A Japanese reissue of The Rising CD in a cardboard sleeve, a miniature replica of the original LP packaging. Includes transparent mini sticker on cover; full album on one CD (with graphic label), but two inner sleeves with lyrics and photos to replicate the original two-LP package; obi strip.
Notes: In 1999, Sony Music Japan released a first wave of limited edition Springsteen CD reissues, each beautifully packaged in cardboard sleeves, miniature replicas of the original LP sleeves. This limited run consisted of his albums from Greetings through Nebraska (plus Chimes of Freedom). The packaging was recreated in exacting detail -- the fold-out postcard for Greetings, the gatefold sleeve for Born to Run -- including the original obi (the title strip present on LP and CD releases in Japan). A second wave, from Born in the U.S.A. onward, was planned but unfortunately never released.
In 2005 they tried it again -- and this time they got it right. This past summer, Sony Music Japan again reissued Greetings through Nebraska in the mini-LP sleeves, followed by each subsequent album from Born in the U.S.A. all the way through The Rising. If anything, this series is even more detailed than the first -- with all inner sleeves, stickers, gatefolds, etc., from the original LP packaging recreated in miniature.
How about the sound? Well, we need to point out that none of these Japanese discs are remasters, at least in the commonly accepted sense of the term -- no new master tapes have been accessed. But as often is the case with Japanese pressings, discerning ears may note some sound improvements (likely the result of analog-to-digital technology improvements which have yielded superior sound from the same tapes). We can't recommend these forthcoming discs if it's remasters or significantly improved sound you're looking for. But as the best-looking, best-sounding (with the exception of Born to Run, newly remastered in the U.S.) editions of Springsteen's catalog on CD, these are hard to beat. Highly recommended for collectors and those who appreciate quality packaging.
Quantities are limited; orders will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.