The Blu-Spec CD?

On this date in 1983 Sony and Phillips first introduced their jointly developed compact dis system. I remember having an argument with a friend of mine in the early 80’s over the CD vs. the Album –of which I had invested quite a bit of my hard earned cash at the time. My friend said the album was dead, the CD would be the permanent replacement, and I had better get used to reading my liners notes with a magnifying glass. My friend Bert was right….sort of. The CD replaced the album- but twenty six years later –it in turn is being replaced by the digital download. Digital track sales were up 27 per cent from last year, breaking the one billion mark for the first time. The Nielson Company’s year end report shows physical CD sales fell 20 per cent to 362.6 million from 450.5 million, while digital album sales rose 32 per cent to a record 65.8 million units. Unfortunately for the labels the increasing amount of digital downloads is still not making up for the drop in CD sales which is a big problem seeing that their business model has always been based on total album sales. That being said however, with the move away from optical media in general, a lot of people where taken by surprise by Sony’s recent announcement of a new CD format-called the Blu-Spec CD. Think Blu-ray for audio. Is this an attempt to bring back the CD to its former glory? The answer to that one has to be no, however there will be a number of back catalogue titles in the new format available through Amazon. I would consider this more like an opportunity for fans of the CD to have the chance to enjoy an “enhanced aural” experience on their favorite form of media-the CD, just like their vinyl loving cousins are able to do with select new and reissued titles on their hi-fi, high dollar turntables. And if that’s not enough apparently the new Blue Spec-CD is way more robust and impervious to scratches like their predecessors where. When you are not listening to them, you can actually use them as coasters at parties….