CD covers

Jim Garten wrote: As for the quality of the jewel cases - AAAGH!! The hinge tabs break ridiculously easily, but the most frustrating of all are the little tabs that keep the CD itself in place - I can honestly say that in at least 75% of new albums, these tabs are already broken & the CD will always manage to fall out as soon as you open the damned thing. Come on manufacturers, this is not rocket science!! Somebody invent a jewel case that is safe for the CD!!

Jim

I had the opportunity to questioning the MD of Nimbus Records a few years back (at the time they were contracted to EMI to produce remastered Pink Floyd CDs - we were told the manufacturing cost was 55 pence each with all the packaging + liner notes in place (+ Nimbus's profit margin) and I guess the costs are now closer to 40p. I asked specifically about the crap CD cases, and the response was that Nimbus hadn't received complaints. This was mid 90's and then I heard that comment with complete disbelief. I'd already surveyed shops and CD purchasers. Records shop will tell you between 10 and 20% of CDs received from the record companies need new boxes before going on sale - that hasn't changed. The somewhat hallowed Gramophone magazine were running compaigns against the jewel box in the late 80's. But  nothing has changed - I reckon it is con to get you to buy replacement cases costing anywhere up to 45p each (manufacturing cost <2p).

That hinge tab is the worse bit of design in the 20th Century (well apart from Titantic's double hull), and the designer should be lynched. Have you noticed if you are less then really careful removing the clear polyprop film, you are likely to tear off one or both hinges.  CRAP!

And of course the latest news is the aluminium layer in the CD may undergo "CD rot" and become unplayable. However, Phillips announced this problem originally  TEN YEARS AGO - they had been using the wrong grade of lacquer on the play surface of the CD. Then under the so-called guarantee of the CD, Phillips said they would replace all faulty CDs. Therefore this promise must be tested today.

One final point, a metallurgist tells me that the thickness of aluminium on a CD is around 70 nanometres (any thicker and it wouldn't have that mirror-like finish). So on a 5" disc (approx 13cm diam) you will realise that the weight of metal is tiny. Therefore why are gold CDs twice the price - rip-off again?

The CD of Pawn Hearts is one of the best examples of how an album cover can be completely ruined by the CD format. Great music, but what a shame about the cover on the CD version. So, landberkdoten, you're right to keep the LP, if for no other reason than to be able to look at the original artwork in its entirety.

I am fed up with the total lack of care by some (most?) record companies with album covers when they re-release an LP on CD. You sometimes get some cheap piece of paper which either omits half the material that was on the original cover, or the print is illegible, or the reproduction is terrible. Cheap and nasty in most cases. Rhino Records is one notable exception - they take a lot of care with the covers in my experience. The Triumvirat re-realeases by EMI were another exception - they included historical information and photographs of interest.

The smaller physical size of the (badly designed) so-called Jewel Case for CDs of course limits the record companies, but there are several ways they could mitigate that (foldouts is one example).

Of course the music is the prime concern, but to me the cover art and liner notes are important too.

Any other examples of really thoughtless transfer of LP art to CD format?