Can anyone out there clarify the various issues / pressings of the Ryko / EMI issued CDs with the extra tracks.

As I understand it they were all issued in the 90's in the USA by Ryko in a number of variations - standard CD, long box and 24K Gold issues as well as on tape and clear vinyl pressings. Any more variations?

Then, as I understand it, they were issued by EMI for distribution around the rest of the world. I have copies which state made in the UK and pressed by EMI Swindon, and copies which are made in Holland.

I've also had bootleg Russian issues - I still have Scary Monsters which has a foldover insert which replicates the originals but not exactly but appears to have a genuine EMI Holland pressed disc.

The other thing that strikes me about these issues is the writing on the spines - they all seem to be in different fonts, at least 3 different sizes, some are in bold, some in italics, there are different numbering systems - Ziggy starts with CDP 0777 and Ziggy the Motion Picture just starts with 0777 whereas most start CDP... except Stage CDS.

And what's the score with the little coloured dots? I've got both Ryko and EMI with various coloured dots but most have none at all.

Can anyone shed any light on this as I can only assume they're all from different issues of these CDs?

Hope someone can help.

Thanks
Steve

I'm hoping Alan takes up this one because I'm still confused with these too. I have some by Ryko made in the USA....then a couple by Ryko made in Canada... then there are BMG I think... not sure where they are made....as for EMI I have them from Holland, UK and Germany..........were they made anywhere else?......Australia for example?

Only Ziggy Stardust had an Australian pressing. There were Japanese issues as well, but I'm not sure if those were pressed in Japan or imported.

A potted history of the S+V CDs.

Ryko USA

All discs released with and without longboxes.
Ryko abandoned longboxes circa 1993/94.
Early releases have clear jewel cases, later releases have Ryko green jewel cases.
Early editions don't have barcodes because the barcode was on the longbox.
CDs manufactured in the USA and Canada.
I have absolutely no idea what the coloured dots mean!

Space Oddity through Scary Monsters plus
ChangesBowie
The Singles 1969 - 1993
David Live
Stage
Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture

ChangesBowie

Two editions, with and without an outer sleeve.

The Singles 1969 - 1993

First editions came with a bonus Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy CD single.
Time Life released a unique edition with track variations

Space Oddity through Hunky Dory

Available with and without a S+V logo on the rear inlay.

Ziggy Stardust

Also released as a limited edition in a box with an extra booklet, all housed in a longbox.

Eight numbered, limited edition AU20 (Gold) CDs.

Manufactured in Canada except, Ziggy Stardust which was manufactured in the USA.

The Man Who Sold The World
Hunky Dory
Ziggy Stardust
Young Americans
Station To Station
Low
Heroes
ChangesBowie

A BMG Direct numbered, limited edition Golden Years box containing all AU20s. The individual discs aren't numbered.


Ryko Cananda

All of Ryko's standard albums were released in Canada. Early editions were distributed by A&M Records and they have an A&M Distribution notice on the rear inlay. Later editions were distributed by Ryko and they're the same as the US releases.

A&M releases manufactured in Canada.


BMG Direct USA and Canada

All of Ryko's standard albums were available from the BMG Direct Record Club. They have unique catalogue numbers and a BMG Direct notice on the rear inlay and CD. Also see the Golden Years box above.

Manufactured in the USA, but The Singles 1969-93 is also available with discs manufactured in Canada. Other titles may have also been manufactured in Canada.


Columbia House USA

All of Ryko's standard albums were available from the Columbia House Record Club. They have "CRC" printed on the jewel case rear inlay. Some also have a Columbia House notice on the CD.

Manufactured in the USA and Canada


Columbia House Canada

I don't know how many Ryko titles were manufactured for Columbia House Canada, but those I've identified have unique catalogue numbers. Canada also received copies of the US Columbia House discs.

Manufactured in Canada.


EMI Capitol - USA

Released four titles following the demise of the Ryko contract and whilst waiting for the 1999 remasters.

Manufactured in the USA.

Pin Ups
Diamond Dogs
Young Americans
David Live


EMI Europe

Numbers starting 0777 or 7243 are the international barcode numbers.
CDP numbers are the international catalogue numbers.
CDEMC, CDEMD etc. are the UK catalogue numbers.

Manufactured in the UK, Holland, Austria, Germany and Italy.
Artwork font variations emerged from the different factories
A few variations drop the UK catalogue number.

Space Oddity through Scary Monsters plus
ChangesBowie
The Singles Collection
David Live
Stage
Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture

Space Oddity through Hunky Dory initially released as silver faced discs.
Space Oddity & TMWSTW emerged later as picture discs.

ChangesBowie

A card sleeve variation was released in France

The Singles Collection

Card sleeve variations released in France and Belgium.

Ziggy Stardust

Released as a limited edition in a box with an extra booklet.

David Live

Two versions with different catalogue numbers:

CDS 79 5362 2
CDP 79 5362 2


EMI-Toshiba Japan

Manufactured in Japan and released in two editions.

First edition catalogue numbers start TOCP 62** except, The Singles Collection TOCP 8057/58.
Second Edition catalogue numbers start TOCP 88**.

Space Oddity through Scary Monsters plus
ChangesOneBowie
The Singles Collection
David Live
Stage
Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture


EMI Australia

Ziggy Stardust
ChangesBowie
The Singles Collection - Two single discs.


EMI Brazil

Ziggy Stardust


Apologies in advance for any errors or omissions!

One thing that has always irritated me is that the Ryko vinyl versions stopped after David Live...

'Potted'?... Rather detailed I would call it! Well documented Mr.Beckenham.
Of course next someone will want a list of all the nice promos/samplers Ryko produced.

Pete.

Ps, Zig, Yes, dissapointing indeed when they stopped the vinyl, I went on about that elsewhere on this forum not so long ago (something to do with Aladdin sane perhaps?) as I contacted Ryko at the time and got quite a detailed answer,

the vinyl wasn't selling, right? understandable at the time really. and they did shoot themselves in the foot by promoting it as "CD quality" which defeats the object IMO. nice to have, undoubtedly, as they look great unlike the EMI titles.

i've not sat down and compared them but is it true that the '90s European EMI CD masterings differ from the Rykos on some titles?

You clearly haven't seen the unabridged version

There are differences, but they're not generally noticeable and I suspect they only came about because EMI made it's own CD masters from the studio tapes. And unless I've just been unlucky with the discs I purchased, some of EMI's glass masters also contain errors that produce clicks and pops.

Very Informative Alan , Thanks.
I have 3 bmg versions and one with CRC on the back inlay. I also have one with a printed in canada sticker but thats all thats on it !!!

Yes Shooky, the vinyl wasn't selling, 5000 of each title (Ryko that is, I don't know what quantities EMI produced), and Ryko told me they thought I was lucky to have such a good record shop in the UK to bother to stock them (Arcade, Nottingham,... Aah! those were the days...). Yes, CDs were the big thing back then, and that's why Ryko regretabley stopped doing vinyl after 'David Live'.

Pete.

An impressive list indeed Alan. I had always assumed the silver slipcase Singles Collection was Dutch, as it used to be all over the place at the time, but indeed it's a Belgian edition printed in Holland. That mistake has already been corrected in the site

Just noticed that you also need a scan of the French ChangesBowie for the discography. It was released in 1995 and it has the same cat# as the standard album, CDP 7941802.

Here in Brazil the emi/ryko lp's until STATION TO STATION!

.. but after David Live it's EMI only, right?

Did they (EMI) go all they way to Scary Monsters or what?

Yes, here the lp´s don't have the RYKO logo and I have all them released
here until Station.