The Smiths - This Charming Man - Unmarked and Triple-Stickered Version (RARE AF)
  $   23

 


$ 23 Sold For
Dec 5, 2016 Sold Date
Nov 28, 2016 Start Date
13   Number Of Bids
  USA Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description



I can't believe I found this record going through my collection. I must have bought it over 20 years ago because I don't remember buying it and I have certainly never played it.
I had to do some research to find out what the three stickers meant. It turns out that they are actually a part of The Smiths history because Morrissey was directly involved in what led to these stickers being used.
Here is some information about these mysterious stickers:
First pressing without band's name "The Smiths" on the cover, but with stickers covering the alternate Rough Trade logo on the labels.
1983 Glad Hips Music
All words reproduced courtesy Glad Hips Music Limited ©1983

The initial UK release of both the 12” and the 7” featured an alternate Rough Trade logo that was a parody of the classic Capitol Records logo, with a capitol dome over “Rough” in bold cursive over “TRADE” typeset. The logo on the back of the sleeve added an oval ring (also a Capitol hallmark). Morrissey is said to have objected to its use, so the offending logos on the labels were first covered with stickers on both 7” and 12” versions (this), before altered labels and jackets were printed without the dome. Capitol Records does not appear to have objected to the parody of its trademark, so Rough Trade used the remaining “withdrawn” dome-logo sleeves throughout 1983-84 (especially for export copies), and as a result various combinations of labels and sleeves are common. For Discogs listings please explain with the listing if the sleeve and labels do not match.

(1) Timtom mastering both sides (wide dead wax on B-side), dome logo appears on labels and sleeve (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(2: this version) as (1) but with round stickers covering the logo on the labels; sleeve logo unknown.
(3) New/altered labels and sleeves printed, showing the cursive Rough Trade logo only, without the domes. Timtom mastering both sides, as above. (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(4) B-side remastered by Porky for improved sound (the dead wax is very narrow), using the remaining dome-logo labels and sleeves. (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(5) New sleeves and labels: Band-name added to front, back cover with domed logo in oval, unchanged from version #1. New labels with the conventional Rough Trade logo and publishing credit changed from Glad Hips Music to Warner Bros. Music. Same Porky B-side mastering as (4). (The Smiths - This Charming Man)


This makes this item a unique piece of The Smiths and Morrissey history. Don't ask how I ended up with this because I have no idea! Perhaps I bought it in a lot of other records which I used to do years ago.
I had a hard time finding examples of pricing for this record. Finally, I found one copy of this triple-stickered version that is for sale now, here it is:





As you can see, this is in very high demand because so few own it and so many want it. Also, it would cost over $100 to get it shipped to the US from this seller.
The vinyl is in excellent shape. I do not believe that it has ever been played. See the close ups of the grooves in the pictures above.
The cover is in good shape overall, but there is a seam split on the spine. Otherwise the cover is fine with some typical wear around the edges. 
I wish you the best of luck in this auction. I think it's going to be very interesting!
***
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The Smiths ?– This Charming Man

Label: Rough Trade ?– RTT 136 Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stickered 
Country: UK Released: Oct 1983 Genre: Rock Style: Indie Rock

Tracklist

A1 This Charming Man (Manchester) 2:43 A2 This Charming Man (London) 2:30 B1 Accept Yourself 3:53 B2 Wonderful Woman 3:04

Companies, etc.

  • Mastered At – CBS Studios, London
  • Distributed By – The Cartel

Credits

  • Bass Guitar – Andy Rourke
  • Drums – Mike Joyce
  • Executive-Producer – Geoff Travis
  • Guitar, Harmonica – Johnny Marr
  • Mastered By – timtom*
  • Music By – Johnny Marr
  • Other [Cover Star] – Jean Marais
  • Producer – John Porter
  • Voice – Morrissey
  • Words By – Morrissey

Notes

First pressing without band's name "The Smiths" on the cover, but with stickers covering the alternate Rough Trade logo on the labels.
1983 Glad Hips Music
All words reproduced courtesy Glad Hips Music Limited ©1983

The initial UK release of both the 12” and the 7” featured an alternate Rough Trade logo that was a parody of the classic Capitol Records logo, with a capitol dome over “Rough” in bold cursive over “TRADE” typeset. The logo on the back of the sleeve added an oval ring (also a Capitol hallmark). Morrissey is said to have objected to its use, so the offending logos on the labels were first covered with stickers on both 7” and 12” versions (this), before altered labels and jackets were printed without the dome. Capitol Records does not appear to have objected to the parody of its trademark, so Rough Trade used the remaining “withdrawn” dome-logo sleeves throughout 1983-84 (especially for export copies), and as a result various combinations of labels and sleeves are common. For Discogs listings please explain with the listing if the sleeve and labels do not match.

(1) Timtom mastering both sides (wide dead wax on B-side), dome logo appears on labels and sleeve (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(2: this version) as (1) but with round stickers covering the logo on the labels; sleeve logo unknown.
(3) New/altered labels and sleeves printed, showing the cursive Rough Trade logo only, without the domes. Timtom mastering both sides, as above. (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(4) B-side remastered by Porky for improved sound (the dead wax is very narrow), using the remaining dome-logo labels and sleeves. (The Smiths - This Charming Man)
(5) New sleeves and labels: Band-name added to front, back cover with domed logo in oval, unchanged from version #1. New labels with the conventional Rough Trade logo and publishing credit changed from Glad Hips Music to Warner Bros. Music. Same Porky B-side mastering as (4). (The Smiths - This Charming Man)

A somewhat simplified version of these classifications appears at passionsjustlikemine.com

Barcode and Other Identifiers

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A, hand-etched): RTT 136 A1 WILL NATURE MAKE A MAN OF ME YET?
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B, hand-etched): RTT 136 B1 timtom cbs




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