so is this a legitimate import or a bootleg?
Colombian 2 Disc Version of X&Y

Legit. It's issued through a major label (EMI), has a bar code, and it's got copy protection on it. Bootlegs are usually on a label with a name you've never heard of, don't have bar codes, and certainly wouldn't be copy protected.

I generally avoid imports for the same reason I avoid vinyl: I already have hundreds and hundreds of CD releases that I'm behind on and can't even afford my CD habit, so I don't want to venture into and get caught up in another medium/category. So I don't seek them out as a collector like I do in some other regards.

The only import I have is the Comus - Song to Comus: The Complete Collection 2CD set. I had to sacrifice the awesome cover artwork from the first album's original release, but it's got their complete second (and albeit, lesser) album, some extra/alternate tracks, excellent quality, and that artwork is at least still in the liner notes:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...qL._SS500_.jpg

[edit]: Damnit I'm stupid. I just realized that I have a bunch of CDs that I've purchased, mostly metal, but because I didn't buy them from amazon with an "[Import]" insignia next to the product name I forgot that they are in fact imports. So some others I have are:

Uaral - Lamentos a Poema Muerto ..........folk-doom metal from Chile.
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4...7d4bb85un2.jpg

The Ulver "trilogie" (Nattens Madrigal, Kveldssanger , and Bergtatt ..........Norwegian black metal.

Yann Tiersen - C'Était Ici and Rue Des Cascades ..........you'd know him from the soundtrack for the French film Amelie

White Sands - Deseronto .......... Americana from The Netherlands

The Tallest Man on Earth - The Tallest Man on Earth S/T EP and Shallow Grave ..........solo acoustic folk from Sweden.

Sol - Let There Be A Massacre ..........doom metal from Denmark.
http://mediaportal.ru/uploads/posts/...back-cover.jpg

Smohalla - Nova Persei ..........progressive black metal from France.

Saline Grace - Border Town Shades ..........Americana/alt-country from Germany

Nic Morrey and the Middle Earth Ensemble - When One Is ..........Celtic/world fusion-folk from Australia/New Zealand.

Godspeen You! Black Emperor - F# A# (Infinity), Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven 2CD, Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada [EP], Yanqui U.X.O. ..........epic instrumental post-rock from Canada.

Elope - 3WD, 9 Distilled Dreams, The No Name Record ..........Swedish indie rock.

Elliott Brood - Ambassador, Tin Type ..........Alt-country from Canada.

December's Cold Winter - Decaying Recollections ..........symphonic black/death metal from Costa Rica.

Caoimhin O Raghallaigh - Where the One-Eyed Man is King ..........traditional Celtic folk from Ireland.

As Light Dies - A Step Through the Reflection .......... experimental metal from Spain.

Amesoeurs - Ruines Humaines ..........progressive black metal from France.

Alessandro Monti - Unfolk ..........experimental acid-folk from Italy.



damn, and I'm realizing this is only the ones I remember for sure being imports. I'm sure there's at least a dozen more international bands that I just can't remember if they are imports or not.

thanks for the info rocketdog. that makes sense that it would be legit since it has a bar code.
I don't balme you roughdraft. The CD habit can be pretty damn expensive. good to see you have such discipline! I have not heard of comus. Here are the ones I have so far:
Norah Jones-Come Away With Me
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
Dido-No Angel (x2)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
The Fray-How To Save A Life
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
Coldplay X&Y (x2)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg
Billy Joel-River of Dreams
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

lol damn rough you must have edited your post while I was typing mine up because I don't remember you listing all of those albums before. And I have not heard of A SINGLE ONE! oh yeah the French film...Yann Tie..rse...sene...Yann Tierseneseser lol who the hell is that?
do you have any imports from US artists?

thx for posting!

Yeah, I did, cuz like I said I realized that I do have a ton of imports. I guess I forgot because I have this stigma of imports having Japanese lettering on the side, a big sticker that says "IMPORT" on it and prices starting at $40 (the most expensive one I have is the Uaral one, which still was only $21 including shipping). Turns out I was able to remember a good deal of imports I have, but like I said can't be sure about a bunch of others that may well be.

But no, I don't think I have any US artists' international imports. I know that some may have superior releases overseas, but I can't help but prefer the domestic release, and the same goes for DVDs. Though again, if I had more time and money things would be different.

