a question for Japanese fans and collectors

[StratoFabio]

I've just got by ebay a copy of Polaris (Japanese edition by JVC/victor). I expected to find the Japanese bonus-track "Second Sight"...it has written on "obi" stickers but not on the digipack back cover and finally "Second Sight" is missing in the cd.
My question is: every Polaris Japanese edition cds must have "Second Sight" or is there just in a special edition?

[rikkertje]

Well I'm not Japanese, but I do have the Japanese version and it contains 'Second Sight'.

[VictorTDD]

"Second Sight" appears as track 4 on Japan edition.

[StratoFabio]

so in your opinion "Second Sight" must be always in the Japanese edition? is it possible I got a bootleg? I could post some photo here...

[VictorTDD]

Yes, it must always contain "Second Sight".

Post your photos here.

[StratoFabio]

I will later cause I have to go now.
by now thanks for all your answers

[StratoFabio]

look at the pic. cd was sealed

[JensJohansson]

look at the pic. cd was sealed

This is very strange indeed. I will forward the question to JVC.

[StratoFabio]

thanks Jens. I bought this cd from an ebay German seller (100% positive feedback).

[Burning Reflection]

All the Japanese on the back is correct, but I see your problem. Look at the fine print...it says "for sale in Thailand only" must be some type of bootleg. I have the Japanese version; it came with a fold out poster of the band, Japanese lyric book, 3 fold Holographic 3d cover and a Bonus Track

[StratoFabio]

All the Japanese on the back is correct, but I see your problem. Look at the fine print...it says "for sale in Thailand only" must be some type of bootleg. I have the Japanese version; it came with a fold out poster of the band, Japanese lyric book, 3 fold Holographic 3d cover and a Bonus Track

yes I've just seen there's "for sale in Thailand only"; so it's a bootleg! mystery revealed!
now I have to buy the official Japanese edition again!

[JensJohansson]

Got a reply from JVC already.. those guys never sleep! Of course they are in a different time zone as well, but regardless of that, they also never sleep.

It's a legit copy, sublicensed to JVC's Thai partner Platinum.

Probably the people at Platinum can't read Japanese and just used the information with the bonus track from the Japaneze "obi". It's deeply unknown why they did that.

So that's your answer!

I'm happy the record is out in Thailand ..

[VictorTDD]

Yes, it's a Thailand import version by Platinum Marketing and Distribution, and its catalogue number is VIC PMDCD-1249. It uses the same obi with Japanese edition (except the bar code was changed), but its back cover is different from the Japanese one.

You can see Japanese edition below:

The back cover also contains Japanese.
Catalogue number is VICP-64708.

[VictorTDD]

Taiwanese edition also contains no bonus track, but its obi was re-designed totally. Chinese characters are beautiful.
It was under license from JVC, too. Catalogue number is MVP-64708.

[StratoFabio]

so this one I bought it's still good for my collection! we should upgrade the "Polaris editions". I remember a guy here (Tero from Finland, I guess) open an interesting topic with all Stratovarius albums editions.
Anyway thanks to all for the infos!

[VictorTDD]

All the versions of Polaris as far as I know:

EU 12" Vinyl
Release Date: 2009.05.13
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0196731ERE
Tracks: 11

EU Promo
Release Date: 2009
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0196732EREP
Tracks: 11
Notes: Cardboard Sleeve, All Tracks Faded

EU Normal Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.13
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0196732ERE
Tracks: 11
Notes: Jewelcase

EU Limited Digipack Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.13
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0197132ERE
Tracks: 11 + 1 Bonus Track
Notes: Digipack

EU Limited Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.13
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0197132ERE
Tracks: 11 + 1 Bonus Track
Notes: Jewelcase

EU Collector's Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.13
Label: earMUSIC / edel Entertainment GmbH
Catalogue Number: 0196737ERE
Tracks: 11 [CD] / 2 [Vinyl]
Notes: CD + 7" Blue Vinyl

