Don't think that every CD-R (ecordable) is a pirate copy.
The CD-R we collect are originals from the record company. These CD-Rs where given to the band or employees of the record company. These CD-Rs are copies from the Master Copy. They come before the normal promo cds and retail cds where pressed. That is why CD-Rs are so rare.

If you come back in 1993, it was not as easy as now to burn a CDr, and cost much more money. At this time, there was mastering compagny that do these CDr... as you know, later, it was easier for A&M to edit promo CDr that original CD...

These CD werre called "CDr acetate" as they have the same use as the vinyl Acetate (see Acetate article >> )

But be careful when buying a CD-R. There are many people who think they can make easy money by selling there self-made CD-Rs. The CD-Rs that come from the record company really look simple and are also green/blue/etc. So don' t buy CD-Rs when you do not know where they come from. (especially on EBAY)

EIL:
CD-R's (Compact Disc-Recordable - also known as CD-Writable) are now often produced by record companies prior to, or instead of, distribution of a 'finished' promotional CD. Also known as a CD-R 'acetate', they got this name when they first appeared as they were the digital technology equivalent of the metal and lacquer 'acetate' discs of the 60's & 70's. These were first cut in the studio, direct from the master tape and they enabled the artist, producer or record company executive to hear a track away from the studio environment almost straightaway; all they needed was a turntable to play the acetate. Nowadays the same theory applies, although on CD-R they can simply play it on their car stereo or Walkman!

Early UK CD-R's were gold in colour, and usually had simple handwritten artist and title information on the disc and sleeve insert, much like the acetates of previous decades. As technology progressed these discs were customised to the studios using them, for example the famous Abbey Road studios were one of the first to use their own logos printed on the disc and sleeve. They subsequently progressed to the silver and blue discs still in use today. These almost always have computer printed titles on the 'label' side and since duplication techniques have improved they are often a cheaper, and quicker, alternative for record companies to use instead of manufacturing proper compact discs.

In extreme cases some CD-R's may be produced weeks or months before a promotional disc is planned; even before titles, catalogue numbers and release dates have been scheduled. As a result some tracks may be left un-mastered, meaning they have not gone through the final editing process, they could have alternate 'work-in-progress' titles or be somehow different to the final mastered version. Generally, however, they are more likely to be used as a simple promotional format in much the same way that the more traditional promotional CDs are.

CD-R's are usually housed in a plain white titled sleeve which gives just basic information such as artist, title, tracks, running time and record or production company logos; but they can sometimes be issued in a picture sleeve if the final artwork is available. They rarely display a catalogue number. Depending on their intended purpose they can be just 1-track (usually the next single), multiple track album samplers or 'teasers', full albums, or even multiple discs to promote boxed sets or a back catalogue reissue campaign.

They have become ever more collectable in recent years and genuine, early examples have been known to fetch four-figure sums.