Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978)
First West Germany CD, Blue Swirl & Text
Vertigo Records, 800 051-2
Extremely rare first CD pressing of the classic self-titled debut album by Dire Straits, originally released in 1978; nine tracks including Down To The Waterline, Sultans Of Swing and Wild West End; CD made in West Germany by PolyGram (matrix: 800051 2 01), with its original 'blue swirl' label design and blue label text; this would make a great addition to any collection!
NB: just a little history behind this disc - this is the first-ever CD pressing of this classic album, which came with a blue-swirl label, blue label text and an '01' matrix; this first version would only have been available for a matter of months in 1983 before the labels were redesigned with a slightly different blue swirl and with black label text; the second blue label was available for about a year before being replaced in turn by the more familiar red-swirl labels.
CONDITION:
CD: EX- (some visible marks, all light, nothing serious)
Booklet: EX+ (light wear only)
Rear insert: EX (fading to one spine, otherwise EX+)
Plastic case: EX (original smooth-sided 'patent pending' heavy plastic case, some scuffing)
NB: The condition grades shown above are based on Record Collector's grades. There are 5 grades: Near Mint (used but in stunning 'nearly new' condition); EX+ (used but with a bare minimum of wear); EX (item may have some light marks but still in a desirable condition); VG+ (has a few marks but only cosmetic, item plays perfectly); and VG (may have minor issues which I will specifically refer to); I don't sell anything below VG (and Mint doesn't exist). Unlike a lot of people on eBay, I am very scrupulous about my grading, so if ever you are less than satisfied with the condition of an item, please do contact me.
SPECIALIST IN EARLY CD PRESSINGS:
As Tillysmusic, I've been an eBay seller for many years, and specialise in early/1980s CD pressings. If anybody tells you that early CDs were badly mastered and sound bad, don't believe them! Although there are exceptions, the vast majority of 1980s CD pressings sound wonderful, especially West German and Japanese pressings from between 1982 and 1988. Pressings from this era tend to have a much warmer 'natural' sound not unlike how you remember the original vinyl, as opposed to more modern reissues which are remixed for digital streaming services, with bass boost and added compression. Remember, not all early pressings are mega-rare or valuable, but they are nearly always worth checking out.
PS: I also endeavour to sell my early CDs with their original heavy plastic cases, which I believe is an important part of the whole package; this means that some of these old cases will come with scuffing or small cracks, but I will always describe any noticeable problems.
PHOTOGRAPHS & DESCRIPTIONS:
All photographs show the actual item for sale - I don't sell multiple items, and definitely don't use other people's photos stolen from other listings. All descriptions are as honest and as accurate as possible. Should you need any more information about an item, I'm very happy to answer any questions you have. In certain circumstances, I can also provide extra photographs.
PAYMENT & POSTAGE:
Electronic payment only, no cash sales. UK bidders can opt for standard First Class or Signed For delivery. I can offer a reduced postal charge for multiple purchases, details on enquiry. All overseas purchases are shipped using Royal Mail's International Tracked service which is a safe and reliable option. I will provide you with a Tracking Number you can access on the Royal Mail website to track progress. International postage goes up in stages, so one single CD costs £14.99, two single CDs cost £19.99 etc. Details on enquiry for larger numbers. Sadly I'm not able to send items using standard airmail due to many packages going missing. I can also ship items without the plastic cases, which will allow me to significantly reduce the postage charges due to the reduced weight. If you have any questions about postage or about the item itself, please ask before bidding. Thanks.