Warner CD-Manufacturing - Full Guide
Date: 09.02.2011 Author: KamilThis article is the review of manufacturing of Madonna's comapct discs in selected countries.
CONTENTS
| Australia | France | Germany | Israel | Republic of South Africa | UK | USA |
| Since the end of the 80's and untill mid-90's all Madonna CD-pressings were made in USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, France and UK. Other countries only were using CDs mastered in mentioned places and pressed them (if they were not pressed in country of origin). It's also worth to notice that major part of these CDs were re-released as CDs made in individual coutries. This time we try to describe the most important manufacturer of Warner Brothers' CDs in 80's and 90's and we show some examples of using CDs mastered in one country and selling in the other.
SRC & WEA Olyphant Specialty Records Corporation (SRC) is the plant of Warner-Electra-Atlantic (WEA) and was producing Warner Brothers' CDs from 1987 to 2004. More information can be found in "American CD-holes". Allied Recording Corporation Allied Recording Corporation was founded in 1946 in Los Angeles (USA) as the independed record label, but many years later became a part of SRC (Specialty Records Corporation, look above). At the beginning of its activities they occupy only gospel and blues music, but soon after that the scope of label had been expanded to R&B, rock & roll and early rock artists. They had their own vinyl pressing plant called Allied Record Manufacturing Co., Inc. located in California which was bought out by Warner Bros. (probably) in the early 80's. ARC produced vinyles for Warner untill 1986 when the factory was reorganized and adapted to production of CDs. Since then, SRC and their smaller partner, ARC, produced in parallel CDs for Warner Bros. Both, Olyphant and LA factory mastered CDs with the same quality. "Bedtime Stories" [9 45767-2] Allied Record Company (ARC): Also, there are pressings which contain SRC and ARC close to CD-hole. This is due to the fact that both pressing plants ARC and SRC using the same CD matrices that were delivered to the pressing plant in Los Angeles. When CD was manufactured in LA at glass master provided by SRC, ARC shortcut was stamped into the matrix. "Bedtime Stories" [9 45767-2] SRC/ARC: DISCTRONICS USA DISCTRONICS is a British company, mentioned in the UK section, which has branches all over the world: "The Immaculate Collection" [9 26440-2] DISCTRONICS USA:
DISCTRONICS AUSTRALIA The very first Australian singles were "Rain" (1993), "Bye Bye Baby" (1993) and "I'll Remember" (1994) - all mastered by DISCTRONICS. Previously there were used CDs pressed in other countries, as will be discussed later in this article. "Bye Bye Baby" [9362411962] DISCTRONICS: Between 1993 and 1994 Warner Music Australia re-issued 7 Japanese EPs with new (Australian) catalog numbers. DISCTRONICS was resposible for mastering all of these CDs. "Keep It Together" [7599261772] DISCTRONICS:
D.A.T.A. (Digital Audio Technologies Australia) All Australian singles since "Bedtime Stories" era untill 2005 were mastered by D.A.T.A., including EPs mentioned above which were re-released after 1994. In 2005 comapny was bought out by SM Summit Holdings Limited. "Secret" [9362417852] D.A.T.A.: "Keep It Together" [7599261772] D.A.T.A.:
SM SUMMIT TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIA SM (Summit Technology Australia) as a part of SM Summit Holdings Limited was established in 1995 and now is one of the largest and most technologically advanced optical disc manufacturers in Australia. The company prides itself on achieving high yield production of up to 8 million CDs per month. "Jump" [9362430422] SM:
Sony Music Entertainment Australia "Die Another Day" [9362424922] Sony Music Entertaiment Australia:
... unknown Australian CD-plant: IFPI LD71 - unknown (?) "Frozen" [9362439902] unknown:
Australia-USA * Australia-Germany Compact disc (CD) is still a relatively young medium of music. In the 80's. manufacturing of CDs expanded rapidly in USA, Japan and Germany and these three countries became major suppliers of CDs to the world markets. It was normal that CDs made in Germany or USA were then "processed" and put into stores as a native product of the country. Frequently, CDs produced in Germany or USA (with characteristic sign of the plant in Alsdorf - Germany or SRC - USA) were admitted to another country (for example, Australia) and there was only created printing on the CD appropriate for this country. The place of mastering should be distinguished from the general preparation of CDs for sale (pressing). The product is not only the CD, it is also a plastic case, booklet and back insert. The country, an album/single is manufactured in, is the country where it became a product - the country where the disc was put into a plastic case with the booklet, ready for sale. If CD is pressed in Germany, the booklet printed in Australia, and they were packed together in Australia - that means that the product is manufactured in Australia.
