The Boomtown Rats – The Boomtown Rats

Where is the reference to PRS Hannover on this release? Looks identical to 1977 release. There's no indication of release date different than 1977 in this one.

Now we're able to talk about punk or new wave music sitting on our sofas in 2020, but back to the 70's I should say that the Boomtown Rats debut LP was a new wave (at the time "punk" and "new wave" cliches meant the same thing: a new style of music instead of classic rock) standart album, it's a matter of fact.

On my version : back cover price code is encercled A instead of PG250 ;
Matrix / Runout (A Side Label): MER 9102 800 1 380 CDIS
Matrix / Runout (B Side Label): MER 9102 800 2 380 CIDIS

'tis a cracking debut, definitely more New Wave than Punk, should we update the style category?

The is a good debut. as well as being punk, it owes a lot to Bruce Springsteen. Listen to 'Joey's on the Street Again' to see what I mean. Closer to new wave, than punk, really.

Mercury label Marketed by Phonogram.

The Rats debut is a good, but not yet great record that show they got it down on vinyl just a wee bit premature. This is hard driving pub rock/R&B of the Dr. Feelgood stripe. The album is competent and never embarrassing, yet it displays only a ghost of the New Wave finesse that they would evidence shortly afterward. Their first hit,"Lookin' Out After No. 1," is a stirring call to arms that as the first postpunk single added to the staid BBC playlist sets an appropriate standard of quality. "Mary of The Fourth Form," is a leering schoolboy blues number: the LP cut pales next to the more aggressive single version. All well and good, but the band would literally explode with new ideas and a multitude of sonic styles with the next album and throughout the rest of their career.

http://postpunkmonk.wordpress.com
For more ruminations on the Fresh New Sound Of Yesterday