(Pop) Michael Jackson - Thriller (Japan 1st press) - 1982, FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

EAC extraction logfile from 17. March 2008, 19:43 for CD
Michael Jackson / Thriller
Used drive  : SlimtypeDVDRW SOSW-833S   Adapter: 1  ID: 0
Read mode   : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Used output format : C:\Program\FLAC\flac.exe   (User Defined Encoder)
                     192 kBit/s
                     Additional command line options : -V -8 -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" %s
Other options      :
    Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
    Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
    Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Track  1
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\01 - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:02.00
     Peak level 85.7 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 1D99A143
     Copy CRC 1D99A143
     Copy OK
Track  2
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\02 - Baby Be Mine.wav
     Peak level 80.0 %
     Track quality 99.9 %
     Test CRC F192D723
     Copy CRC F192D723
     Copy OK
Track  3
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\03 - The Girl Is Mine.wav
     Peak level 75.4 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC C30EF6B6
     Copy CRC C30EF6B6
     Copy OK
Track  4
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\04 - Thriller.wav
     Peak level 75.3 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC E69006A1
     Copy CRC E69006A1
     Copy OK
Track  5
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\05 - Beat It.wav
     Pre-gap length  0:00:03.66
     Peak level 66.7 %
     Track quality 99.9 %
     Test CRC 148564C0
     Copy CRC 148564C0
     Copy OK
Track  6
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\06 - Billie Jean.wav
     Peak level 96.1 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 3AFCAA5F
     Copy CRC 3AFCAA5F
     Copy OK
Track  7
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\07 - Human Nature.wav
     Peak level 68.4 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC F976D6A7
     Copy CRC F976D6A7
     Copy OK
Track  8
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\08 - P. Y. T. (Pretty Young Thing).wav
     Peak level 79.0 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 73CE7D14
     Copy CRC 73CE7D14
     Copy OK
Track  9
     Filename D:\U-torrent\MUSIK\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) [FLAC] {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}\09 - The Lady in My Life.wav
     Peak level 63.0 %
     Track quality 100.0 %
     Test CRC 32797FC4
     Copy CRC 32797FC4
     Copy OK
No errors occured
End of status report

AUDIOCHECKER v2.0 beta (build 457) - by Dester - opdester@freemail.hu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-=== DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE! ===-
Path: ...\Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) {Japan 1st press 35.8P-11}
1 -=- 01 - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
2 -=- 02 - Baby Be Mine.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
3 -=- 03 - The Girl Is Mine.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
4 -=- 04 - Thriller.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
5 -=- 05 - Beat It.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
6 -=- 06 - Billie Jean.flac -=- CDDA (99%)
7 -=- 07 - Human Nature.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
8 -=- 08 - P. Y. T. (Pretty Young Thing).flac -=- CDDA (100%)
9 -=- 09 - The Lady in My Life.flac -=- CDDA (100%)
Summary 99,89% CDDA
238054324

foobar2000 1.2.5 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2013-05-15 18:01:24
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Michael Jackson / Thriller [1982 Japan 1st press 35.8P-11]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR14 -1.34 dB -17.12 dB 6:04 01-Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
DR15 -1.93 dB -18.71 dB 4:21 02-Baby Be Mine
DR14 -2.45 dB -19.66 dB 3:43 03-The Girl Is Mine
DR14 -2.46 dB -17.88 dB 6:05 04-Thriller
DR14 -3.51 dB -19.52 dB 4:19 05-Beat It
DR17 -0.34 dB -18.69 dB 4:57 06-Billie Jean
DR15 -3.29 dB -20.94 dB 4:06 07-Human Nature
DR14 -2.04 dB -18.90 dB 3:59 08-P. Y. T. (Pretty Young Thing)
DR15 -4.00 dB -22.71 dB 5:01 09-The Lady in My Life
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR15
Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 838 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

Hi. If your used CD store does not allow you to see the inside of the jewel case (ie, the disc itself) before you purchase the used CD, then it will be difficult to find the particular pressing to which I am referring. (Also, if the eBay seller does not share this information in the item description or does not show a detailed photo of the disc showing the matrix, then it will similarly be a guess-and-hope situation.)