"I'll Remember" was the very first single issued in The Republic of South Africa - RSA (be careful in this part of the article and don't be confused by RSA as a country and RSA as a German manufactory). CD was mastered by American SRC but printing on CD was created by African TUSK. The last "common" single released in South Africa was "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" - CD was made by WME in Germany, but printing and booklet was produced in Africa. The first full African single was "Frozen" (mastered and pressed by CDT in The Republic of South Africa). Compact Disc Technologies (CDT) as the first African CD-manufactory was founded in 1991. CDT has remained committed to staying abreast of the latest technologies and offering the highest quality of CD and DVD replication services to the African continent. To this day they remain the largest manufacturer of digital discs in Southern Africa. "Frozen" [WBSD18] CD mastered and pressed by CDT:
Israel represents the same situation as mentioned above in The Republic of South Africa. First CDs which were released in the Israeli market were mastered mostly in Germany. Newer CDs were mastered only in Israel by CDI - leading global disc (CD/DVD) manufacturer, established in 1987.
"Something To Remember" [9362 46100-2] CD mastered and pressed by CDI:
PDO (Philips & DuPont Optical) - Blackburn (Lancashire, England) PDO was established as a colaboration between N.V Philips (Holland) with American chemical concern DuPont. Philips & DuPont had already at this time a thriving business in Germany. The huge popularity of CDs had forced authorities to open UK branch of the company and the plant called Blackburn was opened in 1980. In 1986 they started to produce CD format. The main marker on the discs produced by Blackburn was the inscription located on the inner side of the disc: "Made in the UK by PDO". Unfortunately, not all CDs have got this inscription. Probably, no intformation is characterised for the very first CDs made by PDO. One of the most known Madonna single made by PDO UK is "Papa Don't Preach" (VCD). Probably this is one of these CDs which were bronzing (varnish used to cover the outer shell of disc was not resistant to sulfur compounds contained in the paper booklet - also the problem was the use of aluminium paint, instead of standard gold). "Papa Don't Preach" [925 681-2] Made in UK by PDO:
"Papa Don't Preach" [9 25681-2] Made in UK by PDO (CD mastered for US market):
There are not known details about company and its work between 1991 and 2004, but it is sure that it was acquired by DISCTRONICS. DISCTEC The modern manufacturing plant located in Horsham (county West Sussex, UK) bought out by DISCTRONICS in 90's. EMI - Swindon, UK There is no know Madonna releases made by this company. NIMBUS - Wyastone Leys, UK NIMBUS (manufacturing plant) / NIMBUS RECORDS was the thriving company in the 80's. This is the first in UK and the third in the world CD-manufacturing plant. NIMBUS branch was also created in the USA and the company still existed. They are main producer of the CDs for DCC recording company. NIMBUS' hallmark is the inscription on the inner side of the disc "MASTERED BY NIMBUS". Early discs produced in Wyastone Leys were signed by "NIMBUS ENGLAND". There are no confirmed information but it is possible that NIMBUS also had a problem with the bronzing of discs at a very early stage of their business. Besides, first discs had a problem with a protective layer, which was sticky and impossible to clean (layer was gone after cleaning by water). These discs were produced for several years. Note: Holders of the early discs pressed by NIMBUS must particularly take care of their CDs, and especially on the outer layer, which is very sensitive. Do not touch the outer layer, fingers leave traces which can not be cleaned. The use of water will cause permanent damage to the disc. Madonna's CD-albums from NIMBUS: "Like A Virgin" [925 181-2] NIMBUS ENGLAND: "True Blue" [925 442-2] MASTERED BY NIMBUS:
Selected Madonna's CD-singles from NIMBUS: "Justify My Love" [W9000CD] MASTERED BY NIMBUS (the first Madonna's CD single in the UK): "Secret" [W0268CD] MASTERED BY NIMBUS (probably the last Madonna's single from Nimbus):
DISCTRONICS DISCTRONICS - concern that in the 90's took over running manufacturing plants (DISCTEC and PDO). Selected Madonna's CD-singles from DISCTRONICS: "Rescue Me" [W0024CD] DISCTRONICS: "Love Profusion" [W634CD1 & CD2] DISCTRONICS (the last Madonna's single from DISCTRONICS):
EDC Blackburn (earlier known as PDO Blackburn) In 2004 DISCTRONICS became a part of concern EDC (Entertaiment Distribution Company). On December 31st, 2009 EDC officially ceased production in Blackburn. Company was closed and 260 people lost their job. Today, Blackburn (or rather everything what was left after its closure) is currently owned by Universal Music Group, which in turn belongs to the Canadian CINRAM. Selected Madonna's CD-singles from EDC Blackburn (Hard Candy era): "4 Minutes" [PRO17108] EDC Blackburn: "Miles Away" [W814CD] EDC Blackburn (the last Madonna's single from EDC Blackburn):
