MORRISSEY Viva Hate LP 1988 UK 1st Press CSD 3787 EDUCATION IN REVERSE Vinyl VG+

	£		27
	$		36

MORRISSEY – VIVA HATE LP (1988 UK FIRST PRESSING)
HMV RECORDS – CATALOGUE: CSD 3787
COMPLETE WITH ICONIC "EDUCATION IN REVERSE" DEADWAX ETCHING

This is an original, authentic 1988 UK first pressing of Morrissey’s seminal debut solo masterpiece "Viva Hate", released on the legendary HMV Records label.

For serious collectors of indie rock, post-punk, and alternative music history, this is the definitive, early-production variant. The audio profile on this early run was mastered directly by legendary engineer Tim Young at CBS Studios London, carrying his highly collectible "TY" signature hand-etched into the Side B deadwax runouts. It features incredible analog mastering and houses the vinyl inside Stephen Wright’s famously distinct, iconic portrait sleeve.

Drop the needle on this loud, wide-groove 1988 cut and the shimmering guitar work of Vini Reilly and driving basslines of "Suedehead" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday" take over. This copy offers a deep, powerful, dynamic analog playback profile that modern digital reissues simply cannot replicate.

Unlike flat, uninspired later reissues, this genuine 1988 first edition carries the unmistakable hallmarks of Morrissey at his solo peak.

---

FIRST PRESSING COLLECTOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Original 1988 First Edition Portrait Sleeve:
This copy features the iconic, original matte jacket showcasing Stephen Wright's famous portrait of Morrissey. True first pressings feature the crisp, original 1988 typography and high-spec card stock before later mid-price reissues altered the packaging.

Iconic Hidden Deadwax Inscription:
True to early Smiths and Morrissey lore, the empty runout wax acts as a direct nod to the album's original, discarded working title. The deadwax is hand-etched with the famous phrase on Side A: EDUCATION IN REVERSE

Earliest 1988 HMV/EMI Matrices:
Stamped in the deadwax:
Side 1: CSD 3787 A-1U-1-6
Side 2: CSD 3787 B-2U-1-2

---

CONDITION REPORT & GRADING:

Vinyl Disc (Grade: V-VG+ - V-EX):
The vinyl retains an attractive original factory gloss. Under strong direct light, there are only some light, faint surface marks, minor hairlines, and paper scuffs consistent with careful use over nearly forty years. Importantly, there are no deep scratches, feelable gouges, or significant defects that would cause skipping or major playback issues. The center labels show very little age-related storage ring-wear and light spindle-hole scuffing, and remain completely crisp and fully legible as seen in the photographs. Overall, this remains a very clean, glossy, and highly presentable example of premium UK factory vinyl.

Outer Sleeve (Grade: G+):
Original matte card sleeve in solid, structurally sound condition. The central portrait remains crisp with excellent contrast. Shows honest signs of its 35+ years, including handling wear, ring-wear, multiple edge stress creases, and a small localized surface tear to the bottom-right corner, as shown in the photographs. No heavy structural damage or ink graffiti. A genuine, presentable vintage jacket, fairly graded.

Inner Sleeve (Grade: VG):
Original first-edition illustrated lyric inner sleeve, complete with official tracklist and production credits. Very good, clean overall condition with sharp text and no seam splits or edge tears. Minor handling wear and faint localized brown watermark-type staining/light foxing around the top-left corner, visible in the photographs. The vinyl will also be housed in an additional quality archival sleeve to help protect this original piece of history.

---

GRADING DISCLAIMER:
"This vintage record has been visually graded under bright direct light and carefully inspected for scratches, defects, and structural integrity, all of which have been accurately described. As the record has not been recently play-tested from start to finish on a turntable, I cannot guarantee completely silent playback; some light background surface noise or occasional minor crackle is to be expected with vintage vinyl.
That said, based on its visual condition and my experience with handling vinyl, I am confident this copy should provide an enjoyable listening experience. Sold as described and graded on visual inspection".

Delivery & Packaging Details:

Professional Vinyl Packaging.
Seam Split Protection.
The record will be removed from its outer jacket and inner sleeve prior to packing. This prevents the vinyl from cutting through the seams during transit.
Shipped securely in a professional, heavy-duty, rigid cardboard vinyl mailer with internal stiffeners to prevent bending or corner dings.
Royal Mail Tracked.