Album Authentication Help

norain · #1 27th December 2005, 05:30 PM

Can someone tell me if these are authentic (no not authentic bootlegs)
I want to buy more but x_x dunno how to tell.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ayumi-Hamasaki-3...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ayumi-Hamasaki-D...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/AYUMI-HAMASAKI-D...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ayumi-Hamasaki-A...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ayumi-Hamasaki-L...QQcmdZViewItem

::HELP::

stardusties · #2 27th December 2005, 05:35 PM

e.e....I think the last 4 lnks are bootlegs...but i'm not so sure on the first one

Raleigh · #3 27th December 2005, 05:48 PM

Let's see. For a first always check the feedback of the seller to get a better idea of what they are selling. The first one looks authentic. The second one I'm not too sure but looks like an OS Version, same goes to the others.

ohsixthirty · #4 27th December 2005, 05:49 PM

the last 4 definitely look like bootlegs...but the first auction, i'm not sure of. i notice the RAINBOW cd lists the song RAINBOW as track 00, and i'm not sure it was listed like that, but i can't remember for sure as i haven't really paid attention.

Indie · #5 27th December 2005, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by touchedstar

the last 4 definitely look like bootlegs...but the first auction, i'm not sure of. i notice the RAINBOW cd lists the song RAINBOW as track 00, and i'm not sure it was listed like that, but i can't remember for sure as i haven't really paid attention.

I rememebr reading that edition listed RAINBOW as track 00, it's even on Divine AYU.

the ayu page at enneaba (it's from a user here, I don't remember his/her name) tells you almost every bootleg out there, you can check out those.

Delirium-Zer0 · #6 27th December 2005, 07:46 PM

Actually, this is really funny.

The ones you think are bootlegs? ALL official chinese releases.

They look awful, I know, but they ARE licensed by avex for distribution in mainland china by China Record Shanghai Corporation. But they're real.

The first auction? ALL of them are high-quality bootlegs manufactured by a US group called Alion International. NONE are released under avex; just very convincing photocopies.

ShadowMehMeh · #7 28th December 2005, 04:05 AM

Finally I have that Alion International thing cleared up. XD I have three of Ayu's CDs, RAINBOW, A BALLADS, and I am... but when I saw "Alion" printed in the corner on the back of all the CDs I got a little skeptical about it. I suspected that I am... was bootleg a while after I got it because there were really pale yellow/blue/pink scribbles on the first two pages of the booklet insert.

Not only that, but I looked at DivineAyu's CD scans and I noticed that the CDs I had looked nothing like what I saw on DivineAyu. For instance, the CD for I am... was tan-colored, but the one I have is a bold orange color. The CD for A BALLADS is supposed to be plain cream-colored with a little black design on it, but my CD has the album cover printed on it. Same with RAINBOW.

I also used to think that they were officially released Taiwanese copies... they said "Made in Taiwan" but yeah I was naive...

#8 28th December 2005, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

Actually, this is really funny.

The ones you think are bootlegs? ALL official chinese releases.

They look awful, I know, but they ARE licensed by avex for distribution in mainland china by China Record Shanghai Corporation. But they're real.

The first auction? ALL of them are high-quality bootlegs manufactured by a US group called Alion International. NONE are released under avex; just very convincing photocopies.

Exactly!

orangeland · #9 28th December 2005, 04:51 AM

yep, Delirium-Zer0 is right. and guess what? they're the NEW mainland releases. how are they new? well, in the past, avex cds have cost around 58 RMB (~7-8 USD), a price chinese people can't usually afford. these new versions (called "simpler versions") are around 2 USD and only come w/ an insert (much like a single insert) and no booklet.

.

ShadowMehMeh · #10 28th December 2005, 05:50 AM

Aww. But Ayu's booklets are neat...

norain · #11 28th December 2005, 06:56 AM

7-8 dollars? NEH? O_O lol

Delirium-Zer0 · #12 28th December 2005, 10:54 PM

Wow, i'm glad i helped out with the Alion thing! I've been running into their stuff alot for the last few years. They have a nice looking "MY STORY" bootleg too.

Thank orangeland for info on the chinese releases... i initially thought they were bootlegs too, and really stood by that, till he showed me ayu's official chinese site. I apologized for being so stubborn. (remember that?

)

elepop · #13 28th December 2005, 11:19 PM

If it's not avex trax, for me... it's fake.

RAINBOW: Track number 00 = RAINBOW? Humm...

Duty: FAKE! Notice the chinese words? And the stickers? And the "Chinese Record Shanghai Corporation"?

A Song for XX: Once again. Stickers. Chinese words. "Chinese Record Shanghai Corporation". FAKE!

LOVEppears: Same as for "ASFXX". FAKE!

orangeland · #14 29th December 2005, 12:04 AM

it's all good Delirium-Zer0

asongforXX - i want you to check the Avex China Official Site and the China Record Shanghai Corporation Site.

elepop · #15 29th December 2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeland

it's all good Delirium-Zer0

asongforXX - i want you to check the Avex China Official Site and the China Record Shanghai Corporation Site.

Oh, I know. I read the post above saying that China Record Shanghai Corporation is with avex. But the "LOVEppears" cover... so ugly... LOL.

orangeland · #16 29th December 2005, 12:23 AM

i know, i think it's a censorship issue >_<. haha

lotusoka · #17 29th December 2005, 12:28 AM

I've bought from titan-giant before... great seller. They aren't bootlegs, they are just HK editions. There was a thread about this.

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...t=China+Record

I recently bought cyber trance 2 from him/her.

First one IS a bootleg. Alion gives it away. I bought RAINBOW and I am... off of ebay and realized after I gave positive feedback that they were bootlegged. I ended up just buying them from yesasia.

~K+ · #18 29th December 2005, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotusoka

I've bought from titan-giant before... great seller. They aren't bootlegs, they are just HK editions. There was a thread about this.

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...t=China+Record

To avoid further confusion, they are Mainland China versions, not HK versions.

The Overseas versions you'll find on Yesasia, are HK versions.

Anyway, I wouldn't recommend buying Mainland China versions, stick to Avex Hong Kong or Avex Taiwan's pressings.

elepop · #19 29th December 2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeland

i know, i think it's a censorship issue >_<. haha

Should be! Since the chinese words are right on her chest!

norain · #20 29th December 2005, 02:31 AM

I have a mystory from taiwan. It's good