Kate Bush – The Kick Inside

In order to try and work out how early, or late, a pressing may be within the print run, bear this in mind:

Initial stampers state "REMBER YOURSELF", later ones have "REMEMBER YOURSELF" - this was corrected after the mistake was spotted, but many thousands would likely have already been pressed before being changed. With regards to the letters: EMI used the letters GRAMOPHLTD to represent the numbers 1 to 10, so that a record with 'G' would be from the first stamper, and 'T' from the ninth, while 'GM' would be from the fourteenth etc. A stamper normally presses around 1000 before being replaced.

Also note: earlier UK pressings came with a bespoke printed EMI inner bag. At the bottom right of the printed side, there will be a date that the bag was made: 3/78, 11/78 so on and so forth. The likelihood is that the enclosed disc was manufactured around that date.

Seems there are very different pressings or different tastes. This is one of a very few records, where I really lost when it comes to do a judgement about the sound. Her voice is sometines airy, somtimes thrill, sometimes distorted, sometimes clear, sometime like behind a pillow. The same can be said about the instruments. Although I really want to like this record, my HiFi systems seem to capitulate every time and soon after me.

I wonder why they called the UK CD version "Kick Inside" on its spine rather than "The Kick Inside". See here. https://i.discogs.com/W-amBL_9s1u5Yca-dCLLqMEnZ4FXtIAk4i7f8gd4Ats/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:463/w:595/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE5MjMx/MjgtMTI4MjU3Mjg5/OS5qcGVn.jpeg

Perfect pressing! Very dynamic mastering, very full bass, and silky smooth drums. Kate Bush's vocals soar and are quiet and soft when they need to be for the song. It helps that I consider this to be her best album. Amazing sound from this original 1978 pressing! I expect nothing less front the incredible artist that is Kate Bush.

This mix is notably different and(dare I say!)slightly worse than the 2018 remaster. Kate’s vocals sound almost buried in the instrumental on several tracks and sound a bit shrill in places. I’m playing a NM copy on my Audio Technica LP120 and I’m pretty positive it’s not inner groove distortion I’m hearing. My copy does have the “REMBER YOURSELF” matrix which I’m assuming was particularly early in the run, so maybe slightly later copies sound better? My original UK Lionheart is in slightly worse condition but sounds way better and that was released in 1978 as well.

Curious as to how the EMI 100 pressing compares.

My copy has these matrices:
- Side A: YAX 5389-3 REMEMBER YOURSELF | 1 || ||
- Side B: YAX 5390-1 GRR 3

Thank you

my version the label is a white background with black and red text. Not sure what one it is. EMC 3223 Remember Yourself EMI

My copy has YAX 5389-2 DRG REMBER YOURSELF on side A and YAX 5390-3 on side B. It still has the original white inner sleeve, which has “7/78” at the bottom, seemingly suggesting that’s when it was pressed

I believe mine is an early 1978 UK copy, can anyone confirm?

Top right corner on the back of sleeve: EMC 3223 stereo OC 062 06 603

Matrix / Runout (Var. ??, Side A - Stamped): YAX 5389-2 REMBER YOURSELF TA 1
Matrix / Runout (Var. ??, Side B - Stamped): YAX 5390-2 GGG 2

Fully laminated sleeve
Tan labels with red EMI logo
Durations do not appear on the release.

Is the first UK press EMC 3223, 0C 062 06 603 ANALOG mastering?