The Styrous® Viewfinder: 05/01/2019

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Styrous®

On May 29, 1995, Pink Floyd released its two-CD concert album Pulse in the U.K. This entry rightfully belongs in the "Just the cover, Ma'am" category which was originally created for vinyl LPs (link below), so, I've created a CD version of the category (link below).

Pulse debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 during the week of June 24, 1995 with 198,000 copies sold, it became the first multidisk album to top the Billboard 200 since the chart started using SoundScan data in May 1991.

The debut of the album was highlighted by a light show from the top of the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, with music simulcasted on a New York City radio station.

The early, limited edition CD came with a flashing red LED on the side of the CD case which I could see at night when I was lying in bed with the lights off. For some reason it was comforting; I guess it told me all was functioning well.

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse CD package top with die-cut hole

This packaging design was created by EMI contractor Jon Kempner, who was awarded the platinum disc, using the now discontinued LM3909 LED flasher IC. The circuit was powered by a single AA battery; the battery life was stated to be over six months. Some versions were also made with 2 AA batteries, my version, and later editions of the CD set did not feature the blinking LED.

"Essentially, it's a device which we thought was entertaining. It's an idea of Storm Thorgerson's which related to Dark Side and the pulse, and it's a live album so the box is "alive". After that, in terms of seriously deep meanings, one might be struggling a bit.

— Nick Mason^"

The CD was housed in the standard selling box format which is 12" x 5.5" x 1" . . .

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse CD package

. . . On the front of the package box there is a flap that could be opened to expand the size to 12" x 12".

Everything about the packaging is extraordinary! The case for the CD is not plastic as is the case with most CDs; It is a very solid quality cardstock with a matte finish.

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse CD case, front

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse CD case, back

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse CD case, back detail

This CD was accompanied by a beautifully designed booklet the size of a standard CD booklet.

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse booklet, front cover

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse booklet, back cover

Pink Floyd ~ Pulse booklet interior pages

And now, twenty four years later, my Pulse CD still blinks quite nicely when fresh batteries are inserted (link below).

Pink Floyd ‎– Pulse CD

(click on arrow to activate video)

Tracklist:

    CD 1:

1-1    Shine On You Crazy Diamond - 13:34
1-2    Astronomy Domine - 4:20
1-3    What Do You Want From Me - 4:09
1-4    Learning To Fly - 5:15
1-5    Keep Talking - 6:52
1-6    Coming Back To Life - 6:56
1-7    Hey You - 4:39
1-8    A Great Day For Freedom - 4:30
1-9    Sorrow - 10:49
1-10    High Hopes - 7:52
1-11    Another Brick In The Wall (Part Two) - 7:07

    CD 2:

2-1    Speak To Me - 2:29
2-2    Breathe - 2:33
2-3    On The Run - 3:47
2-4    Time - 6:46
2-5    The Great Gig In The Sky - 5:52
2-6    Money - 8:54
2-7    Us And Them - 6:57
2-8    Any Colour You Like - 3:21
2-9    Brain Damage - 3:45
2-10    Eclipse - 2:37
2-11    Wish You Were Here - 6:35
2-12    Comfortably Numb - 9:29
2-13    Run Like Hell - 8:36

Companies, etc.

    Copyright (c) – Pink Floyd Music (1987) Ltd.
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
    Licensed To – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
    Manufactured By – Columbia Records
    Mixed At – Astoria (2)
    Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
    Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman

Credits:

    Backing Vocals – Sam Brown
    Bass – Guy Pratt
    Drums – Nick Mason
    Guitar – David Gilmour, Tim Renwick
    Keyboards – Jon Carin, Rick Wright*
    Mastered By – Doug Sax, Ron Lewter
    Percussion – Gary Wallis
    Producer – David Gilmour, James Guthrie
    Recorded By, Mixed By – James Guthrie
    Saxophone – Dick Parry
    Vocals – Claudia Fontaine, David Gilmour, Durga McBroom, Guy Pratt, Jon Carin, Tim Renwick

Notes:

Recorded live in Europe and the UK with Le Voyageur 11 Mobile.
Mixed at Astoria in Q Sound.
Mastered at The Mastering Lab.

CD 2 (Tracks 2-1 to 2-10): The Dark Side Of The Moon

Includes a 44 page booklet with color photos from the concert.

This limited edition allows the batteries for the blinking LED to be replaced.

Some copies were issued in a long box with a hole cut in the top flap of the long box to show the blinking led of the enclosed CD.
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Other (Cat# on Disc 1): CK 67096
    Other (Cat# on Disc 2): CK 67097
    Matrix / Runout (CD1 variant 1): E3 1C CK67096 08
    Matrix / Runout (CD2 variant 1): E3 1C CK67097 07
    Matrix / Runout (CD1 variant 2): E3 1D CK67096 04
    Matrix / Runout (CD2 variant 2): E3 1C CK67097 07
    Mastering SID Code (CD1 & CD2 - variant 1 & 2): IFPI L422
    Other (CD1, Stamped Inner Hub Mould): P 79
    Other (CD2, Stamped Inner Hub Mould): P 74
    Other (CD1, Stamped Inner Hub Mould Variant 2): P 100

Pink Floyd ‎– Pulse
Label: Columbia ‎– C2K 67065
Format: 2 × CD, Album Box Set, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Classic Rock

Viewfinder links:

all things Pink (Floyd)
“Just the cover, ma’am”
“Just the CD cover, ma’am”
Like "Picasso at the Lapin Agile"

Net links:

Pink Floyd discography
Jem Tunes ~ Pink Floyd – Pulse (1995)
NY Times ~ The Lights! It Must Be Pink Floyd!
Pink Floyd ~ David Gilmour comments on Pulse and Floyd's Future

Rockapedia ~ Pink Floyd - Pulse
RollingStone ~ Pulse

YouTube links:

Pink Floyd ~
Pulse CD (complete in segments)
Pulse concert (live in segments)

Battery replacement of the Pink Floyd PULSE CD-Box

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Styrous® ~ May 29, 2019

1,000,001 CDs Archive

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This past weekend I had a chance to catch the San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra perform at the Mission Dolores Chapel. The SFMO is a plucked string orchestra with 15-25 members playing instruments of the mandolin family (mandolin, mandola and mandocello), as well as guitar, viola da gamba and double bass.

It was an exciting event for me on several levels. For one thing, it is the last Catholic school I'd attended when I was a kid and I hadn't been inside the mission for decades. I'd forgotten how beautiful it is (link below).

For another, a friend of mine was performing with the group. He plays an amazing range of instruments but on this day he played his liuto cantabile, an uncommon ten-stringed mandocello, a bass variant of the mandolin family.

Dennis Hunt with his liuto cantabile

The program was entitled, Wind; normally the group performs using only mandolins; this program included a flute and a clarinet.

And the program held some pleasant surprises for me. The group performed a transcription of the Respighi work, Ancient Airs and Dances from his Third Suite. The work is normally arranged for string orchestra. It is based on lute songs by Besard, a piece for baroque guitar by Ludovico Roncalli, lute pieces by Santino Garsi da Parma and additional anonymous composers. So, basically it was a lute and guitar work rearranged for string orchestra that has become the norm but here it was transcribed back again to its original presentation; talk about coming full cycle and very nicely done.

The other surprise was a cover of the King Crimson song, I Talk To the wind, transcribed for voice and mandolin orchestra. it was sung by Sean Gugler with vocal accompaniment by orchestra leader Achille Bocus (links below).