Can anyone explain how music released on this label in some cases not classified as an import? I thought this was a German record label. Are the cd's released on this label in the US manufactured in the US or are they manufactured overseas and distributed in the US?

Thanks for any help in advance

The latter. Some EC labels are fond of manufacturing what they call "export editions", which come here through import channels but retail at closer to domestic prices. They do this more for DVDs than CDs nowadays. The DVDs are easy to spot because they're on English or German labels but formatted as NTSC Region 0 or 1. The CDs mostly are marked just like imports and the only clue to them being export editions is the low retail price.

(I've also seen Steamhammer/SPV license out albums for genuine domestic pressings, such as the last couple of Jim Capaldi studio albums.)

So Linda, the new Whitesnake cd released in the US is an import per say?

Haven't held it my hands to see how it's labelled, but I would guess yes. SPV's American arm is nothing but an office in Jersey:

http://www.myspace.com/spvusa

All of the releases they list have global release dates for each country, the main site is still the one in Germany (if you click on the USA website it just takes you back to the MySpace page), and there are references on the page like "If you live in America and want to join the SPV Street Team, go here ..."

Thank you M'am

I've seen US promos of Blackmore's Knight from this label also.