CDs that look like little albums - Why aren't they all like this?

In favour:

1) They present their artwork and contents in miniature, with the optional extra booklet
2) They take up less space on yr racks
3) The cases are less likely to smash

Against:

1) Um, they must be more expensive to produce, I guess
2) Seem to be reserved for 'replicating original LPs'

The Japanese are great at making these. They did all the Peter Hammill and VdGG reissues in this format and they were EXACTLY the same as the original LPs down to the tiniest detail. They also put out the new VdGG album this way, so it's not exclusively for reissues.

I love this format and will always buy it for preference.

i like these.
only have 2 though.
limited heliocentrics mini lp on stones throw, and US by Maceoe Parker
both were made for the Japan market, where i guess this format is more popular, or, the japanese are willing to pay extra for the nice packaging.

xpost !

The jap reissues of the Stones!

The first one I got was the "London Singles", which was originally a 4Lp box. It now has all four inner sleeves and all the booklets, but oddly enough resembles the 'normal' CD reissue in that it is on 3 actual CDs.

And, of course, the "Satanic Maj" has the 3D pic, and the "Through the past darkly" has the octagonal sleeve (but not the original octagonal inner but hey)

labels should go the whole hog, and print these editions on those black cds (originally a PS format ?) as opposed to the shiny silver.

dont believe there is any degradation in quality, and they look great.

I dunno, it's not even because of being hung-up on them re-resembling LPs

Just that thesedays, CDs are just ipod food, so it'd be nicer if they could just take up less space plz. For all that the old Jewel cases break easy, their main job was to protect the CD within, which they do (broken teeth notwithstanding)...

Whereas if they feed yr ipod and go back on the rack, etc.

I think my Springsteen Born To Run reissue is on one of those, plus it has a mini-LP sleeve as well.

xp

oooh .. actually, i got the springsteen boxset b4 crimbo that had all the classic albums like this, and i noticed in fopp recently that there are a ton of classic blue note albums like this, with the offer of a free box is you buy 10 of them.

I like jewel cases because if the case cracks the arkwork is generally fine, and you can just get a new case (generally for free one way or another).

Mini-LP cases, digipaks, the Tomboy/In Rainbows style cardboard box - these things all get scuffed and rip etc.

not if you take care of them they don't

The best thing about CD packaging that vinyl lacks is a proper spine, so you can find them easily on shelves. This is largely irrelevant to me given I rarely touch my physical music any more but I hated those mini-LP cases that CDs sometimes came in.

those "Original Album Series" releases are good for this (and are bargains). and are catching up with my tastes (were things like the Byrds, are now things like Bunnymen, Mary Chain):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0030HG3LA/ref=s9_bbs_gw_d0_ir01

Part of the problem with this format is it leaves little space for extra liner notes and stuff. The information is usually very limited.

But, sure the "Original Album Series" from Warner and Sony/BMG are still great.

I have a neat Japanese version of Galaxie 500's On Fire that is one of these. I've always disliked the jewel box. Makes records feel like office supplies. Packing CDs to move is a horrifying tactile experience. I don't mind a little wear over time, gives something character.

The problem with these types of paper products is that

- brand new, esp straight out of shrinkwrap = absolutely beautiful, and worth the far greater cost in manufacturing.
- after being handled for a tiny bit (especially digipaks) = tattered shit

Beatles Mono box cds are like this. I love them, but make me super nervous because there's such a process involved in getting the discs in and out of the sleeve, and I'm always terrified of tearing them. Fiddly, but beautiful to look at.

plus they come with plastic overwrap sleeve, cardboard cover, paper inner-sleeve...again, love the detail but I'm on edge everytime I pull one out

And the actual box that they come in is pretty tough, which is good.

I can't think of an example but it makes me crazy when the sleeve for the CD is a ridiculously tight fit so you tear the cover trying to get the CD in or out.

Part of the problem with this format is it leaves little space for extra liner notes and stuff. The information is usually very limited.

― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, April 14, 2011 6:24 AM (7 hours ago)

But, sure the "Original Album Series" from Warner and Sony/BMG are still great.

― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, April 14, 2011 6:25 AM (7 hours ago)

otm re: the lack of liner notes. the only one of these I have is Sony's Original Album Classics Simon & Garfunkel set, and though the remastering job and bonus tracks are the same as the individual Sony reissues that came out a decade ago, the liner notes from those reissues aren't included in the set. it would have been easy to include them, since the mini LPs are housed in a little cardboard box that almost has enough space for a booklet.

the real problem in my case is that I could have bought a box set of all five S&G albums for a few more dollars than I spent on the 3-mini-LP set. a lot of the other Original Album Series/Classics sets, however, are the cheapest way to collect some artists' discographies.

I have been a sucker for these for a while now, and when EMI Canada started importing all the Japanese reissues of things like Kate Bush, XTC, etc, I was all over them. I have one milk crate just filled up with these, and if they were the regular jewel pack versions (or digipack shaped to fit into the same space) it would have taken three crates.

But yeah, VegemiteGrrl OTM about the ones with bad packaging. I'm especially unhappy when these replica versions put the CD access slot on the INSIDE because then you often have to flex the whole sleeve to get the damn disc out, and I've ripped a few doing that.

ugh yes! CD access on the inside is the most evil of all!

The recent reissue of Bill Dixon's (phenomenal, overwhelming, monumental) Intents And Purposes is a good example of the mini-LP done right. Even has the yellow RCA Dynagroove logo on the spine. Supposedly it took over a year for the reissue producer to find a printer who could do the job right, and it shows.

all my roxy music and king crimson cds are minis, they took ages to collect and some of them definitely weren't cheap.

Been purging my CD collection for vinyl lately as I don't re-touch a CD (ever) once ripping, whereas I go out of my way to listen to an album on vinyl (and thus not my comp's shit speakers + mobility w/out headphones).
I have kept my BoC digipaks tho, just b/c they have no vinyl reprints and I just generally think they're rad little cases:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Digipak.JPG
(the gatefold actually has another "page")

and iirc NIN's "With Teeth" was a digipak with a little booklet. but the booklet just falls out instantly if you're not aware of it, it's just held there like a oversized bookmark.

trying again:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Digipak.JPG

Is the In Rainbows/Tomboy "cardboard case" anything like what the Pavement reisuses were like? Those were the raddest of all (60pg booklet, 2 discs, elaborately decorated jewel case + cardboard to hold it all together). It did happen to be something like $23 bucks tho.

the reissue of Nick Lowe's Jesus of Cool folds out to form a nice-looking crucifix:

http://i56.tinypic.com/nwk8l5.jpg

the CD slides into his head and the booklet slides into his feet. I've been meaning to hang it on my wall one of these days.

with nails? /bad joke, sorry

heh

Lowe stole the idea from Isaac Hayes:
http://funkaliciousblog.com/funkaliciousblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Black-Moses-Front.jpg

(although I don't think the Black Moses CD reissue folds out)

Yeah, i have that Nick one.

.. although that isn't an "LP", but a digipak/fold

I still have my copy of The Rembrandt's 'LP' with the CD silk screened to resemble a vinyl record. I doubt that this counts because WB/Atlantic were uncreative enough to put it in anything but a bulky jewel case.