Vinyl releases

EMI, EMD 1006 / 79 0258 1, black vinyl, DMM, reissue

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 77779 02581 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: EMD-1006-A-3U-1-1-  "VERY DIRECT METAL"  Sterling  DD

                          side B, full runouts: EMD-1006-B-3U-1-1-  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLLOCKS"  Sterling  DD

                          side A, lightly etched: EMD-1006-A  "VERY DIRECT METAL"  Sterling

                          side B, lightly etched: EMD-1006-B  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLLOCKS"  Sterling

                          side A, stamped: -3U-1-1-  DD

                          side B, stamped: -3U-1-1-  DD

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at Sterling Sound in the US and pressed by EMI in Hayes, UK

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd.

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED, 

                                    EMD 1006, (EMD 1006B) (side B)

    - COVER: simple cover with light blue text prints on the spine, printed by James Upton Ltd. in the UK,

                    Sleeve printed in England

                    Manufactured in England,

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.

                    SP8804JU,

                    Direct Metal Mastering, DMM is a trademark of TELDEC,

                    EMD 1006, 79 0258 1,

                    spine: EMD 1006     IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed cardboard innersleeve (the original innersleeve),

                                ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                                © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                EMD 1006

    - RELEASED: Probably one of the first UK editions released in 1988 based on the merchant insert though this is most likely a reissue since the runouts indicate

                          this was pressed from the third cut.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - OTHER: Includes merchant add.

    - NOTE 1: I once had another UK edition with dark blue text prints on the spine, don't recall if it had any other difference to this one with light blue prints on the spine. 

    - NOTE 2: This record sounds like atypical DMM record as this sounds a lot less harsh and bright than DMM records usually do. 

                     You can clearly hear the difference in cymbals and bass when compared to the Holland pressed edition right below, this one has a lot better bass than the

                     Holland pressed edition but this one is also missing the clearly audible cymbals. 

                     The atypical DMM sound is most likely a result of either the third cut used to press the record or of the vinyl material used at the EMI UK plant in Hayes.  

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EMI, 7 90258 1 / 064-79 0258 1, black vinyl, DMM

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 77779 02581 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, lightly etched: 7902581-A-01  "VERY DIRECT METAL"  Sterling  1

                          side B, lightly etched: 7902581-[A and B on top of each other]-01  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLLOCKS"  Sterling  2

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at Sterling Sound in the US and most likely pressed by EMI Electrola GmbH in Köln, Germany (the German EMI plant)

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd.,

                                    MADE IN EEC.,

                                    064-79 0258 1, GEMA/STEMRA, LC 0542

    - COVER: simple glossy cover with dark blue text prints on the spine, 

                    Marketed, manufactured and distributed by EMI. Printed in Holland by EMI Services Benelux B.V., Uden. En France: distribution exclusive EMI Pathé Marconi S.A.,

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                    064 [7 90258 1 in a rectangular box]

                    France: PM 264 [7 90258 1 in a rectangular box],

                    LC 0542,

                    DMM is a trademark of TELDEC,

                    embossed EMI logo on the lower right corner of the back cover,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON     7 90258 1

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve), 

                                ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                                © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                7 90258 1

    - RELEASED: Most likely of the first German pressed edition made and released for the European market in 1988.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE 1: As the Holland EMI plant had discontinued vinyl manufacturing in mid 1987 this can not have been pressed in Holland by EMI. The only two logical alternatives

                     are the German EMI plant in Köln or the French EMI plant in Chatou as the vinyl manufacturing was split between the two plants. Since there are no stamped

                     markings beginning with M I'm guessing this was most likely pressed in Germany by EMI or in Holland by some non-EMI associated pressing plant. 

    - NOTE 2: The sound quality is much more typical to DMM record than in the UK edition right above, even more so than in the US edition below. Especially the cymbals

                     are very clear and very natural sounding though the otherwise harsh and thin characteristic sounds of DMM records start to bug me at times. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMI, 7 90258 1, black vinyl, DMM

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 77779 02581 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: 7902581-A  "VERY DIRECT METAL"  Sterling  [Roman number 1] M9 358773 2

                          side B, full runouts: 7902581-B  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLOCKS"  [Roman number 2] M9 358774  Sterling 

                          side A, lightly etched: 7902581-A  "VERY DIRECT METAL"  Sterling  [Roman number 1] 

                          side B, lightly etched: 7902581-B  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLOCKS"  [Roman number 2]  Sterling 

                          side A, stamped: M9 358773 2

                          side B, stamped: M9 358774 

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at Sterling Sound in the US and pressed by Pathé Marconi EMI at Chatou, France

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. 