USA Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.26
Label: Armoury Records / Eagle Rock Entertainment
Catalogue Number: ARM 25031-2
Tracks: 11
Notes: Jewelcase

Japan Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.20
Label: Victor Entertainment
Catalogue Number: VICP-64708
Tracks: 11 + 1 Bonus Track
Notes: Digipack + OBI

Thailand Edition
Release Date: 2009.05.26
Label: Platinum Marketing and Distribution
Catalogue Number: VIC PMDCD-1249
Tracks: 11
Notes: Digipack + OBI

South Korea Edition
Release Date: 2009.06.26
Label: Loen Entertainment
Catalogue Number: L100003821
Tracks: 11
Notes: Digipack

Taiwan Edition
Release Date: 2009.06.26
Label: Magnum Music
Catalogue Number: MVP-64708
Tracks: 11
Notes: Digipack + OBI

Russia Edition
Release Date: 2009
Label: Soyuz Music (Союз-Мьюзик)
Catalogue Number: 4601250362229
Tracks: 11
Notes: Jewelcase + OBI

Australia Edition
Release Date: 2009.10.09
Label: Riot Entertainment
Catalogue Number: RIOT052CD
Tracks: 11
Notes: Jewelcase

[StratoFabio]

wow! good job Victor! they are so many! and I miss most of them! I got the EU digi + bonus, the EU collector + vinyl and this one I posted. I also got the Deep Unknown single and DU single promo.

[VictorTDD]

I got both Deep Unknown single and single promo, too.

It's a very long and hard trip to do a huge collection.

[Tero-75]

Nice work Victor Where in a hell do you get all this information?
And where did you get that Deep Unknown promo?!? Want one too

[StratoFabio]

hey guys, I have another "suspect" cd! it's the "Stratovarius" (the 2005 album I mean) US promo! it looks like a real blue-cd (and it is in my opinion) even if the ebay seller told me is the original US promo ! I could post a pic if you want...

[VictorTDD]

Nice work Victor Where in a hell do you get all this information?
And where did you get that Deep Unknown promo?!? Want one too

Mostly from the net.

I got the DU promo on eBay. The only difference between promo and normal release is a promo sticker on the jewelcase.

[StratoFabio]

hey Vicor mine is completely different than yours! let me post the pic

[VictorTDD]

hey guys, I have another "suspect" cd! it's the "Stratovarius" (the 2005 album I mean) US promo! it looks like a real blue-cd (and it is in my opinion) even if the ebay seller told me is the original US promo ! I could post a pic if you want...

What is "a real blue-cd"? Post the picture here.

[VictorTDD]

hey Vicor mine is completely different than yours! let me post the pic

Oh, another version again! So many versions...

[StratoFabio]

[VictorTDD]

Oh, I saw this dvd on eBay before. It's a Music Video Promo DVD, not a Deep Unknown single promo.

I also saw an E.P.K. Promo DVD on eBay, sold by the same seller.

[StratoFabio]

yes, you are right about that. it's just the dvd promo version, not the cd-single promo.
and look at this one

[VictorTDD]

I never saw this promo before. Is it a factory-pressed cd?

According to the pic, I think it's a real US promo. The "Parental Advisory" sticker on the case is used in USA only.

Actually many releases in USA have this kind of promos: no cover, no booklet, just a white cd in the case.

[StratoFabio]

I never saw this promo before. Is it a factory-pressed cd?

According to the pic, I think it's a real US promo. The "Parental Advisory" sticker on the case is used in USA only.

Actually many releases in USA have this kind of promos: no cover, no booklet, just a white cd in the case.

yes it's the US promo and it looks like a "blue-cd" and probably it is. it also has a back cover that it's just a printed paper

[R.F.]

look at the pic. cd was sealed

This is very strange indeed. I will forward the question to JVC.

Yes, Second Sight - "Sekando Saito" - to be precise is track number four.