Best-of-year collections: CD reissues
Comments: The first CD re-issues from the original catalogue were the 2001 best-of-year discs. They covered all the annual round-up albums bar the anomalous Best of 1984. All 13 discs were issued at once. The CDs themselves were printed to resemble miniature LPs (see above).
The packaging was impressive: the inserts consisted of fold-out sheets with a small "poster" on each, showing the complete set, and on the back, a large photo of string vest-wearing model Katie Richmond, with a calendar printed over the top. (The CD spines, which when lined up in order, re-create the photo in thirteen slices.)
These CDs were in fact issued twice. The first editions were Czech-made CDs, which carried the ABM company logo in addition to the Hallmark logos. The second editions only carry the Hallmark logo, but are otherwise virtually indistinguishable. (These versions do not have a calendar printed over the top of the inner poster, however.)
There are one or two quirks: "In The Ghetto" on the 1969 collection reverts to the first recording on Volume 6, rather than the re-make which is on the LP - and "Tears of a Clown" on the 1970 set fades out half way through (possibly because the original master tape had been damaged). And finally, the 1977 CD programs side 2 to play first! Otherwise, the disc contents are as per the original LP releases.
The packaging was impressive: the inserts consisted of fold-out sheets with a small "poster" on each, showing the complete set, and on the back, a large photo of string vest-wearing model Katie Richmond, with a calendar printed over the top. (The CD spines, which when lined up in order, re-create the photo in thirteen slices.)
These CDs were in fact issued twice. The first editions were Czech-made CDs, which carried the ABM company logo in addition to the Hallmark logos. The second editions only carry the Hallmark logo, but are otherwise virtually indistinguishable. (These versions do not have a calendar printed over the top of the inner poster, however.)
There are one or two quirks: "In The Ghetto" on the 1969 collection reverts to the first recording on Volume 6, rather than the re-make which is on the LP - and "Tears of a Clown" on the 1970 set fades out half way through (possibly because the original master tape had been damaged). And finally, the 1977 CD programs side 2 to play first! Otherwise, the disc contents are as per the original LP releases.