NEW INFO AND INTERESTING RESEARCH BITS....

Hey there everyone...  So I'm going to restart this blog because recent research I've done has taught me quite a lot about collecting and variations of media types of albums.  For example, sometimes on cassettes you see one of two logos...  AR or SR.  Have you ever wondered what this actually means?  Well, here's the answer.  Back in the 80's there were 2 manufacturers who were producing cassette media for the major labels.  One was Specialty Records Corporation located in Pennsylvania and Allied Records Company located in California.  Cassettes marked SR would have been manufactured by Specialty Records Corporation and would've been distributed on the east coast whereas cassettes marked AR would have been manufactured by Allied Records Company and distributed on the west coast.  

Now whether or not this should count at a variation is easily answered...  Coins and other types of collectibles that are manufactured, struck or printed at multiple locations often carry a mark or indicator and are considered variations by collectors of those items.  A good example are the state quarters.  Collectors of the state quarters were struck in two locations, the Denver Mint and the Philadelphia Mint.  The Denver Mint quarters show a D under the date while the Philadelphia Mint quarters show a P.  For collectors, a quarter from each mint would be considered necessary for a complete collection.  

Therefore, I'm going to alter my list of cassettes to include AR and SR variations.  Eventually, the manufacturing was consolidated into WEA which printed not only US releases but some international versions as well.

I've also done some research into variant pressings commissioned by music clubs.  There were three different clubs that would order special printings for their customers.  These clubs were Columbia House, BMG and RCA.  Each one of these companies would use unique catalog indicators or barcodes to identify them as club releases and restrict their sales to club members only.  Although these releases are more rare than those sold in stores, their prices vary greatly.  Although they generally sell for less than their standard counterparts, some sellers ask for higher prices because of the rarity of the item.

RCA music club usually assigns a 7 digit identifier beginning with C followed by six numbers.  The code is printed on the cassette cover and on the spine.  It also appears on the cassette itself.  Another strong difference with these cassettes is they are usually printed on white plastic cassettes while the standard Paisley Park issue at the time was a clear cassette.

Columbia House would add a W4 to the last five digits of the barcode.  They would also offer white case variants as well as clear case variants.  

Anyway, I'll write more as I get further information.  I've decided I'll probably delete all entries thus far and focus on releases as I get them all.  We'll have to see what happens.  Right now, I need to rewrite my catalog.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY (8-TRACK) S124370

"Around The World In A Day" had two distinct 8-track releases.  Neither were commercially available in retail stores.  They were produced by music clubs for sale to their members.  

One was manufactured and distributed by RCA Music Club and the other was through Columbia House.  The Columbia House release featured a black casing and had the serial number W8 25286.  The RCA version features a cream colored casing and the serial number S124370.  

This entry covers the RCA release.

The versions of Prince albums appearing on 8-track are limited to only the first 3 Paisley Park albums.  At least that's my understanding.  I haven't seen another Paisley Park 8-track come up for auction or sale in awhile now..

The songs play in continuous sequence on 8-tracks.  There are four sections and each contains songs or portions of songs.

Here is the tracklist as it appears on my 8-track.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY
01. Around The World In A Day (Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman), Paisley Park (Prince), Condition Of The Heart (Beg.) (Prince)
02. Condition Of The Heart (Concl.) (Prince), Raspberry Beret (Prince), Tamborine (Prince)
03. America (Prince), Pop Life (Prince), The Ladder (Beg.) (Prince, John L. Nelson)
04. The Ladder (Concl.) (Prince, John L. Nelson), Temptation (Prince)

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY (8-TRACK) W8 25286

"Around The World In A Day" had two distinct 8-track releases.  Neither were commercially available in retail stores.  They were produced by music clubs for sale to their members.  

One was manufactured and distributed by RCA Music Club and the other was through Columbia House.  The Columbia House release featured a black casing and had the serial number W8 25286.  The RCA version features a cream colored casing and the serial number S124370.  

This entry covers the Columbia House release.

The versions of Prince albums appearing on 8-track are limited to only the first 3 Paisley Park albums.  At least that's my understanding.  I recently watched "Parade" 8-track sealed in original packaging sell for over $400 on eBay.

The songs play in continuous sequence on 8-tracks.  There are four sections and each contains songs or portions of songs.

Here is the tracklist as it appears on my 8-track.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY
01. Around The World In A Day (Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman), Paisley Park (Prince), Condition O The Heart (Beg.) (Prince)
02. Condition O The Heart (Concl.) (Prince), Raspberry Beret (Prince), Tamborine (Prince)
03. America (Prince), Pop Life (Prince), The Ladder (Beg.) (Prince, John L. Nelson)
04. The Ladder (Concl.) (Prince, John L. Nelson), Temptation (Prince)

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY (8-TRACK) S124370

On April 22, 1985 Prince's seventh studio album was released on the Paisley Park label.  It was the first album released on Paisley Park and a bit of a radical move by Prince who many expected to follow "Purple Rain" with another rock/funk workout.  

Instead, he delivered the more introspective and psychedelic "Around The World In A Day".  At the height of his popularity, Prince opted out of releasing a record that would become a formula of sorts and challenged his audience with something more complex and forward thinking.  A brave move to be sure.  And not one people expected.

Prince is an artist many of us grew up with.  As a young person, I believed only the music I was listening to had any value.  I didn't believe anything else was worth hearing.  Of course, my opinion changed as my musical exposure changed.  And most of the progress can be traced directly to Prince and the music he brought to my attention.

Of all the albums on Paisley Park label, "Around The World In A Day" probably has the most versions.  This particular entry will focus on one of the 8-track releases.  In my research of this release, I've determined there were two distinct 8-track releases.  Neither were commercially available in retail stores.  They were produced by music clubs for sale to their members.  

One was manufactured and distributed by RCA Music Club and the other was through Columbia House.  The Columbia House release featured a black casing and had the serial number W8 25286.  The RCA version features a cream colored casing and the serial number S124370.  

Of the two, I've only located the RCA edition.  However, I was able to purchase it in its original cover.  In near mint condition.

The versions of Prince albums appearing on 8-track are limited to only the first 3 Paisley Park albums.  At least that's my understanding.  I recently watched "Parade" 8-track sealed in original packaging sell for over $400 on eBay.

The songs play in continuous sequence on 8-tracks.  There are four sections and each contains songs or portions of songs.

Here is the tracklist as it appears on my 8-track.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY
01. Around The World In A Day (Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman), Paisley Park (Prince), Condition O The Heart (Beg.) (Prince)
02. Condition O The Heart (Concl.) (Prince), Raspberry Beret (Prince), Tamborine (Prince)
03. America (Prince), Pop Life (Prince), The Ladder (Beg.) (Prince, John L. Nelson)
04. The Ladder (Concl.) (Prince, John L. Nelson), Temptation (Prince)