Have moved your images up, and hidden my old misty ones :)
(Yeah, looks like the old beast was on the way out even then... but then, aren't we all!)
I've also removed that old link, which had an article about the first 50 CDs, but if you search that term, I think there's a couple of obscure articles knocking about that give a list - that is, if the internet hasn't gotten so monetised as to make these impossible to find now - the internet sucks now!
The real secret joy of looking for, and finding these back then, was that at the boot fairs and charity shops, everyone else was looking in the vinyl crates, but totally ignoring the CDs, so I had them pretty much all to myself, to find lots of treasures nobody thought to look for. But now everyone seems to be getting back into CDs too, as well as other formats, so it's not so easy pickings anymore....
...This is why I've gone back into DVDs and books - still got free reign on those, for a nice cheap hobby, but if that (likely) changes too, I guess I'll start collecting porcelain pigs, thimbles, or some other crud nobody cares for.
I might dig this out again and have another listen now :)
Also MM
I tried your link but it appears to be a (mistaken?) ebay page (could have been a lot worse mistaken links;), and i wondered if you still remember the original link as it could be interesting.
(Also my CD is black/silver)
Also after looking at the three on Discogs ...
The First release appears to be December 1982 as it is on the rear tray artwork, this release does not have the 4 page European languages insert and has "Patent Pending" in releif on the jewel case.
The second release,1984, has the additional 4 page European languages insert, and the "Patent Pending" in releif on the jewel case also.
The third release, 1985 has a (rectified) 10 page booklet.
A comment on Discogs ...
"There is an article about this CD in the Dec. 17, 1983 issue of Billboard. This is not only the first 71-minute CD, it was also one of the first Denon CDs to be shipped in a blister pack."
Hi MM
I've just gold hold of one of these too, it caught my eye in Oxfam (Music) because of the early date on the back (1982).
I've added another set of scans as my one is black, and i wondered if, when you added your scans, your scanner might have been "on the way out"?, and therefore, giving false colours (the blue)?, so i've added some more for your moderation.
I can confirm that my copy also has a 12 prong dark grey tray as well, so, that seems to be right for this issue (i think maybe Japan used these trays at the time whereas we used 8 prong trays over here).
I agree, the added notes in 3 European languages seems to be a late afterthought for export as page 1 is on the back and it's not stapled in.
I agree also that the sound quality is great, and i'm beginning to realise that most of these early CD'S have a much better sound quality, even better than (most) of the modern remasters which are often guilty of cutting the top and lower frequencies off to better cater for modern tastes/earbuds etc., and by doing so, lose the overall dynamics of the recording. (early AAD CD's are still worth seeking out)
Also i've added a scan of a sticker on mine "This CD is recommended by Denon Hi-Fi News"
Firstly, it has finally convinced me that it is worth being patient, and wading through all the CDs I find at a boot fair (I usually get bored, or "CD blind" when there's too many to go through), as you can pick a little gem like this out (Find a few promo CDs recently with this new attitude too :)
... and this is one of the first CDs produced.
It's not among the first fifty apparently, but I'd guess that it was among the first hundred or so, given both the composer and work.
What is amazing about this to me, is that there is over seventy minutes of music on it, and it hasn't compromised the sound quality (So why do some later CDs struggle with times?)... in fact, it's a real belter! The power in this recording is the equal of any vinyl I have.
I don't know why there's a 12 prong tray in the jewel case, as I thought the progression was from a basic 8 prong to a later 16 prong one, so maybe that component of mine is a later addition by the previous owner, or they simply did go from 12, to 8, to 16 (?).
If you look closely, you can just make out the "Patent Pending" embossing on the back cover scan I added.
... and the spines have one end in Japanese and the other end written in English.
Another interesting, and odd feature is that the stapled 6 page front cover booklet, which is written in Japanese (With lyrics in German, and a little dash of English on the back), has a one sheet, folded couple of pages inserted, which has notes in English, German, and French by Yukio Miyake... but this has been printed wrongly (upside down, I've concluded), and opens the wrong end, so the last paragraphs appear on the "front" page, and the front page credits and opening paragraphs appear on the back. I'm assuming this inclusion is a "for export" insert.
There's a couple of other Japanese Denon issues in this cat# range on the normal CD world too if it is of interest.