Tracklist
| Battery | 5:10 | ||
| Master Of Puppets | 8:38 | ||
| The Thing That Should Not Be | 6:32 | ||
| Welcome Home (Sanitarium) | 6:28 | ||
| Disposable Heroes | 8:14 | ||
| Leper Messiah | 5:38 | ||
| Orion | 8:12 | ||
| Damage, Inc. | 5:08 |
Credits (23)
Hetfield*Arranged By
Ulrich*Arranged By
Cliff BurtonBass, Backing Vocals
MetallicaCover [Cover Concept]
Peter MenschCover [Cover Concept]- Lars UlrichDrums
Notes
Released March 3, 1986
Guitar, Vocals: James Hetfield
Drums: Lars Ulrich
Bass: Cliff Burton
Guitar: Kirk Hammett
Recorded at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 1985 to December 1985
Produced by Metallica & Flemming Rasmussen
Engineered by Flemming Rasmussen
Mixed by Michael Wagener at Amigo Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Mark Wilzcak
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
Remastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY (1995)
Remastered by Howie Weinberg and Gentry Studer at Howie Weinberg Mastering, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
Cover concept: Metallica & Peter Mensch
Cover Illustration: Don Brautigam
Photographers: Ross Halfin (All inner sleeve pix, Kirk/Back Cover, James/Back Cover), Rich Likong (Cliff/Back Cover), Rob Ellis (Lars/Back Cover)
Management: Q-Prime, Inc.
All songs © 1986 Creeping Death Music (Global Music Rights)
℗ & © 1986 Blackened Recordings
Master of Puppets is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica.
It was the last album with the bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in Sweden during the album's promotional tour.
Artwork, designed by Metallica & Peter Mensch and painted by Don Brautigam, depicts a cemetery field of white crosses tethered to strings, manipulated by a pair of hands in a blood-red sky. Instead of releasing a single or video in advance of the album's release, Metallica embarked on a five-month American tour in support of Ozzy Osbourne. The European leg was canceled after Burton's death in September 1986, and the band returned home to audition a new bassist.
Master of Puppets peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its music and political lyrics.
It was certified six times platinum by the RIAA in 2003 for shipping six million copies in the United States, and was later certified six times platinum by Music Canada and platinum by the BPI.
In 2015, Master of Puppets became the first metal recording to be selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
It is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential thrash metal albums of all time.
Main runouts of 1986 vinyl releases per country.
US
STE 60439 Elektra.
ST-E-60439-1-A Elektra.
STE-60439-A DMM-1 Elektra.
STE-60439-A-DMM-1 Elektra.
STE-60439-A-DMM Elektra.
R-134552-A, S̶T̶E̶-̶6̶0̶4̶3̶9̶-̶A̶-DMM-1 Elektra.
UK
MFN 60 Music for Nations.
RR 9717 MFN 60 Music for Nations + Elektra.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ MFN 60 Music for Nations + Elektra.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ MFN 60 Music for Nations.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations, misprint.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations + Elektra, misprint.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations + Elektra, misprint + mispress.
EU
RR 9717 Music for Nations + Roadrunner.
RR 9717 MFN 60 Music for Nations + Roadrunner.
Guitar, Vocals: James Hetfield
Drums: Lars Ulrich
Bass: Cliff Burton
Guitar: Kirk Hammett
Recorded at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 1985 to December 1985
Produced by Metallica & Flemming Rasmussen
Engineered by Flemming Rasmussen
Mixed by Michael Wagener at Amigo Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Mark Wilzcak
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
Remastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY (1995)
Remastered by Howie Weinberg and Gentry Studer at Howie Weinberg Mastering, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
Cover concept: Metallica & Peter Mensch
Cover Illustration: Don Brautigam
Photographers: Ross Halfin (All inner sleeve pix, Kirk/Back Cover, James/Back Cover), Rich Likong (Cliff/Back Cover), Rob Ellis (Lars/Back Cover)
Management: Q-Prime, Inc.
All songs © 1986 Creeping Death Music (Global Music Rights)
℗ & © 1986 Blackened Recordings
Master of Puppets is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica.
It was the last album with the bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in Sweden during the album's promotional tour.
