Album title and track 1 title generally referred to as "Blackstar" but printed as "★" Released in a gatefold sleeve with clear plastic wallet housing the vinyl, and 16 page 12" x 12" square booklet insert. Includes a coupon with a download code for a digital copy of the full album.
Paul Bateman and Bob Bharma appear as Plastic Soul.
All songs published by Nipple Music (BMI), administered by RZO Music, Inc. Except for Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) Nipple Music (BMI) administered by RZO Music, Inc. MSF Music (ASCAP) administered by Artistshare Music Publishing LLC, Flex Publishing / Sherlock Holmes Music Ltd. This composition contains elements of 'Brand New Heavy' (Bateman/ Bharma). Used by Permission.
Catalogue number on front cover sticker: 88875173871 S1
Front cover has 2 stickers: "David Bowie The new album includes "Blackstar" & "Lazarus" 180 gram vinyl plus digital download 88875173871 S1" "Parental advisory explicit content"
[Matrix/Runouts] - Label matrices for both sides appear on side A. - Lacquer cut derived from "STERLING" stamp and "RJ" etch in runouts, everything else is etched.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Text): 8 88751 73871 3
Barcode (Scanned): 888751738713
Rights Society: BIEM/GEMA
Label Code: LC00162
Other (Sticker #): 88875173871 S1
Pressing Plant ID (Runouts): MPO
Matrix / Runout (A side matrix, on side A): C-139259/AL88875173871
Matrix / Runout (B side matrix, on side A): C-139259/BL88875173871
Matrix / Runout (A side runout): MPO 15-0736 A 88875-17387-1A STERLING RJ
Matrix / Runout (B side runout): MPO 15-0736 B 88875-17387-1B STERLING RJ
I bought this vinyl after seeing a review of it on YouTube. Obviously this is a “first pressing”, and since this album was recorded in analogue, the first pressing has a lot of value since the tapes will degrade over time.
The album is jazzy, psych sounding and the lyrics are honestly something else - only Bowie can write such stuff!
Ofcourse the sound is very good , as any (or most) first pressing of an all analogue recording - detailed, wide and rich!
Sunday the 10th January ….Where the F**k did Monday go. Having started out on my own Bowie journey with Hunky Dory as a teenager and now about to upload Darkstar to my Discogs collection what can we say about this album. Released on his Birthday two days before he passed. The only artist to choreograph his own demise. I’d only lived with this LP for two days before the news came he was no longer with us and it was like someone very close to me was no more and I filed this album away and still can’t bring myself to listen to it even now. Was it the best album he made, of course not. Was it a new breakthrough, well it was new for him. Does it stand with the best of his work, I think it probably does. There will never be another artist like him that’s a definite.
The sound quality is just incredible. No noise, pops or cracks at all. Bought in brand new and sealed in perfect condition. The sleeve is a work of art. It was even a pity to unpack. My first Bowie album on vinyl, and that was an amazing experience. It's interesting to flip through the artbook inside while listening music. The only disappointment is that the code for downloading the digital version has already ended. It was only valid for a year, which is very strange.
I bought this twice. The first one was such a bad print, I sent it back. The second one is (only aafter washing twice) acceptable, but still has occasional noise here and there. I also dispise the cover. The plastic inner which than makes the record visible through the open star makes me shriek when pulling the record out. Additionally, I think the design itself is a fail: If not put into a protective sleece this cover won't last long. I can only understand this as in this attrocity has been committed after the master's demise, I thorougly beliebe he'd not have sanctioned this. Well, it's one of his profoundly impressive works, so what can be done, but if there ever was a reissue, I certainly will give it a try.
I still don't get it, I just bought this record, has not opened the shrink wrap yet, 'cause back says C 2016, P 2015, 2016 - So it's a second press, right? (The one I bought was listed as this first pressing). But the weight - shrinked with record and artwork and everything - is 517 g. Here it says the second pressing is 472 g? And, how can I tell the MPO pressing from the Celebrate pressing without opening the shrink-wrap, thank you.
This is a pretty decent pressing of Bowie's wonderful swan song album. The provided booklet is made of very nice material, and while hard to read has some excellent printing quality. The pressing quality itself sounds pretty average unfortunately. It gets the job done, but it definitely could've been made more dynamic.
Today of all days! Just decided to have a look and marvel at the Blackstar vinyl edition which has been carefully stored in my record collection since almost the day of its release. To my horror the inside sleeve ( plastic inner) appears to have stuck to the vinyl making a visible mark, marks, on the record . It now has more than a slightly used , second hand look about it Aaarrgghh. Any one else suffered the same fate?