NEWS: Attention U2 fans … Through help of you U2 collectors some additional info came up regarding versions, text on label and even thickness of the vinyl!
Thank you very much! Spezial thanks to Scott and Declan as well as Marco!
Copyright
There are 3 different “Copyright” that exist on the U2-3 label:
First: “All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorized public performance, broadcasting and copying of this record prohibited.”
Second: “All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorized public performance, broadcasting, copying and rental of this record prohibited.”
Third: “All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorized copying, public performance, broadcasting, hiring or rental of this recording prohibited.”
See-through effect: virgin vinyl
(Pls check your copies and let me know!)
Some copies are pressed either on virgin see though vinyl or heavier black vinyl. Confirmed are:
1st pressing: black vinyl
2nd pressing: black vinyl
3rd pressing: black or virgin vinyl
4th pressing: black or virgin vinyl
5th pressing: virgin vinyl
6th pressing: virgin vinyl
7th pressing (mispress): virgin vinyl
About the first issue of the 12" single “U2-3”
Record label: CBS Ireland
Catalog No.: 12-7951
Release: 1979
Cover: CBS Sleeve with hand-numbered sticker.
Label: Ireland is spelled correctly. The band's members names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear on both sides of the record near the label in the dead wax. “Made in England” on bottom. Bold typeface for “U2” with a short dash between U and 2. Stereo is written in big letters (STEREO). No CBS inc. on the label. First version of copyright on both sides.
Sticker: Hand-numbered by Jackie Hayden. All copies have either black or blue ink numbers.
There exist several editions of the 12" U2-3 single, but only the first one is stickered. Some quite rare copies exist without the sticker, as a result of over production. 6 editions are confirmed. And the 7th pressing could be a mispress.
2nd printing
Record label:
CBS Ireland
Catalog No.:
12-7951
Release:
1980 / 1981
Cover: CBS Sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear on both sides of the record near the label in the dead wax. “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). No CBS inc. on the label. First version of copyright on both sides.
3rd printing
Record label:
CBS Ireland
Catalog No.:
12-7951
Release:
1980 / 1981
Cover: CBS Sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear in a single run out grove ONLY ON SIDE ‘B’ of the record near the label in the dead wax, Side A only has the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ etched. “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2”. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). No CBS inc. on the label. First version of copyright on both sides.
4th printing
Record label: CBS Ireland
Catalog No.: 12-7951
Release: 1980 / 1981
Cover: CBS Sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear in a single run out grove ONLY ON SIDE ‘B’ of the record near the label in the dead wax, Side A only has the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ etched. No “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom or on the side text linings. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2”. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). No CBS inc. on the labels. Second version of copyright on both sides.
5th printing
Record label: CBS Ireland
Catalog No.:
12-7951
Release: 1980 / 1981
Cover: CBS Sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear in a single run out grove ONLY ON SIDE ‘B’ of the record near the label in the dead wax, Side A only has the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ etched. No “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom of label, but on the side at the end of the circle copyright linings. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2”. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). No CBS inc. on the label. Second version of copyright on both sides.
6th printing
Record label: CBS Ireland
Catalog No.: 12-7951
Release: 1980 / 1981
Cover: black die cut generic sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear in a single run out grove ONLY ON SIDE ‘B’ of the record near the label in the dead wax, Side A only has the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ etched. No “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom of label, but on the side at the end of the circle copyright linings. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). CBS symbols and CBC INC on both sides of label. Third version of copyright on both sides.
7th printing (maybe mispress)
Record label: CBS Ireland
Catalog No.: 12-7951
Release: 1980 / 1981
Cover: black die cut generic sleeve
Label: Ireland is misspelled (Irelnad). The band's member’s names, the word ‘BANG’ along with the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ appear in a single run out grove ONLY ON SIDE ‘B’ of the record near the label in the dead wax, Side A only has the catalogue number ‘CBS-12-7951’ etched. “MADE IN ENGLAND” on bottom of SIDE A ONLY!. Normal typeface for “U2” with a long dash between U and 2”. Stereo is written with just the first letter big (Stereo). No CBS inc. on the label. Different copyright text Side A is the second version text, Side B is the third version text.
...
Message from Jackie Hayden
I mailed Jackie Hayden to get answers whether he still owns a U2-3, where the number 1 went, if he knows why he used 2 pens, and also about possible Testpressings and why he numbered the record.
Here’s his authorised answer:
Dear Oliver
I received your e-mail re U23.
The idea for the numbered limited edition for U23 occurred to me after observing that there were fans of, say, paintings, who would buy a numbered print so that they would have a unique item that nobody else had.I thought U2 were so special their records should be treated with the same individual importance.
I decided to number them myself because there was considerable antagonism from CBS UK towards the Irish office putting out any Irish records at all, and they had already turned down U2 after hearing the tracks that were released on U23!
As for the two pens, I can't remember why. Maybe the first pen got lost or was used up or somebody else in the office took it. It was over 30 years ago, so it's hard to remember, but there's no significance to it anyway.
Yes, I still own number 1000 and I have a copy of the pre-release white label test pressing for the record of which only 4/6 would have been pressed.
Number 1 probably went to the record shop who initially ordered the most copies.
Best wishes
Jackie Hayden
