Normally it is "all about the music" but this one is probably especially of interest to the collector of all things "Bon Jovi" who likes to also have copies that are a little bit different.
This was received by our audio production facilities "many moons ago" and while the music is exactly as expected, the shell is not!
Read on for details ...
BON JOVI - Slippery When Wet
Mercury Records
Cat# 830 264-4
Misprinted shell variant
Australian release
1986
Cassette packaging is in good condition EXCEPT for a serious print issue on the cassette shell. The labelling method is as expected, being pad printed directly onto the shell (not a paper label) but there are two issues with the print ...
a) The album title and track listing is quite indistinct and faint
not such a big deal but ...
b) BOTH sides of the cassette tape have been printed as Side 2 along with the listed tracks, only for Side 2. Bit confusing! I wouldn't mind betting that not many of these made it to the retail marketplace (ours was received as a direct copy from Polygram, Sydney) and probably the other copies were recalled el pronto!
This shell misprint caused considerable confusion when our staff would go to play this cassette.
It will be supplied "ready to roll" on Side 1 (full tape spool on the left hand side)
The original Cream coloured shell has shifted towards a Yellow (possibly previous cleaning attempts but NOT smoke related - forbidden in our studios!) and there is no personal writing on the shell or outer cassette case
Before playing I repacked the tape, and carefully visually inspected the clamshell, rollers and head pressure pad - no issues with the shell or tape at all
This is a screw type clamshell so if ever it was required to "get inside" to relube, no issues with this tape.
With anxious anticipation, after preparing the tape for play after all this time, I loaded her into the Naka and played the entire tape, both sides.
The audio is crisp and clean and there are no problems at all with "drop outs" or high frequency loss heard.
Most importantly, the tape pancake has at least been loaded correctly and the track order is as it should be - the entire program for Side 1 AND Side 2 are recorded on the tape. Interesting side note though ... the Soundburst test tones on Side 1 are at the beginning (normal) but also the END of Side 1, just prior to playing Side 2 which has it's own test tones. In other words, Side 1 has two sets of test tones not the normal one set at the beginning.
A "quirky" copy but the music is just the same as other releases of this album (in analog sound of course, not digital)
TRACKS: Let It Rock, You Give Love A Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer, Social Disease, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Raise Your Hands, Without Love, I'd Die For You, Never Say Goodbye, Wild In The Streets
