This weeks Record Of The Week features 3 Long Box CD’s from America. The reason for Longboxes to be used for packaging was to allow record stores to display CD’s in their traditional vinyl racks. This interesting Wikipedia article explains a little more :
“When compact discs first began to appear in the retail stores, the longbox packaging served a transitional purpose, allowing shops to file new compact discs in the same bins originally used for vinyl records. Longboxes were 12″ tall, and capable of containing two separate discs when necessary. Most longboxes were full color, with details about the compact disc on the back, and artwork that was frequently taken from the original square album cover art, reworked for the new shape and size. There were generic white longboxes with windows that would display the compact disc cover, as well as clear plastic versions that were an inexpensive substitute for a printed longbox.”
Becoming more and more collectible, especially in mint condition, these 3 are good examples of the Eurythmics albums, We Two Are One and Greatest Hits, as well as the Annie Lennox album Diva
