TODAY'S ON THE AIR : 
"I CAN'T HELP IT"
OFF THE WALL KOREA LP
EPIC/CBS KJPL0428

"Looking in my mirror

Took me by surprise
I can't help but see you
Running often through my mind
Helpless like a baby
Sensual disguise
I can't help but love you
It is getting better all the time

I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no..."

 

I CAN'T HELP IT 

 

 

 

DANGEROUS HOLLAND 
              VS. 
DANGEROUS RUMANIA

DANGEROUS 2 LP SET 
HOLLAND EPIC/SONY EPC 465802 1
DANGEROUS 2 LP SET 
HOLLAND EPIC/SONY EPC 465802 1
(Only for sale in Rumania)

Here it is another "double" : the dutch press of Dangerous have been distributed in Romania too. Apparently the same record, same front & back sleeve, same catalogue number, same barcode, the romanian releases have a little difference on the labels : as you can see, under the tracklists, there's a writing : "ONLY FOR SALE IN RUMANIA". I don't think a lot of copies are around, but after all, the hardest thing is being able to distinguish the "only for sale in Rumania" from the dutch one!


HOLLAND ONLY FOR SALE IN RUMANIA :

HOLLAND :

RECORD OF THE WEEK :
SOMEONE IN THE DARK 
USA PROMO 7'' MCA 5451786
A SIDE : LONG VERSION 4'58''
B SIDE : SHORT VERSION 3'04''

Well, some records don't need any introduction : "Someone in the dark" is one of them. This rare U.S. only promotional copy was released to launch the "E.T. Storybook" boxset in 1982, which saw Michael narrating the story of E.T. and singing this wonderful & previously unreleased song.
The amazing picture sleeve shows E.T. embracing Michael on one side, and a picture of the boxset content on the back side.
A commercial release of this single was subsequently withdrawn because of a controversy between Epic/Cbs and MCA, as Michael was signed to Epic, but released a recording with MCA, which was considered to be a breach of the Epic's contract.
As a result, the "E.T.Storybook" boxset was retired from shops, and the promo copies of this 7'' which were made have since become one of the MJ's rarest and most sought-after records, as well as definitely one of the most beautiful items in the Michael Jackson Showroom's collection.

OFF THE MASTERSOUND : 
US & GERMANY HALF-SPEED PRESSES BACK TO BACK

-OFF THE WALL HALF SPEED MASTERED
GERMANY EPIC EPC H83468
-OFF THE WALL HALF SPEED MASTERED
USA EPIC HE45745

The "Mastersound Half Speed Mastered" vinyls launched by Epic/CBS in the early 80's are a collection of classic albums all cut at 1/2 speed from original tapes, without the use of compression.
The records have a better sound quality,they're pressed using JVC Supervinyl formula and packaged using heavy cardboard sleeves, inner cardboard stiffeners, and sometimes plastic liner sleeves.
In Michael's discography, I counted 2 lps from Jacksons ("Triumph" released in USA, "Victory" released in Japan) then 2 from Michael's solo (Off the wall released in USA,Germany & Japan) and "Thriller (released in USA & Japan).
The focus now is on Off the wall : You can easily identify the japanese press because of the grey obi, even though the most common release is the US one. The german one is rather hard to find and difficult to recognize because the front picture sleeve is quite similar to the american one....but :
-The catalogue number on sleeve spine is different.
-The inner sleeve inside is different even though explain the same things.
-The german press have an extra card insert, the american has not.
-The labels and the back sleeve report clearly the writings "made in Germany" and "Manufactured by Epic records/CBS New York City".
-The german one is without barcode, the american has a barcode in the back.


GERMANY VERSION :

USA VERSION :

THE ITALIAN DVD LEGEND : THE LEGEND CONTINUES 
(LA LEGGENDA CONTINUA)
ITALY DVD STORM MOVIE 8131098 100203

2009 was a sad year for all MJ's fans, but a lot of cds reissues, dvds,books and everything concerning the king appeared in shops from all over the world.
In Italy, "The legend continues" got a re-release by Storm Movie several times. So I went in one shop one day and I saw it with a blue sleeve. Nice,I bought it. After 2 months I couldn't believe what I saw...same picture,same details but...something looked different. And my eyes can't lie...indeed,Michael is dancing on the left side of the picture sleeve, while on the other I previously bought was dancing on the right side! Nice! I bought this too. But this is not the end of the saga: in that same period, the same dvd appeared in an exclusive edition for italian newspaper shops (with a special cardboard glued in the back) (purchase #3) and once again after a few weeks...here it is AGAIN! "The Legend" dvd but...this time with yellow background (and with a poster included inside the box)! 4 reissues in 6 months, something crazy, isn't it? 
Here they are the 4 italian "Storm movie" versions.
P.S. And by the way...there's a fifth version. The first DVD release in Italy...but it's distributed by another company, "DVD-GO".

THE DANGEROUS & THE RAREST :
ANOTHER SPANISH PROMO 7'' GIVE IN TO ME SPAIN PROMO 7''
ARIE 3195 - RN3 LIMITED EDITION
NUMBERED 7'' ARIE 3195
 Here it is : a true gem. And the one who hides the most interesting surprises. The "Give in to me" standard promo (the most common) is NOT a ONE-SIDED promo like the others spanish promos : on side A you'll find the "Vocal version" (4'43'') and on side B "Dirty Diana".
The second issue have been released ONLY for Radio RN3, have the radio logo on the back, is NUMBERED (mine is #285 - how many made? I don't know. 500? 999? not more!) and "Vocal version" is on side...B! While on side A there's the original "Album version" (5'29'').

THE DANGEROUS & OBSCURE 
SPANISH PROMO 7''S: NOT 1 BUT...2!
IN THE CLOSET 7'' PROMO SPAIN
EPIC ARIE3103 - (VARIANT) EPIC ARIE3103
JAM 7'' PROMO SPAIN
EPIC ARIE 3124 - (LOS 40) EPIC ARIE 3124
HEAL THE WORLD 7'' PROMO SPAIN
EPIC ARIE 3133 - "CANCION DE NAVIDAD" EPIC ARIE 3133

Some "Dangerous" promo 7'' singles in Spain have been distributed to the radios in 2 versions. The records are all one-sided promotional copies. All 2 versions have the same catalogue numbers, while the sleeves shows some interestings changes and surprises:
- IN THE CLOSET #1 have 4 "Dangerous tour" dates (Barcelona,Oviedo,Madrid & Sevilla). IN THE CLOSET #2 have 3 dates (CORRECT dates : Madrid,Sevilla & Barcelona - so it's probably a reissue with tour dates changed)
- JAM #1 it is probably the record distributed to ALL the spanish radios. To the "CADENA LOS 40 PRINCIPALES" have been given a different "personalyzed" back sleeve version (JAM #2).
- HEAL THE WORLD #1 have a classic sleeve with children's hands holding a world, while HEAL THE WORLD #2 have the same sleeve with a sticker : "CANCION DE NAVIDAD", to remember that the forthcoming release is concurrently with the Christmas holidays. THERE'S A FOURTH "DOUBLE" SPANISH PROMO....but it deserves a special post to itself only.
And...it's coming on the next post.