Hi Pacheco,

I'm wondering if your Ziggy post is correct as the Rhodesian RCAs usually have white labels?

Ziggy Stardust - Rhodesia IdbD Ref#28850

See the other Rhodesian RCAs.

IdbD Ref#27010, IdbD Ref#15433, IdbD Ref#14346, IdbD Ref#14345, IdbD Ref#13369.

Hi Alan ,

Yes it's correct . You can also confirm it in the new Christian Frifelt book .

Best regards

But who is Christian Frifelt and how do we know he's right?

Sorry to be difficult, but I'm not totally convinced. Where did you buy this album? Can you also post the matrix numbers in this thread so we can compare them to the South African issue and other Rhodesian albums.

Many thanks.

@BewlayBrother
Can you also post the matrix numbers for your South African Ziggy and Rhodesian/Zimbabwe albums.

@Ruud
Can you contact Jean-Charles and ask for the matrix numbers on his Rhodesian albums?

Does anyone else have anything to contribute to this discussion?

Hi Alan ,

Christian has been researching the Ziggy Stardust album for many , many years and I completely trust his research and sources.

This particular album as my other Bowie Rhodesian pressings were all bought in South African record stores . I can provide the matrix numbers during the weekend of this Ziggy album and also of some Rhodesian pressings that I have, at least Stage and Scary Monsters that I remember and it’s true they have white labels instead of the orange ones but for example the RCA Rhodesian pressings of most of the known singles have orange labels .


Best,
Paulo

Thanks Paulo,

The underlying problem here is that Rhodesia was subject to International sanctions and Teal Records couldn’t buy the raw materials needed to create orange labels in 1972. Even the white labels had to be made from recycled paper. And if they did have a small reserve of orange labels for important releases, why use them for an unknown artist like David Bowie?

Even Elvis got white labels in the 1970s:

	eBay Link: Select
	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=253369102191

	eBay Link: Select
	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=253369241594

I may be wrong of course, and I’m hoping the matrix numbers will resolve this conundrum.

I will contact Christian for more info!

I have two South-African Ziggy albums:

IdbD Ref#6619 matrix number: Side 1: APRS-6814-3 (handscratched); side 2: APRS 6815-4 (handscratched)

IdbD Ref#18721 matrix number side 1: APRS - 6814 1 (the first 9 characters are machine stamped, but the final "1" looks handscratched, I am not quite sure); side 2: APRS 6815-B (handscratched)

My three Zimbabwean RCA albums all have white labels:

Station to station (IdbD Ref#14346), matrix number: APL-1-1327 A/B (handscratched)
Changes one (IdbD Ref#13369), matrix number: APL-1-1732 A/B (handscratched)
Stage (IdbD Ref#14345), matrix number: CPL 2 - 2913 - A/B/C/D (handscratched)

Two of these I also have as South African releases, both with orange labels. The matrix numbers are identical to those of the Zimbabwean releases:

Station to station (IdbD Ref#9965)
Stage (IdbD Ref#11489)

All my South African RCA releases (24 albums) have an orange label.

I didn't see that one coming :-)

Much appreciated Lars, thank you.

My initial thought is that we need more than a moulding variation to identify an album as different and manufactured in another country.

Yes, I agree, Alan.

But what is then the conclusion regarding IdbD Ref#28850?

We’ll have to wait for Christian Frifelt to respond to Ruud’s email before we decide one way or the other. There may be another difference he hasn't mentioned in his book.

1970's Rhodesian albums on Discogs

This debate can be really interesting as i wonder wether a moulding variation is really a different pressing or just a manufacturing variation...
As it is getting harder and harder to find 'new' pressing, we start to look at every possible details to enjoy a new find!
But I must confess i'm not sure i will dig for moulding variations...
cheers

No reply from Christian yet, suppose he's still collecting evidence

While organizing my collection appeared my Rhodesian Stage and look at the two rings that the label has..

Cheers

Paulo

also I believe these two are from Rhodesia too , unfortunately not mines

Rhodesia … white labels 75 onwards.
Gallo and Teal were subsidiaries of the South African labels.
Some sleeves were imported, maybe some labels were ?

The only lathe was at the Rhodesia Gallo plant, hence the
identical matrix numbers.

Incidentally … the Gallo plant in Rhodesia was sold on ebay
two years ago !