Electronic Magic

(Voices In The Net, October 2008)

In summer 2008 the album The Electronic Magic Of Tangerine Dream was released on CD in the USA and the UK by different record companies. Though the music material is identical, the design is quite different.

Box and Booklet Covers

The US release comes in a black cardboard box with adhered front and back covers. The UK version was released in a standard slim double jewel case.

Front side of box of US release

The front cover of both releases is designed completely different. While the US release incorporates the artwork from the tour posters from TD's 1975 Australian tour, the UK release uses a 1972 band photo and reuses the large title letters from the cover of the single release Ultima Thule. In fact, early previews of the UK cover came without the title The Electronic Magic Of, so it seems that it was originally intended to be released under the name Ultiuma Thule only.

Back side of box of US release

The back sides of the US box and the UK booklet are essentially identical, using the same printed information and the same photo. Completely different colours were used, of course.

Booklet pages 1 and 8 of UK release

Inner Booklets

The US version contains two 4-page leaflets -- essentially one for each CD. The UK version was released with a stapled 8-page booklet.

Outer pages of first leaflet of US release

Booklet pages 2 and 3 of UK release

The outer pages of the first leaflet of the US release and pages 2/3 of the UK booklet are quite the same, showing almost identical printed information (including the missing space characters between track title and year of tracks 2 and 7). They just use some different colour for the written text, and the UK version does not only show the original covers of both 7" single releases contained in the compilation, but their labels as well. These images are missing in the US leaflet.

Inner pages of first leaflet of US release

The inner pages of the first leaflet of the US release show some advertisements which are completely missing in the UK release.

Inner pages of second leaflet of US release

Booklet pages 4 and 5 of UK release

The inner pages of the second leaflet of the US release are essentially identical to the pages 4/5 of the UK booklet. The US version comes with b/w photos while the UK booklet shows them in colour (as far as the original photos were coloured) or in sepia tone.

Outer pages of second leaflet of US release

Booklet pages 6 and 7 of UK release

The outer pages of the second leaflet of the US release are essentially identical to the pages 6/7 of the UK booklet, with the exception of the colours used.

Extras

Sticker and button of US release

The US release comes with an additional sticker and a small button which are completely missing in the UK release.

Back Insert

Inner side of back insert of UK release

The inner side of the UK jewel case back insert just reuses the same photos from the booklet.

Outer side of back insert of UK release

The outer side of the UK back insert is almost identical to the back page of the booklet. It just has some additional copyright notes and uses a different type face -- the one that is used on the booklet's front page. Note that the side tabs mention the title Ultima Thule only.

Discs

Disc 1 of US release		Disc 2 of US release
Disc 1 of UK release		Disc 2 of UK release

The discs of the two releases are designed completely different again. Notably, the UK discs feature the title Ultima Thule only, omitting the title The Electronic Magic once more.