Artwork, designed by Metallica & Peter Mensch and painted by Don Brautigam, depicts a cemetery field of white crosses tethered to strings, manipulated by a pair of hands in a blood-red sky. Instead of releasing a single or video in advance of the album's release, Metallica embarked on a five-month American tour in support of Ozzy Osbourne. The European leg was canceled after Burton's death in September 1986, and the band returned home to audition a new bassist.
Master of Puppets peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its music and political lyrics.
It was certified six times platinum by the RIAA in 2003 for shipping six million copies in the United States, and was later certified six times platinum by Music Canada and platinum by the BPI.
In 2015, Master of Puppets became the first metal recording to be selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
It is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential thrash metal albums of all time.
Main runouts of 1986 vinyl releases per country.
US
STE 60439 Elektra.
ST-E-60439-1-A Elektra.
STE-60439-A DMM-1 Elektra.
STE-60439-A-DMM-1 Elektra.
STE-60439-A-DMM Elektra.
R-134552-A, S̶T̶E̶-̶6̶0̶4̶3̶9̶-̶A̶-DMM-1 Elektra.
UK
MFN 60 Music for Nations.
RR 9717 MFN 60 Music for Nations + Elektra.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ MFN 60 Music for Nations + Elektra.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ MFN 60 Music for Nations.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations, misprint.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations + Elektra, misprint.
R̶R̶ ̶9̶9̶1̶7̶ RR 9717 MFN-60 Music for Nations + Elektra, misprint + mispress.
EU
RR 9717 Music for Nations + Roadrunner.
RR 9717 MFN 60 Music for Nations + Roadrunner.
Versions
Filter by
587 versions
| Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Version Details | Data Quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | Roadrunner Records – RR 9717, Music For Nations – RR 9717 | Europe | 1986 | Europe — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, SR | Elektra – 9 60439-4, Elektra – 60439-4 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | Elektra – 96 04391 | Canada | 1986 | Canada — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue | Music For Nations – MFN 60P | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | Music For Nations – MFN 60, Elektra – MFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Music For Nations – TMFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | ||||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Allied Pressing | Elektra – 60439-1, Elektra – 9 60439-1 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Stereo | New Electric Way – 2320 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | ||||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | CBS/Sony – 28AP 3169 | Japan | 1986 | Japan — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets CD, Album | CBS/Sony – 32DP 448 | Japan | 1986 | Japan — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | WEA – 60439-1 | Australia | 1986 | Australia — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | Music For Nations – MFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | ||||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Club Edition | Elektra – 60439-1, Elektra – 9 60439-1 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Club Edition | Elektra – E1 60439, Elektra – 9 E1-60439 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Picture Disc | Music For Nations – MFN 60P | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Elektra – 60439-4 | Australia | 1986 | Australia — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Test Pressing | Music For Nations – MFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | Needs Changes | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, Club Edition | Elektra – E4-60439, Elektra – 60439-4 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, Dolby HX Pro, B NR | Elektra – 96 04394 | Canada | 1986 | Canada — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Philips – 842219-4 | Colombia | 1986 | Colombia — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets CD, Album | Music For Nations – CD MFN 60, Music For Nations – CDMFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Promo, SP - Specialty Pressing | Elektra – 60439-1, Elektra – 9 60439-1 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Music For Nations – MU 444 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Unofficial Release | CBS/Sony (2) – 28AP 3169, CBS/Sony (2) – HM 26 | South Korea | 1986 | South Korea — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album | Elektra – 96 04391 | Canada | 1986 | Canada — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label | Music For Nations – MFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | New Electric Way – C 2320 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Repress | New Electric Way – 2320 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | ||||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Music For Nations – TMFN 60 | Europe | 1986 | Europe — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Stereo, Specialty Pressing | Elektra – 60439-1, Elektra – 9 60439-1 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Reissue | Music For Nations – 2320, New Electric Way – 193201 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label | Music For Nations – MFN 60 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Stereo | Music For Nations – RR 9717, Music For Nations – MFN 60 | Europe | 1986 | Europe — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets CD, Album | Elektra – 9 60439-2, Elektra – 60439-2 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, Club Edition, Dolby HX Pro, B NR | Elektra – E4-60439 | Canada | 1986 | Canada — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, Reissue | New Electric Way – 193204 | France | 1986 | France — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets LP, Album, Club Edition | Elektra – E1 60439 | Canada | 1986 | Canada — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Vertigo – 838 141-4 | Philippines | 1986 | Philippines — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album | Elektra – 60439-4, Elektra – 9 60439-4 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Master Of Puppets Cassette, Album, AR | Elektra – 9 60439-4 | US | 1986 | US — 1986 | New Submission |
Recommendations
Reviews
Found this heavily discounted in a bargain bin and I must say it’s a really nice package.
