JOY DIVISION UNKNOWN PLEASURES BARELY PLAYED TRUE 1st UK PRESS WEA - PLAY-GRADED

	£		295
	$		391

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There is a widely propagated untruth that the first pressing of ‘Unknown Pleasures’ had translucent red vinyl. This is NOT the case. The FIRST pressing of 10,000 copies for the initial release in June 1979 was pressed at WEA and had standard, opaque black vinyl.

Copies with translucent vinyl were pressed by Tranco Ltd, a division of Pye Records, and the earliest Tranco pressing for ‘Unknown Pleasures’ was the SECOND pressing in October 1979. There were at least two more Tranco pressings during 1980 until Tranco ceased trading on 31st December 1980.

A Factory ‘Shareholder Analysis’ document from July 1980 stated that ‘Unknown Pleasures’ had sold out and was being repressed. We also learn that, by this time, ‘Unknown Pleasures’ had sold 46,000 copies. The July 1980 repressing again went to Tranco.

So, it would be reasonable to assume that the Tranco pressings outnumber the true first pressing from WEA by at least five-to-one.

Incidentally, there was no involvement by anyone associated with Joy Division or Factory, regarding the translucent vinyl. It was simply the formulation of vinyl used by Tranco and this very, very slight translucency (so slight that the record looks black in normal conditions) can be found on millions of records pressed by Tranco for numerous other artists. No one at Factory had anything to do with it, and it certainly wasn’t requested by anyone. After all, part of the original agreement between Joy Division and Factory was "No gimmicks. No coloured vinyl" etc.

All the early pressings (1979 and 1980) will have the following information etched in the run-outs:

FACT 10 - INSIDE 1 A               A PORKY PRIME CUT                          STEP

FACT-10 - OUTSIDE 1 B                       THIS IS THE WAY                    A PORKY PRIME CUT

However, the WEA pressings can be identified by an additional ‘stamper code’ which will be either an ‘S’ or a ‘W’ followed by a number, such as S-1. S-2, W-1, W-2 etc (up to at least S-36, as seen here). These codes are lightly etched in the run-outs and can be used to unmistakably identify a true first pressing of ‘Unknown Pleasures’ pressed by WEA in Hillingdon, West London. If they’re not there, it’s not a first pressing!

This is a true 1st UK pressing, pressed by WEA for the initial release in June 1979. It is not a reissue. Only 10,000 of these were pressed.

This has the following matrix information:

FACT 10 - INSIDE 1A A PORKY PRIME CUT STEP S-34

FACT - 10 - OUTSIDE 1B S-36 THIS IS THE WAY A PORKY PRIME CUT

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with barely a mark to be seen. It looks like it has very rarely been played. The playing surfaces look virtually flawless in normal light and there are just some very fine hairlines and sleeve-removal marks when viewed under bright, direct light, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere. I have played the whole album in full from start to finish and it sounds great. For the sake of completeness I would mention that there is some background noise in the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and a few places where you get a random, isolated click, but there is nothing intrusive anywhere. The only time I heard anything more than this was in the silent groove and very quiet intro to 'I Remember Nothing' where I heard seven very soft, quiet tics, but these are extremely quiet and are only audible because there is nothing else going on at this point. The whole album was a pleasure to listen to and I think it would be hard to find a true first pressing that plays much better than this. I would play-grade this album as a SAFE Excellent (Ex).

Labels: No tears, stickers, writing etc and minimal, if any, spindle marking suggesting that the record was hardly ever played.

Sleeve: The textured Garrod and Lofthouse sleeve has just some very minor signs of age or use. This is easily one of the best I've seen.

Inner sleeve: No seam splits, tears or significant issues, just some minor age-related discolouration. 

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a superb example of the rare first press which I think would be hard to beat.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £4.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £11.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £24.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.