Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain - 1982 Frontier FLP 1007 First Press - VG
  $   105

 


$ 105 Sold For
Mar 11, 2025 Sold Date
Mar 1, 2025 Start Date
21   Number Of Bids
  USA Country Of Seller
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Description

Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain - Frontier FLP1007 - 1982 First Pressing w/ gold cover printing - VG

This is the debut album by Christian Death, widely acknowledged as a founder of the American deathrock/goth scene. Released March 1982 by Frontier Records, this LP features the original gold lettering design on the sleeve and a black & white lyric sheet insert. The number "202" is stamped on the plain inner sleeve for some reason unknown to me (something similar was stamped on the inner sleeve of another Frontier release so that may be some kind of inventory control number used by the label).
Discogs is usually pretty precise describing various features of different releases, but for this album the information is a bit murky.
This version features the matrix runouts as noted in the first pressing (without the additional "S-10400-A" text engraved) but uses upper/lower case text for "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty" rather than all upper case as they note was used for the second pressing. Also includes the "$8.98" price on the sleeve's spine, noted as a feature of the second pressing.
It's possible that these features were identical on both pressings but were not added correctly or consistently to the Discogs database, I can't verify if this is the case. I'm comfortable claiming that this is a first pressing based on the matrix runouts, but in any event there does not seem to be any significant difference in value between the two versions. Please feel free to verify features of various release versions on Discogs if you have any concerns.
Overall condition is conservatively graded as VG. Vinyl is VG/VG+ with some moderate scuffing and a small scratch on side 1. Side 1 label also has a small stain. Sleeve is VG/VG+ with some light ring wear, creasing, scraping, and corner bends. Insert is VG+/EX with some minor wrinkling and what looks like a small, faint stain. In all honesty, on another day I might rate this as a lower-end VG+ copy with several minor issues that isn't quite flawed enough to fall to VG condition status.
Side 1: Cavity - First Communion
Figurative Theatre
Burnt Offerings
Mysterium Iniquitatis
Dream For Mother

Side 2:
Stairs - Uncertain Journey
Spiritual Cramp
Romeo's Distress
Resurrection - Sixth Communion
Prayer

  • Matrix/Runout (Runout area side A): FLP 1007A Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!
  • Matrix/Runout (Runout area side B): FLP 1007 B

Following the release of Only Theatre of Pain, Christian Death's "classic" line-up (Rozz Williams, Rikk Agnew, James McGearty, and George Belanger) fell apart due to internal concerns over the band's heavy drug use and overtly "satanic" image. Rozz eventually reformed the band to comprise a number of different permutations throughout the years, and even after his death by suicide on April Fool's Day in 1998 a group continues to perform using the Christian Death name.
Grading is subjective, I am not a professional dealer. I try to place myself in the position of the buyer and be as accurate as possible, listing any notable defects.

Shipping in US via USPS Ground Advantage, it's a bit more expensive but you'll get it quicker with less likelihood of loss or damage. (The only shipments I've ever had "go missing" were sent Media Mail.) Shipping to other countries is via eBay International Shipping.
I will combine shipping if you buy multiple items, please wait for a revised invoice.
From the private collection of the original owner. Please feel free to ask any questions and check out my other items, more being added every Friday!


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