Asteroid
Member
Oh 8cm blank media is common, as are data disks. However 8cm pressed audio cds as per the topic are not.
Mini CDs
- Thread starter fmueller
- Start date
fmueller
Super Member
Although I used to live in Aus for several years, I wouldn't know, since I never checked for them there. That business card mini CD I talked about in my initial posting I saw in Aus though. I used to work for the federal government - Dept of Transport - and some company wanted to promote their stuff to us using a fancy business card.
Frank
SA-708
Appalachian-American
I collect the little 3" CDs; I probably have over 100 of them. I'll have to check once I get home for an exact count. Most are singles, but I have four CD albums that came with a second 3" CD of bonus tracks (Nine Inch Nails, Meat Beat Manifesto, and a couple of Japanese imports by Lush and Belly IIRC), an album on three 3" discs (Oranges and Lemons by XTC), and 4 of them as part of a Bjork box set. The format didn't last long here in the USA during the original late 80s run, but they remained popular in Japan. They've had something of a renaissance lately, with small labels producing them again, and also the Pock-It line from Europe. The availability of 3" disc jewel cases, created for the new recordable media but not available back when they first came out, seems to have helped in their recent resurrection.
They were not part of the original red book standard, but were created about 1987 and added to the red book at that time. My first CD player from 1986 (a Technics) didn't have a recessed spot in the tray for the little discs, so I had to eyeball a mini CD onto the right spot before inserting the tray. My first 3" CD was "Don't Let's Stop" by They Might Be Giants, which I purchased new in 1987. IIRC the first one released was "Peaches en Regalia" by Frank Zappa, on Ryko also that year. I also used to have a Subaru Forester, made in Japan, with a stock slot-loading CD player that would play the little CDs.
I bought a lot of 18 or so of these on eBay several months back, and have been meaning to list the duplicates on the music barter thread here at AK.
They were not part of the original red book standard, but were created about 1987 and added to the red book at that time. My first CD player from 1986 (a Technics) didn't have a recessed spot in the tray for the little discs, so I had to eyeball a mini CD onto the right spot before inserting the tray. My first 3" CD was "Don't Let's Stop" by They Might Be Giants, which I purchased new in 1987. IIRC the first one released was "Peaches en Regalia" by Frank Zappa, on Ryko also that year. I also used to have a Subaru Forester, made in Japan, with a stock slot-loading CD player that would play the little CDs.
I bought a lot of 18 or so of these on eBay several months back, and have been meaning to list the duplicates on the music barter thread here at AK.
NotSure
Active Member
You could find them while they were used as the single CD format. I got a few, Nick Kershaw - The Riddle, Edelweiss - Bring Me Edelweiss, and Gary More - Military Man.
I always liked the little disks, but my two adapter rings disappeared, and I found that many random CD players would not play them without the rings. They took the precious those dirty little hobbitses!
MarkD
Super Member
I've got one of them. The English Beat with 3 songs on it. I've never had a problem playing it on any CD player I've had. Never tried it on a computer though. As long as it can get on the spindle, I would think it would play since it's standard CD format and CD's start at the center and play out (opposite of a record)
MrDevonair
Member
I’m sure NOFX the skate punk band did a cd in the shape and size of a credit card back in the day..
I’ve been waiting a long time to show these off. A complete set of Beatles 3” in little plastic cases that are a bitch to open, some Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega, Frank Zappa, and XTC discs in little mini LP sleeves.
I got them in the 80s when I worked for a GA based record chain called Turtles. Never been played, or out of their cases.
I believe they were sold in long boxes like regular cds were in their first couple of years and placed in the racks alongside cds and LPs.
I got them in the 80s when I worked for a GA based record chain called Turtles. Never been played, or out of their cases.
I believe they were sold in long boxes like regular cds were in their first couple of years and placed in the racks alongside cds and LPs.
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Novachord
Member
Love the Beatles. My first flat was in The Barons, Twickenham England opposite Twickenham Film Studios around 1983. My next door neighbour showed me a photo taken in 1964 of the road jammed packed with fans during the filming of A Hard Day's Night. There's only two studios and in the other studio they were filming the live action parts of Mary Poppins at the time.
I know most the places used in the film as they are in south west London/Twickenham area. The bit when Ringo walked by himself along the River Thames was shot on the Kew side of the river and the grim looking building in the background was Brentford Gas Works, now long gone.
The only pop star I've ever met was Pete Townsend; I was in an antiques shop on Richmond Hill and he walked in, and I had a quick chat with him about how much I liked the Who's music.
frodaddi
Active Member
+1 for Turtles! Remember that chain fondly from when I first moved to metro ATL back in 91. Couple Christmases ago my wife bought me a reproduction tshirt from a place called Local Vyntage.
Bone Yard
Super Member
I think the mini-CD LP movement is still big in Japan with special releases in limited quantities. I've never seen one up close but it sounds like a fun hobby still going strong.
This is a fun read about Japanese LP Releases and there's some info on the mini CD LPs. Check out the Scorpions Album Cover on the top, oh yea. The thumbnail shows Greek but the article is in English.
This is a fun read about Japanese LP Releases and there's some info on the mini CD LPs. Check out the Scorpions Album Cover on the top, oh yea. The thumbnail shows Greek but the article is in English.
Japan LP Concept - HiEnd Maniac JAPAN LP/CD & HI-FI Devices Distribution
Ένας ξεχωριστός προμηθευτής λιανικής αναγνωρισμένος για την ποικιλία, τις τιμές και την ικανοποίηση των πελατών του, προσφέρει προϊόντα σε τοπικούς λιανεμπόρους μέσω online παραγγελιών. Δεκτές και οι τηλεφωνικές παραγγελίες.
www.lpcdjapan.gr
You have to be careful when looking for 3” cds on eBay as they tend to be mixed with Japanese mini LPs, which are 5” cds in 5” sleeves meant to be reproductions of the original 12” cardboard sleeves.
That type of packaging is being used widely these days, but the Japanese take it to the next level.