Van Halen
1984
Warner Bros. 9 23985
made in West Germany for US & international markets
color scheme: silver paint background with red reticle and black lettering
genre: rock
LP originally released 1983


MADE IN WEST | | GERMANY BY POLYGRAM
Matrix numbers: 7599 23985-2 2893 353 01 (a), 7599 23985-2 2893 353 02 # (b)
There is a variation of the 02 # disc with MADE IN W. GERMANY BY PDO etched around the
center hole that was issued in Europe, and possibly in the USA (c).
Known suffixes: (c) FW
There are also two disc variations that say MADE IN WEST | | GERMANY on the front, and both have the 02 # matrix.
MADE IN W. GERMANY BY PDO is etched around the center hole on one (d), while the other says
MADE IN W.GERMANY BY PDO (no space between the period and GERMANY) (e). Both were only issued in Europe, as far as I know.
Known suffixes: (d) FZ ; (e) GC


Front cover of the eight-page booklet
Page seven states "Manufactured by PolyGram in
Hanover, West Germany
Printed in West Germany"
The PDO discs issued in Europe lack all the above.


Rear tray insert "Printed in West Germany." with barcode. On the reverse is printed "9 23985-2"
The PDO discs were issued in Europe with "Alsdorf" rear inserts.


The POLYGRAM disc variation was also issued in Japan with a sticker obi.
There was likely a Japanese insert issued as well, but I don't have one.
The new catalog number 38XP-70 appears only on the obi.

Notes: This target CD is somewhat hard to find. The silver stock Japanese pressing
is much more common than the West German pressing.

Jewel case info: (copy #1) smooth-top frosted two-dimple, nothing is embossed on the back.
"23" is embossed on one tab and "54" is embossed on the back portion, inside bottom center.
Eight-prong disc tray embossed "Patents pending 4.2"

(copy #2) smooth-top frosted two-dimple, nothing is embossed on the back.
"21" is embossed on one tab and "12" is embossed on the back portion, inside bottom center.
Eight-prong disc tray embossed "Patents pending 15"

OTHER INTERESTING EARLY CD PRESSINGS OF THIS TITLE:


"Made in Switzerland" (by MCS) at 3 o'clock.
Matrix number: 7599 23985-2 2893 353 02 # (same as the target)
WEA used MCS in Switzerland for occasional spot pressings in the mid-1980's.
Generally, they used the same masters, as in this case, used by PolyGram in Hanover.


Rear tray insert for the Switzerland pressing, "Printed in U.S.A." with barcode.
The accompanying booklet states "Printed in U.S.A." on page seven.
My copy comes in a frosted smooth-top jewel case with two long stopper bars.
A small "2" is embossed on the back and a large "1" is embossed on one tab.
Eight-prong disc tray embossed "Patents pending 3.1"

12/14/20