Lebanon: Volume 23 (SHM 785)
This is a Lebanese pressing of Volume 23, issued - like the singles - on the Empire label. The track listing matches the UK, and the sleeve is much the same but with some changes.
On the front is a circular badge, which doesn't actually relate to the record label (whose logo can be found under the list of songs), but says in French, "Set price in Lebanon, 12LL" - the retail price is printed on the sleeve!
The back has undergone a more radical alteration - beneath the English sleeve notes are some additional ones in French, which include some interesting comments suggesting other Lebanese LPs had been released. In approximate translation we read,
"It is only a year in Beirut since the first "Top of the Pops" and its success was immediate. For 9 albums in this series and the two "European Editions", this success was growing, and still sales figures are still rising ... Today, thanks to your help, each new album is a guaranteed "bestseller" in Lebanon and around the world ... These sales figures allow us to offer these same LPs at the incredible price of 12 LL, always with the same quality, the same luxurious presentation and the same wonderful artists!"
So, it seems to be saying that Lebanon has seen no fewer than nine previous albums, including a pair of Euros, which are all hot sellers in Lebanon! If that's accurate, Lebanon may have been releasing copies since around volume 14 - ie, late-1970.
Our grateful thanks to fellow collector, Serge Vak, for telling us about this release and for kindly donating images.
On the front is a circular badge, which doesn't actually relate to the record label (whose logo can be found under the list of songs), but says in French, "Set price in Lebanon, 12LL" - the retail price is printed on the sleeve!
The back has undergone a more radical alteration - beneath the English sleeve notes are some additional ones in French, which include some interesting comments suggesting other Lebanese LPs had been released. In approximate translation we read,
"It is only a year in Beirut since the first "Top of the Pops" and its success was immediate. For 9 albums in this series and the two "European Editions", this success was growing, and still sales figures are still rising ... Today, thanks to your help, each new album is a guaranteed "bestseller" in Lebanon and around the world ... These sales figures allow us to offer these same LPs at the incredible price of 12 LL, always with the same quality, the same luxurious presentation and the same wonderful artists!"
So, it seems to be saying that Lebanon has seen no fewer than nine previous albums, including a pair of Euros, which are all hot sellers in Lebanon! If that's accurate, Lebanon may have been releasing copies since around volume 14 - ie, late-1970.
Our grateful thanks to fellow collector, Serge Vak, for telling us about this release and for kindly donating images.