And Comus is awesome! One of the first bands to be dubbed the term "acid-folk", from the UK in the early seventies.

gotcha...a couple of the imports I have do have the sticker on them or if they're a Japanese version, they have the obi strip but some don't have anything indicating they're an import. I just received the one from The Fray today. I ordered it from amazon via a 3rd-party seller, importcds. I should be getting a Japanese version of Jay-Z's Black Album anyday since it was from the same order as the Fray. I don't think it has any extra tracks but I'm not positive. Luckily through importcds, the price ended up being the same as if I had bought the US version right from amazon.

Well, the overall answer to this depends on several things: the popularity of the artist (if they were never popular in Japan, records were probably never made there), the rabidness of their fans, and the overall recordkeeping by the band.

As I said in my OP, I was a *huge* Duran Duran fan back in the early 80s. For years, I wanted someone to publish a "tell-all" book about them. I found out a month ago that someone had (Duran Duran: Notorious - The Unauthorized Biography by Steve Malins), so I bought a copy with an Amazon gift card and am reading it now.

This has caused a massive re-interest on my part in Duran Duran stuff, and just the other day I found a site that lists all 5 known versions of Rio (the vinyl album), as well as the 2 known versions of the album on CD and all 14 known versions of the actual song.

The page is incredible (and exhaustive). I've known for years that there were at least three versions of the album on vinyl - hell, I still own all three versions, I think. But I had no idea that there were so many different versions of Rio (and I'm talking about actual differences between the songs on the record, not just different album art or picture sleeves).

And I was a huge fan... so it just goes to show you that even formerly rabid fans can be out of the loop. Check out the page I was talking about - it even hints at some other versions that might or might not exist!

Wow, thanks for posting the cover of the Dutch edition of X&Y. I'll have to pick that up soon.

thanks for the link Rex. Although I've heard of Duran Duran, I am not too familiar with them.

Hey bus, the Dutch edition sells for like $46 on amazon but importcds sells it for like $13. I've had 3 orders filled by them now and they've been great every time.
Also, I don't know if you'd have any interest, but I believe CDUniverse has the UK imported version of viva la vida back in stock. I don't know if there are any differences between it and the US release though.

Arcadia, So Red The Rose (Japanese vinyl):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...ose-176068.jpg

Cocteau Twins, Treasure (Japanese vinyl):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...ure-100806.jpg

Duran Duran, Rio (Japanese vinyl):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...-Rio-54771.jpg

Madonna, "Crazy For You" (shaped British 7" single):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...r-You-5440.jpg

Madonna, "Holiday" (British 12" picture disc):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...ay-91-5433.jpg

Madonna, Like A Prayer (Japanese vinyl):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...yer-236915.jpg

Madonna, Ray of Light (Japanese CD):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...ght-141630.jpg

Madonna, True Blue (Hong Kong picture disc):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...lue-136955.jpg

Psychedelic Furs - "Dumb Waiters" (UK 7", with playable pic sleeve):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...mb-Waiters.jpg

Madonna - Set of 4 7" colored vinyl interview discs:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...olo-314567.jpg

This Mortal Coil - "Come Here My Love" (British 10" single):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...re-My-Love.jpg

The Glove - "Like An Animal" (British 7")

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...-An-Animal.jpg

(The Glove was a one-off band featuring Robert Smith of The Cure and Steve Servin of Siouxsie and the Banshees)

<img src=http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4025/21m0mzmqfklsl500aa130cj6.jpg height=240 width=240>
Gack - Fix CD (Japan)

<img src=http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2983/8b12a2c008a099637fb8801qu1.jpg height=240 wideth=240>
Lääz Rockit - Nothing$ $acred CD (Japan)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1...00aa240iq0.jpg
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings CD (Japan)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8...00aa240ux2.jpg
Sepultura - Nation CD (Australia)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5...00aa240uv5.jpg
Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark CD (Japan)

I wish my Viva La Vida japanese CD would get here. :mad:

thanks for posting the pictures.

hey bus did you try to contact the seller or anything?

oh yeah, I think I mentioned earlier but I've seen two different japanese versions listed.

cdjapan still has one of the versions available
One Japanese Version

heh - wishbon3's pics remind me of my best friend's record collection in high school. He was a New Wave guy in middle school, but by the time I met him he was into Maiden, Slayer, Metallica, Megadeath, etc.

Look at my records again. Somehow I wonder how this guy and I ever became best friends!