Just in case you are not aware of the following history (and hoping that some information below can help you in your search):
1. Thriller first came out on CD in Japan, mastered and manufactured by CBS/Sony, with the catalog number 35.8P-11, probably sometime really late in 1982 (or very early 1983). [Please note that CBS/Sony catalog number 35.8P-5 was released in October, 1982.] The earliest matrix that I am aware of is 35 8P-11-1 1A1. [If you need to see a photo of this Japan-for-the-Japan-market CD pressing, you can search eBay under "Michael Jackson Thriller Japan" and just look at the ones with the catalog number 35 8P-11.] [Please note that there is a possibility that some of the last pressing runs of this original Japan CD release may NOT be the same mastering. The CD pressings with the matrix ending "101" or later, which should also have "+++++" at the end of the matrix MAY sound just like the "DIDP-20022" pressing I mention above. By the way, I made a typo in my original post and I meant "DIDP-20022" and NOT "DIDX-20022".]
2. Sometime after the original Japan-for-Japan CD release (I am guessing sometime in 1983), CBS/Sony in Japan manufactured some CDs using the same original digital mastering for release in the US These 1st US CD release (imported from Japan) have "EK 38112" as the catalog number on the spine of the back J-card insert [but please note that all later US releases until AT LEAST the late 1980's have the same catalog number on the spine and the spine looks the same]. These 1st Japan-for-US CD pressings do NOT have "Now Made In The USA" on the left of the back J-card insert, and originally came in a heavy jewel case with the top and bottom edges being "smooth" (not like the typical "ribbed" or "ridged" top and bottom edges). [Please note that many used CD stores replace the original jewel cases with new lighter/ribbed cases, and a "wrong case" does not necessarily mean that the disc inside is a later pressing.] Anyway, there weren't too many of these 1st Japan-for-US CD pressings of Thriller and are very rare (and accordingly sell for a very high price on eBay). The matrix is something like "35 8P-11 61B3" "35 8P-11 71A5" or a variation thereof. ALSO, the label side of the disc shows a secondary catalog number of "DI8P 50011" right below the catalog number "EK 38112". Every one of these very 1st Japan-for-US CD pressings have the same mastering as the very 1st Japan-for-Japan 35.8P-11 pressings that I describe in Paragraph 1 above. These (like the early Japan-for-Japan 35.8P-11 pressings) do NOT sound like the original vinyl (and presumably not like the original master tape).
3. Sometime after Paragraph 2 above (1983 or perhaps even as late as 1984), CBS/Sony in Japan manufactured and exported to Europe CD pressings of Thriller with the catalog number CDEPC 85930 (also DI8P-11 underneath). Based on my experience, the matrix may be something like "35 8P-11 101A2 +++++" or "35 8P-11 111 +++++" or a variation thereof. There is a possibility that these sound like the first Japan-for-Japan CD mastering described in Paragraph 1 and the first Japan-for-US CD pressing described in Paragraph 2. There is also a possibility that these instead sound like the SECOND mastering described in Paragraphs 4 and 5 below. I have not personally heard these first Japan-for-Europe pressings.
4. Sometime after Paragraph 3 above (probably 1984?), CBS/Sony in Japan apparently corrected the CD transfer issue that Steve Hoffman discusses at the start of this thread and re-released (ie, 2nd release) Thriller with the catalog number 32.8P-224. [If the insert has N.#.# (with # denoting some number), then it means that this release was made in 1984. If the insert has no such code, then this release was probably made in 1983.] As far as I know, all of these 2nd Japan-for-Japan CD pressings should be from the "corrected" mastering and should sound pretty much identical -- meaning just like the original vinyl/original master tape, and just like the 1st Japan-for-US "DIDP-20022" pressing discussed in Paragraph 5 below.
