メタリカ - 帯

updated: 17-MAR-2012

What is it?

The OBI is the small piece of paper wrapped around the left side of the Japanese CDs & DVDs.

These paper strips provide a lot of information (mainly in Japanese) to the seller/buyer such as:

- the catalogue number

- a barcode

- the price (with & without tax)

- the artist name & instruments

- the songtitles

- other release of the artist

- extra info about the release

This way, the seller/buyer has all the necessary info and does not have to open the item before selling/buying it.

In the early days many of the obi’s were disposed of once the item was sold. Since then, Japanese CDs have become more and more collectable and nowadays it is clear that a Japanese CD is not complete without an obi.

The OBI can come in different forms, like a wrap-around belt (mainly books) or even a regular sticker.

The Metallica catalogue has been often re-released in Japan and with a new release there is always a difference in the obi-strip.

For the earlier re-releases (the first five albums) the difference can be mainly noted as a price difference.

Since 2006/2007 the whole Metallica catalogue has been re-released yearly and those CDs always come with a completely different OBI.

Do all Japanese Metallica CDs have an OBI?

All regular released “normal” CDs (incl. the promo version) have an OBI

The following releases do not have an OBI:

-         Justice Metallican, Live Shit box - promo & regular releases

-         3” CDs: One - Enter Sandman - The Unforgiven - Nothing Else Matters - promo & regular releases

-         Promo only CDs: Last Caress - St. Anger CDr - The Day That Never Comes CDr

Is the OBI limited to Japanese releases?

No! Nowadays the obi can also be found around:

-         CDs from Korea, Russia & Taiwan: some of those OBI’s are larger, sometimes covering the complete back of the CD

-         Asian pirate / counterfeit CDs

Pictures?

Below you can find every obi from my collection. I did not make a difference for promo & regular CDs as there should be one of each for each OBI.

Some of them may look a bit blurry, this is because the CDs in question are still sealed.  So I scanned all three sides separately and made one picture of it.

KILL ‘EM ALL

RIDE THE LIGHTNING

MASTER OF PUPPETS

GARAGE DAYS RE-REVISITED

…AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

ONE

METALLICA

WHEREVER I MAY ROAM

LOAD

UNTIL IT SLEEPS - HERO OF THE DAY - MAMA SAID

RELOAD

THE MEMORY REMAINS - THE UNFORGIVEN - FUEL

GARAGE, INC.

TURN THE PAGE - WHISKEY IN THE JAR - DIE, DIE MY DARLING

S&M

ST. ANGER

ST. ANGER - FRANTIC - THE UNNAMED FEELING

MISSION METALLICA

DEATH MAGNETIC

ALL NIGHTMARE LONG - BEYOND MAGNETIC