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED, 

                                    790258 1, SACEM SACD SDRM SGDL,

                                    "DMM Direct Metal Mastering" logo printed on the B-side label

    - COVER: simple cover with dark blue text prints on the spine,

                    Marketed, manufactured and distributed by EMI. Printed in Holland by EMI Services Benelux B.V., Uden. En France: distribution exclusive EMI Pathé Marconi S.A.,

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                    064 [7 90258 1 in a rectangular box]

                    France: PM 264 [7 90258 1 in a rectangular box],

                    LC 0542,

                    DMM is a trademark of TELDEC,

                    no embossed EMI logo anywhere on the back cover,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON     7 90258 1

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve),

                                ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                                © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                7 90258 1

    - RELEASED: Probably of the first French edition made and released in 1988 though based on the runouts this may be a repress.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE 1: If you take into account small manufacturing variations the cover of this edition is identical to the cover of the release right above, only the embossed EMI logo

                     differentiates these two covers from each other. However, the innersleeve is clearly of different shade and most likely printed by different companies.

                     The biggest difference is the stamped part of the runouts specific to the French EMI plant and the clearly different looking center labels. My guess is both,

                     EMI Köln and Chatou plants, received their covers from the Uden plant but printed innersleeves themselves. 

    - NOTE 2: This one is and sounds VERY close to the German pressed edition right above, only small manufacturing differences due to different manufacurer. 

                     At times I get bugged about the harsh characteristic DMM sound and seek the better bass of the UK and US editions. 

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EMI, 64 79 0258 1, black vinyl

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 77779 02581 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: 7902581-A - 14-3-88 I ▵  IRON MAIDEN  [MS signature]

                          side B, full runouts: 7902581-B - 14-3-88 I ▵  IRON MAIDEN  [MS signature]

                          side A, etched: [MS signature]

                          side B, etched: [MS signature]

                          side A, stamped: 7902581-A - 14-3-88 I ▵  IRON MAIDEN 

                          side B, stamped: 7902581-B - 14-3-88 I ▵  IRON MAIDEN 

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut by MS in Italy and most likely pressed by EMI Italiana in Caronno Pertusella, Milano, Italy

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. 

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    ... MADE IN ITALY BY EMI ITALIANA SPA, 

                                    64 [7902581 in a rectangular box], S.I.A.E.

                                    no "DMM Direct Metal Mastering" logo printed on the B-side label

    - COVER: simple cover with dark blue text prints on the spine,

                    MADE IN ITALY BY EMI ITALIANA SpA

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                    64 [79 0258 1 in a rectangular box]

                    no mention of DMM or TELDEC on the back cover,

                    no embossed EMI logo anywhere on the back cover,

                    spine: 64 [7902581 in a rectangular box]     IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve),

                                ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                                © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                64 [7902581 in a rectangular box]

    - RELEASED: This is the first Italian edition made and released in 1988 based on the runouts.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE 1: This one sounds somewhat stuffy like Italian pressings usually tend to do though the pressing quality is very good and there is very little surface noise.

                     I'll rather play the UK, US or German pressed editions than this one. 

    - NOTE 2: There are no notes of DMM on this pressing and based on the sound quality I believe this is a lacquer cut record instead of DMM cut record.

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Gong / EMI, SLPXL 37213, black vinyl

    - BARCODE: none

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: SLPXL 37213-A I P H.P.  4

                          side B, full runouts: SLPXL 37213-B II P H.P.  13

                          side A, etched: 4

                          side B, etched: 13

                          side A, lightly stamped: SLPXL 37213-A I P H.P. 

                          side B, lightly stamped: SLPXL 37213-B II P H.P. 

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut by Horváth Péter in Hungary and most likely pressed somewhere in Hungary 

    - CENTER LABELS: orange Gong labels,

                                    MADE IN HUNGARY ℗ 1988

                                    SLPXL 37213-A (side A) / SLPXL 37213-B (side B)

                                    no "DMM Direct Metal Mastering" logo printed on the B-side label

    - COVER: simple cover with black text prints on the spine,

                    Manufactured under license of EMI

                    Made in Hungary P 1988 EMI,

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.

                    MAHIR - Sylvester J. Ny.,

                    [BE in a circle] printed on the upper right corner of the back cover,

                    no mention of DMM or TELDEC on the back cover,

                    no embossed EMI logo anywhere on the back cover,

                    the spine has been crushed flat from the upper and lower ends, 

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON     GONG SLPXL 37213

    - INNERSLEEVE: plain white paper innersleeve, die-cut to show the center labels and no corners clipped (not the original innersleeve),

    - RELEASED: This is the first and supposedly only Hungarian LP release made and released in 1988.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE 1: This is a very good quality release and clearly beats the Italian release right above. 

    - NOTE 2: There are no notes of DMM on this pressing and based on the sound quality I believe this is a lacquer cut record instead of DMM cut record.

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Jugoton / EMI, LSEMI 78059 / EMD 1006, black vinyl

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 77779 02581 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, etched: LSEMI 78059 A  28 03 88  SB

                          side B, full runouts, etched: LSEMI 78059 B  28 03 88  SB

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut by Silvano Bulešić and pressed by Jugoton in Yugoslavia 

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. 

