Phew, I was starting to think someone was looking for YELLO CDs and DVDs when I just saw the headline. Going by some recent requests, it would not really surprise me anymore...

Sorry, cannot provide any info on your actual question, serifiot. Make a backup CD-R. But I guess you've already done so.

Regards,

Urs

handstand, November 18, 2007; 9:57 AM

as far as I know, CDs have always been silver, never seen anything else. only direct sun light can cause the silver material to change its color. I did once an experiment with a CD-R. The color changed to dark brown and the disc was damaged. the material simply melted.

one exception: super audio CDs are brown/golden, not silver. e.g. Goldsmith's Timeline by varese.

regarding factory pressed DVDs, single layer DVDs are silver, double layer DVDs are brown.

are you sure the now yelowish CD isn't bootleg of low quality? I read once an article that low quality pressings could cause such a change of color and of course the quality.

take care!

red.bprd, November 18, 2007; 10:13 AM

Some of the early CD's of John Scott's JOS Records are also slowly turning in yellow/brown.
Some early BEAT CDs have the same.
I have checked these:
Dalle Ardenne All'Inferno BEAT CD CR 18
Holocaust 2000/Sesso in Confessionale BEAT CD CR 20
Il prefetto di ferro BEAT CD CR 19
They all are turned yellow.

ton.werkman, November 18, 2007; 10:43 AM

Thanks for the responses! As long as my CD's play keep playing with unsurpassed quality, whatever color they decide to turn themselves into is fine.

The DVD mentioned has two versions of the same movie on it, most likely it is a double layer DVD. Relieved!

As far as the CD... it had been stored away from sunlight in it's original jewel case and it is not a bootleg but an official release by this unknown record label by the name of RETRO released in the EC with various retro songs by Marlene Dietrich.

I also remember purchasing a discounted brand new official cd with Newton's "Underwold" film score from this record shop that was also yellowish in color instead of silver but the cd played fine.

This soundtrack had been released by MCA Records which is not an unknown label.

Since this score was released back in the mid 90's, perhaps the retailer had acquired the cd back when it was released and through the years had not stored the unsold cd properly subjecting it to a few suntans... I honestly don't know.

I have more stories of funny looking CD's I rather not get into.

serifiot, November 18, 2007; 1:20 PM

Some eraly CDs manufactured in UK :
Alien (Silva) or Herrmann classical works (Unicorn)
turned to be brownish...They still work perfectly!!!
About DVDs there is many brownish ones manufactured in United states wich are not dual layer...Though authentic and original...

filmmusicparis, November 18, 2007; 4:20 PM

The early pressings from Hortensia / Milan are all gold coloured - on both sides.

coma, November 18, 2007; 7:06 PM

You can use a computer drive and Nero CD-DVD Speed in "Disc Quality" mode which checks for the amount of read errors on a disc. All discs have some errors (which are corrected by redundant data) but if the number is excessive then you know there is something wrong with the disc.

piano632, November 19, 2007; 12:11 AM

Early Hortensia/Milan pressings turned yellow I guess. I have Deux Anglaises et le Continent
(Delerue) and it looks goldish, yet I think it was silver when I bought it, although I'm not sure
as it was a long time ago.

chris, November 19, 2007; 5:17 AM

Nah couvee, they are gold coloured indeed. Looks nice but somehow old-fashioned.. ;)

I wonder what sort of material they used. Must have been a sort of particularity, like the
greenish Ryko cases.

coma, November 19, 2007; 3:15 PM

I have the French disc of Donaggio/Depalma that's gold colored. Have always thought there was a bit of actual gold in the disc.

I wonder how the CD's will fare 50 years from now? They may deteriorate or disolve like the novelty disappearing ink that at one time was sold in hobby shops.

Here in the United States there were entire stores devoted to selling products geared towards practical jokes. Disappearing ink was a hot seller. Fake leaking pens were sold that would temporarily stain an unknowing persons shirt. The old itching powder was also a big item. It was spun glass. When sprinked on a persons clothing it would cause an uncontrolable itching sensation.

And then there were tiny explosives to be placed within a cigarette causing a little pop of a blast in the middle of a long drag.

victoravalentine, November 20, 2007; 4:17 PM

Do not give up your LP's 'killer knives'!... I have a feeling that these will outlast every recordable medium.

Are they still selling these pranks?

I remember advertisements in comic books and the inside of pink bubble gum wrapping paper.

Is Cracker Jack still around?

BTW, XMAS tree 'Angel Hair' decoration (finely spun glass) can cause severe itchining as well... I can't imagine a toddler eating that.

It should be banned.

Avoid!

I once had stuck moth balls up my nostrils...

:- x

serifiot, November 20, 2007; 5:40 PM

The color of how a disc looks can also depend on whether you're viewing it in incadescent light (standard light bulbs), which can cause a yellowish look, or in fluorescent light (which can have a slightly bluish look), or direct sunlight (which has the most "natural" look).

I can't worry about how a CD or DVD looks years after I buy it....as long as it plays fine, I don't worry about the look of the disc.

kriegerg69, November 20, 2007; 10:46 PM

This yellowing of CD's reminds me of the yellowing of pages from some old books I have.

Franklin Library books supposedly don't have this problem.

Excellent craftmanship BTW.

I don't believe they are still being published.

Quite a shame!

serifiot, November 21, 2007; 5:00 AM

@ seri:

"The Franklin Library was a division of The Franklin Mint that produced fine collector edition
books over three decades ending in 2000."

PS: I like the Yellow Pages, they are very helpful indeed... ;-))

coma, November 21, 2007; 7:01 AM

Is there a complete list of all their book publications? I've briefly searched the internet and wiki with no success.

serifiot, November 22, 2007; 1:56 AM

Must have been a very brief check, seri.. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_library

coma, November 22, 2007; 6:21 AM

A very brief early morning one...

Thanks!! :- )

serifiot, November 22, 2007; 7:11 AM

Hi serifiot,

Some of the early CD's of John Scott's JOS Records are also slowly turning in
yellow/brown.
Some early BEAT CDs have the same.
I have checked these:
Dalle Ardenne All'Inferno BEAT CD CR 18
Holocaust 2000/Sesso in Confessionale BEAT CD CR 20
Il prefetto di ferro BEAT CD CR 19
They all are turned yellow.

Take care,
Fireboy
jason@fireboyand-watergirl.net
https://fireboyand-watergirl.io


groppysmaw, April 26, 2022; 2:01 PM