The Damned in 1976 were

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

New Rose (Brian James) b/w Help (Lennon/McCartney) 7" 45

Stiff Records, BUY 6, made in the UK, released 22/10/1976

New Rose turned 30 last year! This classic single was their first release!



There were many versions of this record released over the years.
Often I see copies on eBay that say they are "original 1976 pressings" & they aren't!
I'll try to clear up misconceptions about this. Here's a rough guide to what's out there...

The only pressings from 1976 are on black vinyl. (Colour vinyl came later)
They have a press out centre and a raised & serrated non-slip rim around the label.
On the A-side the credit reads "Street Music Co."



Soon the label was changed.
The majority of the 1976 copies say "Rock Music Co. Ltd. / Street Music Co."
Notice on the sleeve what is called the "Delga flap," more on that later.



If you have a 1976 press with a solid centre I would consider it to be very rare.
In comparison, the original 1977 Neat Neat Neat 7" was available with solid (common)
and press out centres (uncommon). A friend of mine found a 1977 copy of their Problem
Child 7" with a solid centre (very uncommon). Do YOU have more info?

A bit of confusion about Stiff's reissues: they say 1976 on the label even if it was made after
1976. 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. When the band got very popular in the mid 80's Stiff reissued the single on black vinyl,
red vinyl, white vinyl, white with bonus 7", promo 7" (no pic sleeve, unique labels, backed
with Neat Neat Neat!) and finally a 12" EP!

Here's a solid centre copy with a different label design. But when was this made?



What's the best way to tell the difference?
And what about the different ways the picture sleeves are cut at the opening?
Well the original sleeves are all cut long and straight.



The rest are rounded at the top.

1978 Box Set copy:



1981 4 Pack copy:



1986 Ten Year Anniversary copy:



So with these reissues, in order of cuts at the opening you'd have...
long curve, short curve and... medium curve?
Notice "Delga" on the box set PS. While Delga is an indication of an early pressing,
you can see now it's not an indication of a first pressing.

There's a few ways to distinguish the different solid centre black vinyl New Roses.

There's 3 clues etched into the wax, in the matrix of the records...

1978 Box set copies (2 different pressings of the Stiff box set by the way) have LYN numbers.
There is a raised but NOT serrated lip around the label.

1981 Four Pack copies have BILBO TA1PE.
They have a raised/serrated edge around the label, like 1976 copies.

The 1986 issue has TIM TOM plus an indentation in the middle of the labels,
similar to the red vinyl New Rose. Like this:



And it was a nice touch to make a 12" EP of New Rose even though almost everyone
who sells one on eBay thinks it was made in 1976 or 1977! 1st issue (different cover)
was made in 1985. It has the number BUYIT 238. A year later in '86 it was reissued
with original artwork on black and white vinyl as BUYIT 6.  The other tracks are
Neat Neat Neat, Help, Stretcher Case & Sick Of Being Sick.
I like the one with the different cover.



The imports and bootlegs of New Rose are where things get interesting.
I'll write a bit about those great versions of this single later!

In conclusion, if anyone has more info or corrections please write to me.

I don't claim to know everything about Stiff Records or The Damned.

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.

Last but not least, why do the pictures have to be so tiny, eBay?
I'm trying to present info here, plus it isn't nice making people have to squint.

cheers,
"damned_disciple"