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    EMD 1006, (EMD 1006B), LSEMI 78059 (side B)

                                    no "DMM Direct Metal Mastering" logo printed on the B-side label

    - COVER: simple cover with light blue text prints on the spine,

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd 

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.

                    SP8804JU,

                    Direct Metal Mastering, DMM is a trademark of TELDEC,

                    LSEMI 78059,

                    the spine has been crushed flat from the upper and lower ends, 

                    spine: LSEMI 78059     SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON   IRON MAIDEN     JUGOTON/EMI

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve),

                                ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                                © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                LSEMI 78059

    - RELEASED: This is the first and supposedly the only Yugoslavian LP release made and released in 1988.

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE 1: This was clearly made based on the UK releases as there is still the code for the UK manufacturer on the back cover (SP8804JU)

    - NOTE 2: Despite the back cover has notes of DMM based on the sound quality I believe this is a lacquer cut record instead of DMM cut record.

                     The same notes of DMM also appear on the UK edition from which the cover was based on so I believe the notes of DMM are simply remnants.  

    - NOTE 3: This is a very good quality release and one of the best quality records of this album I've played. I prefer this one over the Hungarian release right above. 

                     This is a high volume cut but the pressing quality might be a little better as my copy is pressed off-center and is slightly warped but the vinyl is dead quiet. 

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Capitol Records / EMI, C1-90258, black vinyl, DMM 

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 7777-90258-1 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, lightly etched: CI-I-90258-Z2-DMM  SP 2-I  SP-AR  STERLING  0-  Δ19983  B-30664-Z2

                          side B, lightly etched: CI-2-90258-ZI  I-3  DMM  "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT BOLLLOCKS"  SP-AR  STERLING  Δ19983-X  0-  B-30665-ZI-DMM

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at Sterling Sound in the US, processed to metal parts at Sheffield Lab Matrix in the US and pressed by Allied Record Company in the US

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. 

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    MANUFACTURED BY CAPITOL RECORDS, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL INDUSTRIES-EMI, INC., U.S.A. ...,

                                    a lone A embossed on both center labels around the center hole,

                                    C1-90258, (C1-2-90258 (side B)

    - COVER: simple and quite heavy matt-surfaced cover, black text prints on the spine, Printed in U.S.A.

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                    Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., A Subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California.

                    ... Printed in U.S.A.,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON     CI-90258

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve),

                                Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., A Subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California.

                                ... Printed in U.S.A.,

                                CI-90258

    - RELEASED: Probably of the first US edition made simultaneously in various parts of the country (in this case by Allied Records and Specialty Records from the same cut)

                          and released in 1988. 

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE: This is a very good quality record and sounds somewhat funny for a DMM record. On one hand there is the unnaturally deep bass end like in the

                   corresponding UK pressing above but, unlike in the UK pressing above, also the harsh and bright top end. 

                   Like in the Holland pressing above the cymbals sound very clear and natural.

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Capitol records / EMI, SJ-12524, black vinyl

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 7777-90258-1 7

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: CI-90258-1  1A 5Z  DM- 13

                          side B, full runouts: CI•90258•2  1A 5Z  DM- 25

                          side A, etched: CI-90258-1  1A 5Z  DM-

                          side B, etched: CI•90258•2  1A 5Z  DM-

                          side A, stamped: 13

                          side B, stamped: 25

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at and pressed by CBS Canada at their plant in Don Mills, Toronto, Canada 

    - CENTER LABELS: picture labels with text only on the B side label,

                                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. 

                                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                                    ... MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA UNDER LICENSE BY CAPITOL RECORDS-EMI OF CANADA LIMITED. REGISTERED USER. ...,

                                    C1-90258, (C1-2-90258 (side B)

    - COVER: simple slightly textured cover printed by Ever Reddy in Canada, 

                    ℗ 1988 Original Sound Recordings made by EMI Records Ltd

                    © 1988 Iron Maiden (Holdings) Ltd.,

                    ... MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA UNDER LICENSE

                         BY CAPITOL RECORDS - EMI of CANADA Limited, 3109 AMERICAN DRIVE, MISSISAUGA, ONTARIO

                         L4V 1B2. ...,

                    no mention of Direct Metal Mastering on the back cover, 

                    no embossed markings on the back cover, 

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON     CI-90258     [ER logo] PRINTED IN CANADA

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed paper innersleeve with upper corners slightly rounded (the original innersleeve),

                                Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., A Subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California.

                                ... Printed in U.S.A.,

                                CI-90258

    - RELEASED: First and probably only the Canadian retail edition by EMI/Capitol. No other Canadian editions are known to exist. 

                          Originally released on 23rd of April 1988 (source: the booklet of 1998 remastered CD edition above).

    - NOTE: Based on the runouts and sound quality this is one of the very few good quality non-DMM editions from the 80s.

                  Most of the mass produced vinyl releases of this album are DMM and sound somewhat bright and thin.

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