US CD - Record Club Edition

Year: 1990

Format: CD

Country: US

Record Label: Geffen / Rough Trade / Columbia House 

Catalog No: D2-24277 CRC

Bar Code: 0 7599-24277-2 2

Notes:  By the early 1990s, record clubs, particularly Columbia House, were very prominent, enticing music fans to sign up for their mail-order only CD club; for basically the cost of the shipping fee, initial members enjoyed a box of CD albums at a fraction of the cost - of course under the agreement that club members will purchase a set number of albums over the course of the membership subscription window at their regular CD prices.  This was basically an extension of their vinyl record/cassette club, popularized in the 1970s/80s. 

For those that signed up to the club, the Reading album was available as one of the selections.  I'm not sure if this release was actually available in 1990 but in comparing the Columbia House version to the regular Geffen long box release, the differences are very minor.  The release basically uses the same sleeves but the rear has the "Manufactured by Columbia House under license" slogan underneath the copyright info on the bottom portion of the sleeve.  The CD also matches the regular release except that a different catalog number is listed under the compact disc logo near the bottom of the CD face: M2G-24277 / CRC.  

The BMG Direct edition is shown directly below.  Customary BMG Direct UPC code on the rear sleeve and on the CD itself.  BMG advert scans circa 1991.

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