Wire – Pink Flag

Solid Repress. Noticed no major distortion or background. A excellent example of 70S British punk, Some really nice punchy drums and iconic guitar riffs, especially on the classic ‘ex lion tamer’

Despite selling quite a lot of my collection over the years, somehow I hung on to a lot of my original punk/post punk stuff. And Im glad I did !
Still have this from day of purchase along with the next two, and it looks and sounds as good as it did that day when I bought it in 1977. Ive got a couple of CDs of these classics, and they’re ok - especially the bonus material - but in my heart of hearts these are vinyl listening experiences. That’s obviously just me. A lot of folk would laugh at that, but I love the sleeves, love the side A/side B thang, love that dirty sound that the digital versions always seem to tame somewhat.
I did give the latest reissue from the Wire store a go, and wasn’t bowled over. It became clear that buying other vinyl versions was a waste of my time when Ive got an excellent condition Harvest pressing.
Anyway, kids. This is as much punk as Ramones and Buzzcocks debuts, as The Clash and The Pistols.
And then, the band threw it all in the bin and set about making the future.
Essential, in so many ways.

10/5

These were available in New York record stores around 2000 - 2001.

Michael Fremer reported in Stereophile that the Wire LPs on 4MWB were sourced from FTP transfers of the digital masters from Skye to George Horn at Fantasy Studios. The current Pink Flag label issues are reported by the band to come from the same source.

Ok press. Very dirty on side 2 and needed a good clean. Even after that, my stylus picked up that much crap that it needed a massive scrub down. Final two tracks sound a bit distorted.

I've had this since 1977, bought in a second hand record shop that used to sometimes get promos from journalists. My copy has a Factory Sample Not For Resale sticker on the label. Does this mean I'll get rich if I ever decide to sell it?

If this is the same as the white label Chairs Missing, it is an unofficial pirate press

the platonic ideal of 70s punk. my favorite punk record of all time, maybe?

I don't know if my experience is based on sheer luck, but I picked up the first three Wire albums in their 2018 PF pressings... came out sleeve flat with no scratch by simply squeezing the edges of strong card inner and rolling them out. De-stat, brush, and after a thorough cleaning these are silent surface, wide dynamic and timbral range, no sibilance -easily my favourite copies of these great LPs. Digital or not. Depth of field and lack of cd brick wall limiting makes these an absolute bargain and a fun listen.

This is not a 1977 pressing. This label style with top rim text beginning with “All Rights” and not “EMI” didn’t come into use until 1982.