Vinyl Quetions

Hey, I'm relatively new.

I took a look around and couldn't really find any answers to my questions so I figured "what the hell", and I'm asking now.

Anyway, I picked up some 12" singles (and Low-Life) a couple weeks ago. True Faith, TPK, and BLT to be precise. Looking at some of the info online, I see that the 12" BLT single had an etching in the groove. Mine doesn't. Was this a UK only thing? I'm pretty sure my copy is from '86.

Also, I take it that its easier to find copies of No/JD singles in the UK than it is in the US. Am I right?

Thanks in advance for the help.

yes, etchings refer to Factory pressings, you've probably purchased Qwest US issues.

Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: yes, etchings refer to Factory pressings, you've probably purchased Qwest US issues.

Got it. Although, all the ones I picked up do have "FAC xxx" (xxx= whatever the serial number was) on the spine of the sleeve and on the record itself.

I think one might say FACUS xxx.

Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: yes, etchings refer to Factory pressings, you've probably purchased Qwest US issues.

factory australia did the rim etchings as well.

Okay, my BLT is FAC 163, not Qwest of FACUS.

TPK has the red/white inner sleeve and is FAC 123 and says "Factory Records Manchester England". This does have FAC 123 a1 (and a2 on the b side) MPO" etched toward the center of the record.

True Faith is FAC 183 and even says "A Factory Record Manufactured in the UK" on the spine (this doesn't have an etching anyway). Has the "FAC 182 a1 MPO" written as well.

Low-Life is also credited to Factory.

Do I have UK editions or did the Qwest issues also have all the factory text intact?

you have the UK pressings by what you are describing. i don't have the original Factory 12"s for TPK and BLT so i can't see for myself but ceratinly someone will know.

where are you seeing the etching list for those records? niagra? here?

Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: you have the UK pressings by what you are describing. i don't have the original Factory 12"s for TPK and BLT so i can't see for myself but ceratinly someone will know.

where are you seeing the etching list for those records? niagra? here?

Well according to the discography section of this site, the only groove etchings for the records I have are for BLT.

It "should" have:

A: "A smart cut..." B: "A smart cut..."

I don't see that anywhere on mine. Maybe I just got a mispressed one or a later pressed one or something.

methanolcereal wrote:

Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: you have the UK pressings by what you are describing. i don't have the original Factory 12"s for TPK and BLT so i can't see for myself but ceratinly someone will know.

where are you seeing the etching list for those records? niagra? here?

Well according to the discography section of this site, the only groove etchings for the records I have are for BLT.

It "should" have:

A: "A smart cut..." B: "A smart cut..."

I don't see that anywhere on mine. Maybe I just got a mispressed one or a later pressed one or something.

yup mine does have those.

I've also got the UK FAC163, but mine doesn't have those markings in the matrix. Looks like it only shows up on some pressings.

quite a few of the Factory releases were cut and re-cut numerous times over the years so there will be many variations in the run-out messages. The Perfect Kiss for example had at least 5-6 cuts done and test pressings circulate for most of them.