Sex Pistols
Vinyl Reissue's 2007

Review for JL.Com by Scott M (thefilthandthefury.co.uk)
© 2007 thefilthandthefury.co.uk / JohnLydon.Com

Updated: October 2008

You're only looking for vinyl…

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of 'Never Mind The Bollocks' Virgin Records are releasing the Sex Pistols first four classic 7" singles – the only singles that really matter – one a week throughout October; followed by the legendary ‘Never Mind The Bollocks... Here's The Sex Pistols’ LP on October 29th 2007.

The strictly limited edition vinyl replica's have been cut from the original studio production masters. Analogue. Not digital. They are as close as humanly possible to what they were meant to sound like 30 years ago. Warts and all! The iconic artwork is featured in all its matt glory; and has been carefully reproduced from the originals. They look the business, and sound the bollocks.

With the exception of legally required barcodes, the only real difference between the replica's and the original's are arguably necessary improvements. Heavy-weight paper sleeves and heavy-duty 180g vinyl. The trainspotter's can play spot the difference all they like, the rest of us will just enjoy them. As Mr Rotten said on Capital Radio back in 1977, "Music is for listening to, not storing away in a bloody cupboard…"

Ok, you know these songs. You most likely already own these songs; possibly several times! Why should you buy them again? Well, no one is forcing you, but it's simple. This is the Sex Pistols on vinyl. It's how it's meant to be. CD's can be great, but it's just not the same is it? If you want to hear music properly, vinyl is the only way to do it.

Your Sex Pistols vinyl records have probably seen better days, if you ever even owned them. Not everybody is old enough to have had the chance. A whole generation has grown up on CD. However, things are going full circle. Young kids are now finding out the thrill of vinyl; and singles. And what better way to do it than with four of the most exciting singles ever made. Four of the most influential singles ever made. Quite simply, four of the most life-changing records ever…

Give them a blast loud and proud. This is the Sex Pistols. It’s far more than trainspotter nostalgia.

‘Never Mind The Bollocks' is released in its original format: 11 track LP, one-sided ‘Submission’ 7” single & poster.
“I got to solve your mystery…”

Due to (mis)management shenanigans against the record company ‘Never Mind The Bollocks... Here's The Sex Pistols’ got its first release in France, via Barclay Records, shortly before it was due to be released in the UK by Virgin. To help counteract the French import it was decided to bring forward the UK release by one week (October 28th 1977).

The band also insisted that a 12th track was now added to the album, ‘Submission’. (Very apt. As it was written as a backhanded piss-take of the management). An estimated 50,000 copies of ‘NMTB’ had already been pressed without ‘Submission’ so it was decided to insert the track as a free 7” single (along with a fold-out ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ collage poster).

The album was then immediately repressed with ‘Submission’ added to the tracklisting; and has remained unchanged ever since… UNTIL NOW! 30 years almost to the day ‘NMTB’ is back the way it was, if only for a limited time…

Never Mind The Bollocks... Here IS The Sex Pistols

October 21st 2008 Update: Rhino Records in the USA have released a vinyl replica of the US edition of 'Never Mind The Bollocks'. The US (& Canadian) version of the album - originally released by Warner Brothers Records, November 11th 1977 - was issued with pink/green artwork different to the UK version and included an inner sleeve. It also had a slightly altered running order with 'God Save The Queen' and 'Problems' swapped. The pink/green artwork first appeared on the French Barclay Records release. See the official Sex Pistols website for more information… www.sexpistolsofficial.com

Release Dates:
Anarchy in the UK / I Wanna Be Me - October 1st 2007
God Save The Queen / Did You No Wrong - October 8th 2007
Pretty Vacant / No Fun - October 15th 2007
Holidays In The Sun / Satellite - October 22nd 2007
Never Mind The Bollocks - October 29th 2007
(with Submission 7" & poster)

Please Note: The vinyl replica's are UK releases, however, a small amount will be made available for export to Europe and Japan. Unfortunately, they will not be released in North America (see update above).

All major UK record shops should be stocking the vinyl re-issue's, as well as some independents. If the records are not in your local shop you can order them, or buy them online from UK based record website's such as HMV.

God Save The Queen 7" vinyl single released, Monday, October 8th 2007

The second release of the 'NMTB' 30th Anniversary vinyl re-issue series hits the shops October 8th. Copies are strictly limited edition, so we recommend getting the single as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. You can now also download the track via 7 Digital or iTunes.

This is not nostalgia. 'God Save The Queen' is just as powerful and relevant now as it was 30 years ago. Probably more so. The track has inspired countless musicians and individuals worldwide since its original release in May 1977. And will continue to inspire – forever. "We're the future. Your future…"

There are not many songs – written over baked beans at the breakfast table – that went onto divide a nation and force a change in popular culture. No one had ever dared question the Monarchy so publicly; and it wasn't without its repercussions. Members of the band were attacked in the streets; and Government Members of Parliament even called for the Pistols to be hung at London’s Traitors’ Gate!

The powers-that-be decided that having the Sex Pistols top of the record charts the week of the Queen's 25th Silver Jubilee just wasn't on. Even though it technically out-sold the Number 1 single of the week –  'The First Cut is the Deepest' by Rod Stewart – 'God Save The Queen' only charted at Number 2. This wasn’t a conspiracy theory, this was for real.

Over the years many people have tried to tell Mr Rotten what his lyrics mean. But perhaps this quote from 'The Filth and The Fury' film says it best: "You don't write 'God Save The Queen' because you hate the English race, you write a song like that because you love them; and you're fed up with them being mistreated…"

God Save The Queen
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