Discography layout

Each entry consists of the following:-
• Covers: the covers that appeared on releases bearing that title. Covers of white label releases (see definitions below) are not shown.
• Commentary: a few thoughts on the release, taken as a whole. The commentary is located in a white field in top of pages.
• Tracklisting and formats: First we have release dates and chart positions. These are not complete but if you have any further details please submit them to me. Then follows a list of the catalogue numbers (see definitions below) for releases and their formats, with brief description of packaging and cover, and the complete tracklisting and bonus contents. You click a track in the tracklisting to access the entry for that song in the songs guide. Promos (see definitions below) are listed separate from commercial releases, and releases are listed by country.

Abbreviations used in the discography

CD - compact disc
TC - tape cassette
12" - 12 inch vinyl
10" - 10 inch vinyl
7" - 7 inch vinyl
MD - Minidisc
VHS PAL - video cassette in PAL broadcast standard
VHS NTSC - video cassette in NTSC broadcast standard
2x, 3x, etc (before another format) - 2, 3, etc, of that format
DVD - digital video disc

Discographical terms

promo - an official release that was not released for sale. i.e., it was released for promotional purposes.
catalogue number - the unique code that is assigned to a release by the record company, marked on the release.
white label release - a release (invariably a promo, see above) which has no proper sleeve artwork, they are generally predominantly white in colour (hence the name) and the sleeve may be stamped or stickered, minimally, or just have a printed title. Covers for these are not included in the discography.

Note on UK singles market

The UK is now in 2005 one of the few countries where record companies commercially release singles in any great volume. For example, it takes roughly 1/10th of the sales of an average UK number one for a single to be the best selling single in the US. The reason for this is that record companies do not release singles commercially in other territories, preferring to promote singles on the radio and on music television stations without an accompanying release available to buy. This explains why the singles discography is (apart from promos) almost solely concerned with UK releases. A notable exception is Australia; but it is true that the UK has by far the largest singles market in the world.

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