Rare Japanese reissue featuring the initial highly controversial artwork which, not unexpectedly, caused quite a stir.
Had it been released today, it would have had much more serious consequences for whoever liable.
The band claims the decision was made by their management/record company, in my book though, they are not without blame.
How far would YOU go to get publicity? Here’s the respective Wikipedia article

Incidentally, this was supposed to be part of a “Mid-Price” series;
¥1800 (that’s the figure printed on the obi strip), is considered *affordable* for a Japanese pressing – ANY Japanese CD actually.
How ironic. Shortly after the last a copy was sold, prices went sky-high.
As a fan, I wouldn’t have a problem getting the next edition/remaster/whatever (a couple of more followed) as long as the original cover was included.
That was NOT the case however. No label ever dared to re-release it in its original form since then, *politically correctness* had something to with it I guess…

So I ended up bidding for the 1995 out of print issue on eBay – a used copy of course.
Needless to say I paid a LOT! It is in fact the 2nd most expensive purchase I’ve made – with the also long out of print “Hear ‘n aid” being the first.
$44 excluding s&h AND insurance in case it got lost in the mail etc.
What’s worse, I have yet to obtain the 2010 remastered edition of the monumental (and #1 in my favourite Scorpions albums) “Taken by force” whose original artwork (the infamous cemetery photograph) was also banned – not any more.
To be perfectly honest, I feel awkward buying different editions of CDs I already have but that’s the downside of being a collector…

Scorpions on Wikipedia
“Virgin killer” on RateYourMusic

Record Label: BMG Victor/RCA Records
Catalogue Number: BVCP-7375 (74321-25944-2)
UPC: 4988017054390

Tracklist:
01. Pictured life [3:26]
02. Catch your train [3:37]
03. In your park [3:46]
04. Backstage Queen [3:14]
05. Virgin killer [3:44]
06. Hell-Cat [2:58]
07. Crying days [4:41]
08. Polar nights [5:09]
09. Yellow raven [5:02]

*Legal Disclaimer*

FLAC CD-rip nfo
Mirrors:
FLAC level 8 [Filefactory.com]
FLAC level 8 [Hotfile.com]
FLAC level 8 [Megaupload.com]
[FLAC rar MD5 checksum: 18298fa2aa219b10f3415db0378dabb4]

mp3 CD-rip nfo
Mirrors:
mp3 VBR V0 | LAME v3.98.4 [Filefactory.com]
mp3 VBR V0 | LAME v3.98.4 [iFile.it]
mp3 VBR V0 | LAME v3.98.4 [Megaupload.com]
mp3 VBR V0 | LAME v3.98.4 [Rapidshare.com]
[mp3 rar MD5 checksum: 968e53e2fe944f03fed20f32f83490e1]

Souvenirs anyone?
Scorpions farewell tour ticket

Thank you.