Alan, it is the pressing number. Have a look at Discogs Guidelines below. If you use the 'search' function you can see an image of what constitutes pressing number, catalogue # etc. Furthermore, Discogs has recently incorporated a new 'field' to capture this:

http://blog.discogs.com/2009/11/new-database-feature-barcodes-and-other.html

CD Matrix
5.8. The best way to distinguish between CD and CDr is the inner ring on the data side, called "CD matrix":

CD - always contains a pressing number (which sometimes includes the catalog# of the release), a barcode and the name/logo of the CD manufacturer. Since 1994, most CDs have two so-called "SID codes", one in the CD matrix with the pattern "IFPI Lxxx", and another one etched in the transparent inner ring with the pattern "IFPI xxxx", which is mostly hard to read.

Alan, you will see that I have made adjustments to the European 'Copy Controlled' version. As you quite rightly stated, CDVX 2659 has been removed and instead a different Catalogue Barcode: 7243 5 91026 2 7. Futhermore, no mention of 'EMI' on the spine either; just Virgin.

Alan, I have the overall Promotional Sheet from Virgin/ EMI which lists the Catalogue # on the sheet provided; hence why it is included here so Collectors are able to ascertain which version it relates to.

Stefan

Alan, earlier this year I engaged with a previous employee of Caroline Records. As you may know, Caroline Records was the USA operation of Virgin Records. With the acquisition of Virgin by EMI the Caroline arm of the operation became a distribution unit. In essence, the US Caroline operation no longer has its unique Catalogue #s printed on CDs when dispatched from the USA. They use the Barcodes which are printed on the Copy Protected European Versions. Where CAR 91016-2 is used is purly from a distribution need; the CD and packaging is totally identical to the European ones. If you look at the Barcode for the 1st pressings 7243 5 91016 2 0 & remove 7243 5 and the final 0, what you get is 91016 2.

In essence, it is EMIs way of numbering CDs dispatched from their distribution operation in the US; hence why they use Carol at the beginning.

Based on this fact, this is therefore a duplication of Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids

Alan, there is a difference between Country of Origin, Country of Manufacture and Country of Distribution. I have pasted below Discogs Guidelines for your persual.

Catalogue # CDV 2009 was released in the UK, however some of these CDs were not manufactured in the UK but in France (as you have highlighted already). Just because a release says 'Made in France', does not imply that it was a French release. A good starting point is to compare Vinyl released by Virgin in Europe for Tin Drum. They all began with 204 169 which was to define releases for the EU markets. Further details on each Vinyl Label would then inform the Collector of the Country of Origin, e.g. Italian Releases have an Ink Stamp on one side of the Vinyl Centre.

I hope this helps; otherwise, just ask.

Stefan



Guidelines - 6. Country


6.1.1. "Country" refers to the country of origin (the market) of the release. Discovering the country can be very easy, or quite obscure. For small labels, they will usually be based in, and release in, the same country. Larger labels or labels with licensing deals overseas are harder, but the country should always be the place the release was sold and distributed in. For Imports, the country they are imported from is the country of release.

6.1.2. The country is NOT where the release was manufactured. A US label can release licensed recordings in Germany & Netherlands (perhaps manufactured in Austria). If the release is on more than one label, please list the country of the first label you listed in the Label section. Please use the notes field for all information that cannot be handled by the current form, or for any other questions regarding the country field.