Other manufacturing plants in UK: MAYKING RECORDS which was bought by DOCdata in 1997: "Erotica" [W0138CD] Mayking Records: "Take A Bow" [W0278CD] Mastered by Mayking: "Frozen" [W0433CD] Mastered by DOCdata:
DAMONT Damont was CD-manufactory transformed into CD Plant UK Limited in March 1996. "Fever" [W0168CD] DAMONT:
CD Plant UK Limited CD Plant UK Limited was CD-manufactory transformed into SDC GB Limited in April 2000. "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" [W0384CD] CD Plant UK: "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" [W0388CDX] CDP UK LTD:
Deluxe - Deluxe Media Services UK "Hung Up" [W695CD2] deluxe:
3BC Ltd. "Jump" [W744CD1]:
Sony DADC UK "Celebration" [W819CD2] Sony DADC:
... unknown UK CD-holes ... "Hung Up" [W695CD2] TSDC and "Sorry" [W703CD2] TSDC:
PDO - Langenhagen PDO - Langenhagen was the biggest and the most modern manufacturing plant in the mid-80's. "Made in West Germany by PDO" causes tremors and also a lot of positive emotions in many collectors. This, the first German and European as well CD-manufacturing plant (located near Hanover), has already become a history. Originally owned by PolyGram, in early 1986 they began production of the first discs signed by the PDO logo. So far, all released CDs were coming out with "Made in W. Germany by PolyGram" or " Made in West Germany". Inner side of disc remained unmarked. "Madonna" [9 23867-2] Made in West Germany by Polygram: "The First Album" [9 23867-2] Made in West Germany by PDO (CD seems to be like "Madonna", but it's "The First Album"): At the end of the 80's PDO became a property of PMDC corporation (PolyGram Music Distribution Co.) and in the mid-90's the company suspended mastering of CDs. At the same time the plant was acquired by Universal Company. Since 1990, the company does not exist as a PDO Philips & DuPont - they produced CDs, at first, as the PMDC, and later, as UML (Universal Manufacturing & Logistics). In 2004 the company was bought out by EDC (Entertainment Distribution Company) and they are producing CDs signed by "Made in Germany by EDC". "The First Album" [9 23867-2] Made in Switzerland: Record Service Alsdorf RSA (Record Service GmbH Alsdorf) is a part of CINRAM corporation which created a German branch of the company in 1975. RSA was responsible for mastering Warner Bros. CDs since 1988. More information can be found in "History of German catalog numbers based on CD singles pressings". Warner Music Manufacturing Europe WME (WMME) is a short of Warner Music Manufacturing Europe GmbH - Germany. From 1992 to 1998 all singles and albums issued in Germany will have imprinted "WME". More information can be found in "History of German catalog numbers based on CD singles pressings". Sonopress Sonopress - the company owned by Bertelsmann (Arvato Digital Services), presses records for over 50 years (Sonopress Bertelsmann Productions Gesellschaft / Sonopress Arvato). "Nothing Really Matters" [9362 44621-2] Made in Germany by Sonopress: "Celebration 2CD" [9362 49729-6] Made in Germany by Sonopress: Optimal Media Production Optimal Media Production was founded in 1990 in Röbel in Germany. At the beginning the company was only producing CDs, but since the mid-90's scope of work expanded to include the production of CD-ROM, vinyl records, DVDs. Also created an international branches of OMP inLondon and Stockholm. "GHV2" [9362 48000-2] Made in Germany by OMP: HOFA– Kalsdorf, Germany HOFA is one of the largest suppliers of music on CD media for German market. The company was founded in 1988 as the "House Of Audio ". Initially meant to be a recording studio, but the company changed its profile and become a full service in terms of audio production. "American Pie" [9362 44840-2] Made in Germany by HOFA:
MPO MPO (Moulages Plastiques l'Ouest) - one of the leading CD-manufacturing plants in Europe. In addition to headquarters in France, the company also has branches in Europe and worldwide (UK, Thailand, Australia, ...). MPO was founded in 1957 by Monique et Pierre de Poix. At the beginning the company produced 45rpm vinyles at founder's home. In subsequent years the production company focused also on 33rpm vinyles, and later tapes and CDs. "Fever" [9362 40846-9] Made in France by MPO: "Celebration" [5439 19853-7] Made in France by MPO: SNA SNA - the Parisian company founded in 1980 as Société Coopérative de Production (SCOP). In the late 80's, as SNA, the company's productions has been extended to the mastering of CDs. "4 Minutes" [5439 19939-4] Made in France by SNA:
© 2011, by Kamil Kaznowski and Maciej Stańczak Most of the pictures are taken from our private collections. Also, we want to thank for any help: |
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