I hadn’t heard the remaster somehow, and listening with headphones it sounded fantastic.
There’s a bit more rumble in the bass and overall it has a cleaner sound, not quite as dirty as the original.
Similar to the remaster on Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, could be argued if the cleaner sound suits it or not, but for a metal record from 1986 it’s a great one.
vocals are almost inaudible on some parts of battery lol not a great pressing at all
In this version, the whole album stops mid song in Damage Inc- Das Album ist insgesamt gut aber ein atücj zu leise
referencing Master Of Puppets (LP, Album) MFN 60
Honestly this album is mediocre at best. I’ve cleaned it well and run under a high end cart. It’s meh.
Edited 22 days agoI’ve been listening to this album for almost 40 years. Levi Seitz did a great job on this laquer - especially coming from (assuming) a digital source. It’s a challenging record to get right. I love Chris Bellman’s work on the Metallica laquers, but I think Levi has him beat on this one. Maybe a little less of a soundstage, but I enjoy the separation on this a bit more - especially Cliff’s bass. I imagine it’s entirely subjective and based on whatever nostalgia you have for MOP, but this one hits all the sweet spots for my ears. The CB cut is also terrific, but my preference is this one.
I bought my copy in 2021 and just recently took it out for a spin/listen. My copy, on my system, sounds fantastic and I have none of the issues others are describing. It’s got nice clarity without being harsh, excellent lower end with the bass strings and kick. It does have more surface noise then I’d like so I think I’ll give it another ultrasonic wash and see if that cleans it up a little. Overall a great sounding reissue that I’m glad to have in my collection.
Bought it from a second hand fair without knowing it’s unofficial. Damage Inc is cut before the track finishes! Better try to find an original copy imo.
Edited one month agoSmoothspur immanipper Indeed, SL or not, my two copies have that longer gap at the end of Leper Messiah. I took the 1987 Music For Nations as a reference, but every other release (no matter the medium or label) has the standard short gap: https://ibb.co/m8zvmjG
immanipper And agreed also, Carrollton pressings are sometimes pretty goofy, how they managed to miss 5 seconds of HOS (in red) is another mystery: https://ibb.co/q1H8w92 (level adjusted, because the Carrollton is cut ridiculously quiet against the DMMs)
Still, whatever happened there seems to have worked pretty well. I'm pretty sure no matter the matrix variants, all Carrollton-pressed Master Of Puppets & AJFA have, respectively, the longer gap and the mastering error (I assume, something wrong with the tapes dubs they got or their bandings).
Possibly (PXTR), (P*AP) could be lathe cut machines identifiers (maybe something similar to The Mastering Lab's TML-M, TML-X, etc) - in which case only variant 1 would have that unusual high-pitched and bright sound on Side A.
I'm currently looking for a third copy with neither PXTR neither SL on side A (which seemingly exist, unless incomplete runouts, on variant 2 of the already unobtainium Master Of Puppets), to see if there is any difference against these.
Until then, I'm convinced (see my previous comments with the audios) - that those with PXTR on side A and those with SL on side A (aka 6 out of the 7 variants) are listening to two very different pressings... and yet somehow still reach a consensus about it being "the best" :)
0xA7X I've noticed that on the non-SL side B of my copy that Leper Messiah's false ending is noticeably a few seconds longer than it normally is. Can you take a look at your two copies again and see if the SL copy is the same?
It seems like Carrollton's Metallica cuts tended to have some mastering oddities, like how AJFA apparently cuts out a few seconds of Harvester Of Sorrow after the solo, and now MOP extending Leper Messiah's false end.
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