The Damned in 1977...

Captain Sensible - bass
Rat Scabies - drums
Brian James - guitar
Dave Vanian - vocals



Neat Neat Neat (Brian James) / Stab Yor Back (Rat Scabies) / Singalonga Scabies (Rat Scabies) 7" 45

Stiff Records, BUY 10, made in the UK, released 25/02/1977

Original pressings from 1977 were released with a solid centre & a press out centre with a raised
& serrated non-slip rim around the label. Like New Rose picture sleeves have a long and straight
cut at the top and a Delga credit. These sleeves were made with & without Island Records logos
on the back.



Press out centre copies are less common. Both versions of the vinyl turn up with both versions
of the sleeve. Stiff were distributed by Island Records but that obviously ended just as this  record
was released & their logo was removed.



This record was pressed again for the Stiff Box Set (Buy 1-10) in 1978 and again in
1981 for the Damned Four Pack, a reissue of their first four Stiff singles in a plastic fold out
cover.

Box set NNN's have LYN numbers in the matrix while Four Pack issues have BILBO TA1PE.

Box set sleeves have a rounded cut at the opening. The vinyl has a raised but not serrated lip
around the labels. Two different label designs issued.  These have The Damned in plain text
but slightly different layouts. The most obvious difference is that one has the time under NNN...




...the other has the time after NNN.



The 1981 Four Pack copies have a shorter rounded cut at the opening & are no longer glossy.
The vinyl on these have a serrated edge around the label. The Damned logo on the labels is like the
original 1977 issue but the middle of the record has an indentation like the Problem Child Four Pack
copy & 10th Anniversary New Rose.



The labels say 1977 no matter what so hopefully this guide clears up any confusion over the
different pressings. I heard a story about a guy who had small box of NNN's with the press out
centres, something like he read that solid is first press and press out is second, so he flogged 'em
for a fiver each... the humanity!


While there was no 10th Anniversary reissue from Stiff we did get one from Castle 20 years later in 2007.
This version is commonly available (along with with the Earmark reissue from 2006) and sports the much
talked about fake press out centre, printed right on the middle of the replica Stiff labels!

If anyone has more info or corrections please write to me.

The info here is correct to the best of my knowledge, I always try to confirm info
about these pressings. If you're interested in this kind of stuff please see my "about me"
page for a link to the Damned/Punk record collectors forum Curious Goods.



cheers,
"damned_disciple"