5. Around the same time as Paragraph 4 above (probably 1984?), CBS/Sony in Japan used the "corrected" CD mastering and exported to the USUS's 2nd CD release (with everything just like the 1st US release described in Paragraph 2 above EXCEPT the disc now has the secondary catalog number "DIDP 20022" (and not "DI8P 50011") underneath the US Epic catalog number "EK 38112"). The matrix is now something like "DIDP-20022 51 +++++" or a variation thereof. From my experience, these CD pressings with "DIDP-20022" and "+++++" in the matrix sound the closest to the original vinyl pressings (presumably closest to the original master tape). [Please note that these are actually more difficult to find than the 1st Japan-for-US CDs BUT you can buy these 2nd Japan-for-US CDs much cheaper on eBay!] If you are looking for the "best sounding" CD pressing of Thriller, my recommendation would be this particular pressing. In my opinion, there is no other CD pressing that sounds more like the original vinyl pressing.
6. Around the same time as Paragraph 5 above (probably 1984), there was a very small number of CDs pressed by JVC (Victor Company of Japan) , Japan, for export to the US as part of the US's 2nd CD release of Thriller. These look identical as the CBS/Sony pressing described in Paragraph 5 above, EXCEPT there is no "CBS/SONY" or "csr compact disc" or any other etching on the plastic ring at the center of the disc AND the matrix is something like "DIDP 20022 2 E 11" in tiny font (no dashes in the matrix). These JVC, Japan, pressings are extremely rare (the rarest Thriller CD pressing from my experience) and use the same "corrected" CD mastering as in Paragraph 5 above. These JVC Japan-for-US CDs sound ALMOST (99+%) identical to the CD described in Paragraph 5 above and sounds almost identical to the original vinyl (and presumably the original master tape). [Please note that JVC, Japan, merely pressed the CD using the digital master provided by CBS/Sony Japan, as indicated by the matrix showing CBS/Sony's job number of "DIDP 20022" instead of Epic's catalog number of "EK 38112"]
7. Shortly after Paragraph 6 above (starting probably late 1984 or 1985 and throughout the mid-1980's), the DADC plant in the US (built and, at the time, owned by CBS/Sony, Japan) pressed and released the very 1st US-made CDs of Thriller. These original US-made CD pressings now state "Now Made In The USA" on the left of the back J-card insert and came in a "ribbed" or "ridged" sided jewel case. These 1st DADC plant pressings also had the "carved out" or "etched" matrix style (and typically "Digital Audio Disc Corp." etched on the plastic ring of the disc). Sometime in the late 1980's, the matrix "style" changed to "laser printed" style. These 1st US-made CD pressings use the same "corrected" digital mastering as in Paragraph 5 above, and sound very close (say, 98%?) to the original vinyl. The disc looks identical to Paragraph 6 above, except that it states "MADE IN USA" in a tiny font at the bottom of the disc and the plastic ring typically has "Digital Audio Disc Corp." etched on it. If you don't want to spend more than $10 on a Thriller CD, these 1st DADC plant pressings would be the most optimal for you.
8. Around 1985 or 1986, Denon , Japan, pressed several thousand CDs of Thriller for the US market. These state "MADE IN JAPAN." in a tiny font at the bottom of the disc and do NOT have CBS/Sony job number "DIDP 20022" underneath the Epic catalog number "EK 38112". The matrix is "EK-38112" AND some variation of "1A3 73". The matrix is the typical mid-1980's Denon matrix -- meaning, faint "dot matrix" font. These also state "Now Made In The USA" on the left of the back J-card insert and typically came in a "ribbed" or "ridged" sided jewel case. These usually sell for about the same price as the JVC, Japan CD described in Paragraph 6 above. These, of course, use the same "corrected" mastering as in Paragraphs 5 and 6 above.