made in W.Germany by PDO" or "PDO Hannover" around centre.
Early CDs are collectibles since many of them are the original issues and are, therefore, remnants of the early days of the “Compact Digital Disc”. Aside from the historical significance, many music enthusiasts also feel that these early pressings offer superior fidelity to later remasters. The reason for this is that many early CDs represent a “flat transfer” of the tapes used. By contrast, many recent remasters have been prepared through excessive processing, including the abuse of compression and noise reduction. Often these early Cds are the best way to obtain a recording that is as close as possible to the original master. Most were manufactured in either West Germany or Japan for distribution throughout the world before the domestic pressing facilities existed or had capacity to meet demand.