JOY DIVISION UNKNOWN PLEASURES TRUE 1st UK PRESS WEA (NOT TRANCO) - PLAY-GRADED

	£		295
	$		391

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There is a widely propagated untruth that the first pressing of Unknown Pleasures had translucent red vinyl. This is NOT the case.

The FIRST pressing of Unknown Pleasures, for the initial release in June 1979, was 10,000 copies pressed at WEA in Hillingdon, West London and they had standard, opaque black vinyl.

Copies with translucent vinyl were pressed by Tranco Ltd, a division of Pye Records.

Peter Hook’s book ‘Unknown Pleasures’ confirms that he and (Joy Division’s Manager) Rob Gretton hired a van and drove to LONDON to pick up the first pressing of the album. WEA's record pressing plant was in London, whereas Tranco was based in Surrey.

The earliest Tranco pressing for ‘Unknown Pleasures’ was the SECOND pressing in October 1979 and there were further Tranco pressings during 1980 until Tranco ceased trading on 31st December 1980. 

A Factory ‘Shareholder Analysis’ document from July 1980 stated that ‘Unknown Pleasures’ had sold-out and was being repressed. The July 1980 repressing again went to Tranco. We also learn that, by this time, ‘Unknown Pleasures’ had sold 46,000 copies.

So, it would be reasonable to assume that the Tranco pressings outnumber the true first pressing from WEA by at least five-to-one (probably more).

Incidentally, there was no involvement by anyone associated with Joy Division or Factory, regarding the translucent vinyl. It was simply the formulation of vinyl used by Tranco. This very, very slight translucency (so slight that the record looks black in normal conditions) can be found on millions of records pressed by Tranco for numerous other artists. No one at Factory had anything to do with it, and it certainly wasn’t requested by anyone. After all, part of the original agreement between Joy Division and Factory was "No gimmicks. No coloured vinyl" etc.

ALL the early pressings (1979 and early 1980), regardless of where they were pressed, will have the following information etched in the run-outs:

FACT 10 - INSIDE 1 A                       A PORKY PRIME CUT                          STEP

FACT-10 - OUTSIDE 1 B                       THIS IS THE WAY                    A PORKY PRIME CUT

However, the WEA pressings can be identified by an additional ‘stamper code’ which will be either an ‘S’ or a ‘W’ followed by a number, such as S-1. S-2, W-1, W-2 etc (up to at least S-35). These codes are lightly etched in the run-outs and can be used to unmistakably identify a true first pressing of ‘Unknown Pleasures’. If they’re not there, it’s not a first pressing! And if the vinyl is translucent, it’s not a first pressing!

This is an original 1st pressing. It has the following etched in the run-outs:

FACT 10 - INSIDE 1 A                 A PORKY PRIME CUT                        STEP           S-17

FACT-10 - OUTSIDE 1 B               THIS IS THE WAY                    A PORKY PRIME CUT           S-14

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its sheen with fine hairlines and surface marks but nothing bad anywhere. I would visually grade the vinyl as Very Good (VG). I’ve played the whole record in full from start to finish and it plays well with no significant issues. The audio is generally as good as, if not better than, the visual grade. There is some background noise in the run-ins/outs and the fades, silent grooves and intros, the occasional random click and a few places where you get a short-lived, soft, repeating click, but these never over-power the music and are generally gone quickly: there is certainly nothing loud or intrusive anywhere. I would play-grade both sides around Very Good (VG) to Very Good Plus (VG+) with side one being closer to VG and side two being closer to VG+.

Sleeve: The textured sleeve has no splits, tears, writing etc, but has normal signs of age and use including wear to the edges and corners, ring-wear and a few small marks and indentations.

Inner sleeve: No splits or tears, but has some pale marks, foxing spots etc. 

Detracting features not covered above:  None. 

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please look at the photos and ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record as shown, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record as shown, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record as shown, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record as shown, each additional item = an extra £1.40 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record as shown, each additional item = an extra £3.10 P&P charge.

First 7" record as shown, each additional item = an extra £1.80 P&P charge.