So I was in my local record store today when I came across CDs 1 & 2 of SOTT being sold as two separate albums in their own cases. Strangely, the covers of each still featured the standard CD text on the bottom left, 'TWO DISC RECORD SET', even though the back insert has only the tracklist for their respective discs. Are these rare individually? I've never heard of this album ever being sold this way and there's no mention of them on Discogs...

[Edited 6/6/15 12:23pm]

No, it wasn't. Originally there were 2 separate Cd cases packaged together. Somewhere along the way, WB switched to a Double Cd case like 2 disc sets usually would come in.

fbueller said:

No, it wasn't. Originally there were 2 separate Cd cases packaged together. Somewhere along the way, WB switched to a Double Cd case like 2 disc sets usually would come in.

Do you mean the first print, thick case version? I have that and the thin case edition. The difference with these, and perhaps the most interesting aspect for a collector, is the fact that they were evidently designed to be sold separately since their back inserts only had the tracklisting for the CD they contained. Even the booklets were unique to that disc. The non-fan who purchased one of these then would probably be none the wiser that there was a second part to the album...

player said:

fbueller said:

No, it wasn't. Originally there were 2 separate Cd cases packaged together. Somewhere along the way, WB switched to a Double Cd case like 2 disc sets usually would come in.

Do you mean the first print, thick case version? I have that and the thin case edition. The difference with these, and perhaps the most interesting aspect for a collector, is the fact that they were evidently designed to be sold separately since their back inserts only had the tracklisting for the CD they contained. Even the booklets were unique to that disc. The non-fan who purchased one of these then would probably be none the wiser that there was a second part to the album...

No the origial cd print of the album was sold in a long boxes with two seperate discs in the long box.

When you took them out of the long box, the print on the front of the discs said " a 2 disc set." They were never sold seperately.

WB didn't switch to the tradition thick case cd holder until later in the 90s. Then later, they switched to the slim doulb e cd holder.

player said:

fbueller said:

No, it wasn't. Originally there were 2 separate Cd cases packaged together. Somewhere along the way, WB switched to a Double Cd case like 2 disc sets usually would come in.

Do you mean the first print, thick case version? I have that and the thin case edition. The difference with these, and perhaps the most interesting aspect for a collector, is the fact that they were evidently designed to be sold separately since their back inserts only had the tracklisting for the CD they contained. Even the booklets were unique to that disc. The non-fan who purchased one of these then would probably be none the wiser that there was a second part to the album...

Don't think the Cd's were designed to be sold seperately. The first print/pressing had 2 seperate Cd cases, like you mentioned, packaged together and shrinkwrapped.

Later, WB combined both discs into a DOUBLE Cd case (you know like Emancipation, Crystal Ball, etc) with, if I recall right, ONE booklet - instead of 2 booklets. I have seen USED copies of Disc 1 and 2 sold seperately before. So yeah, some people might only have half of Sign of the Times in their collection.

Lastly, WB switched to the normal sized Cd case with both discs on the flip thingy.

All those manufacturing changes, yet the album still hasn't been remastered.

My copy from BMG Music Club (circa 1997) came as two discs in one of those larger cases. But the packaging is only for disc one! The booklet, the song info on back, everything. It's all for disc one.

Shouldn't be sold as two seprate discs, it's the same album.

[Edited 6/6/15 13:26pm]

KingSausage said:

My copy from BMG Music Club (circa 1997) came as two discs in one of those larger cases. But the packaging is only for disc one! The booklet, the song info on back, everything. It's all for disc one.

What a rip. I have a copy that's from BMG maybe in 2003 and the booklet has complete info, but the Cd's themselves seem flimsy and are noticeably thinner than a Cd usually is.

.

Between the sound of the SOTT Cd and all the packaging variations SOTT is due for a DELUXE Remaster! Prince, you listening?

fbueller said:

KingSausage said:

My copy from BMG Music Club (circa 1997) came as two discs in one of those larger cases. But the packaging is only for disc one! The booklet, the song info on back, everything. It's all for disc one.

What a rip. I have a copy that's from BMG maybe in 2003 and the booklet has complete info, but the Cd's themselves seem flimsy and are noticeably thinner than a Cd usually is.

.

Between the sound of the SOTT Cd and all the packaging variations SOTT is due for a DELUXE Remaster! Prince, you listening?

I would give my right nut for a deluxe remaster with the whole Dream Factory - Crystal Ball - Camille - SOTT evolution documented with bonus tracks and alternate versions and extensive liner notes and great mastering and...

....fuck...

Okay. Back to reality. This sucks. SOTT needs a decent CD master. It's inexcusable.

I have the version with two different jewel cases. I remember telling the clerk that the album is a two disc release when he was about to give me just one of them.

Were they originally sold with a rubber band keeping them together or something like that? I bought mine 2nd hand.

Two seperate cd/discs/cases with a rubberband on.... (you could not buy the one without the other)...

This was how the album was sold at first, at my local record shop (Stereo Studio in my hometown Aalborg).

Later I bought the fat 2cd box set (with a lightblue heart sticker on).

Right, so definitely not rare then Most likely they were originally packaged together with that rubberband as opposed to a long box as musicman mentioned. Longboxes were more of an American thing back in the day if I'm not mistaken (I live in the UK).

Thanks for the responses all!