Melting Queen Of Soul?

[peterC]

I mentioned this on the BSN forum a few months ago and found out I wasn't the only one who had this problem:

The CDs in my Aretha box set which I purchased on initial release, started to go cloudy and then sticky after a few years (not bronzed). Eventually they became unplayable.

I thought it was something to do with the glue used in the box.


I wrote to Rhino recently about it. They wrote back saying they weren't aware of any problem with the box set but "send it back and we'll replace it".

Very obliging of them considering they don't think there's anything wrong with it!

Anyone else have the same problem?

[Sckott]

Nah, wasn't the glue. Do you know how to spot manufacturers of the Cds? Were they end-to-end WEA made CDs? Some of them rot... but I've not seen one that discolors at the surface. A bootleg I saw once, DID:

I saw this problem 1st when someone showed me a Vigotone box of "Get Back Sessions Vol 2" which was a box set of 4 double Cds of the mono Twickenham run-tapes. Knowing the guy possibly woulnd't be able to get an exchange, I soaked them with some isproponol, wiped them gently, then copied them. At least that way, we would still be able to enjoy most of the box while we searched for another. The whole set copied, even though a few discs looked like a hazy film was all over a few of them (not even a problem with bad copies! Copies played fine....)

Well, he went back and an exchange WAS available! Ah, oh well. The problem with this quirk, if I'm reading you right, is the polycarbonate is breaking down. It will haze and start to decay. Possibly one of the rarest occurances of a CD aging is this polycarbonate rot (not the aluminum flake rotting off). Rhino will replace the suckers. Just make sure you get a contact name, and the package gets return signature.

[mcow1]

I had the same problem with some Arista CDs. They were limited editions of the Grateful Dead - Without A Net. I had put them away and didn't play them for a few months and next time I went to play them the plastic was all hazy. But by then I figured it was too late to do anything being limited release copies.

[Grant]

I remember this.

It was NOT a glue issue. It was the foam they packed in with the CDs. It interacts with the chemicals in the CD. About eight years ago, when it was discovered that this happens, they urged people to remove the foam from the box set and discard it. To my knowledge the Japanese have also abandoned this practice.

I always removed the foam anyway right after opening the box for the first time. I suspect many collectors kept it in.

The Aretha Franklin box had the foam in it. Some Japanese imports from EMI/Toshiba used it.

[peterC]

Originally posted by Grant
I remember this.

The Aretha Franklin box had the foam in it. Some Japanese imports from EMI/Toshiba used it.

What colour is this foam? I couldn't find any foam in mine. Do you mean a soft foam or is this the hard material the CD trays are made of?

[Grant]

Originally posted by peter castanos


What colour is this foam? I couldn't find any foam in mine. Do you mean a soft foam or is this the hard material the CD trays are made of?
I bought my box the day it came out almost 10 years ago. The foam was soft and it was grey.

[Sckott]

Originally posted by Grant

I bought my box the day it came out almost 10 years ago. The foam was soft and it was grey.

This would make sense. The Beatles boot had grey polyfoam in the box. Yikes!

[Pat]

The original US 2CD Set of Rolling Stones-Hot Rocks had "foam" as an insert. Mine decayed over time (the foam) and I had to remove it (in pieces...gooey pieces!). The original 2CD Box of Pink Floyd-Umma Gumma also came with foam...but has held up over time...hmmm? I found NO problems with it affecting the discs in either case.

[peterC]

Originally posted by Grant

I bought my box the day it came out almost 10 years ago. The foam was soft and it was grey.


Interesting. I bought mine then as well, imported from the US of course. No grey foam though. Just the deluxe packaging with the book fitting into a slot on the left and the CDs in two tray sections, all in a black case which slips inside the outer sleeve.

I THINK it is no longer packaged that way. I'm still waiting on my replacement set to arrive so I'll know soon.

[Jeff H.]

I have the same problem with my Aretha box set. Peter who at Rhino should I contact about replacing my CD's? And do I need to just send the discs or the entire box? Let me know, thanks!!!

[peterC]

Originally posted by Jeff H.
I have the same problem with my Aretha box set. Peter who at Rhino should I contact about replacing my CD's? And do I need to just send the discs or the entire box? Let me know, thanks!!!

Contact them at:

dr.rhino@rhino.com

The emails I get back are always signed "Dr Rhino" so I can't give you a contact person.

Initially they told me just to send the CDs but when I suggested the box could be causing the problem they said send the lot and they'll replace it. Mind you the postage from Australia to send the whole set, including the book, was something like $US10.00 so I wouldn't want to be doing that too often!

I'm still waiting to receive the replacement set which they claim to have posted on 19 April.

I think the packaging has changed since the original release to one of those slimmer book style packages with the book stapled into the middle, but I'm not sure. I hope it has changed actually. The old book was impossible to open all the way without damaging it.

[J Epstein]

Thanks for the heads-up, my Elvis Costello Girls Girls Girls set has foam in it, I'll remove it posthaste!

[Kym]

Yikes! I found a foam insert in my Schoolhouse Rock binder box set from 1995. It's now in the trash. Thanks for the info, guys!