Just what is the 'die-cut' inner sleeve ?? Our copy is 'die-cut' in so far as the open edhe has rounded corners and a long angled cut away. Die-cut usually means so kind of cut out piece or pieces.

My vinyl pressing has just dispatched according to the e-mail I received from the band's label. I'll update as soon it arrives. Might be a while. I live in the states.

Stick to these original presses and avoid buying poorly made reissues. This 1st press was mastered directly from the original analog tapes. Do NOT trust any reissue of this or any other lp. Poor quality and you can’t trust the source.

He's also saying, as he's stated many times on many releases, that he has an infinite amount of cash for these precious originals. It's not exactly true that an original pressing sounds better than a reissue by default when you factor in mastering, pressing plant, technology of that time and era, and historical context. You know the story of Thriller. Millions of units shifted! Millions returned!

So his delivery could be better, but he's not wrong, technically, officially or not. Lots, and lots, and lots... of bands officially endorse or release material, this in and of it itself is meaningless from a sound standpoint. The bands and labels are reissuing it to make money, that's priority one, if we're lucky sound-quality is number two, and "authentic sound-quality" is almost unheard of. When these things get reissued for the most part, the label/owner uses whatever containment the original master is now stored in. In 2018, that's a digital containment, 99% of the time, It just is. Now, an original tape may still exist somewhere, but even many major labels dumped cases of tape decades ago now in some cases. So, LSS, no matter how official, no matter whether the band endorsed it, usually no matter if it was even really well transferred, and cut; it will still never sound how it 'Originally' sounded. Most anything recorded before 1983 or so was almost certainly recorded directly to tape, and cut from tape to disc. That has an inherent sound that cannot, in any way, be replicated without anything but the exact same mediums. So when those don't physically exist anymore, well you get the idea ;( There are a small percentage of labels that do seek, and only use restored tape, but they are rare, and specialized (been around long before the 'Craze'). However, as a counter-point, I'd also say some reissues sound Way better than the original, whether cut from tape, or doing great re-conversion (technically). That all being said, most clean originals make even a quality re-issue sound lacking, or at least 'not correct".

Um so do NOT trust the official Wire re-issues out this Spring, link again as per the previous comment in case you didn't notice? http://pinkflag.com/specialeditions/

Heads up! The first three albums are finally being reissued by the band directly. http://pinkflag.com/specialeditions/

That's odd. They were there before! I can't even seem to find the order screen for the vinyl versions. But yes, there are vinyl reissues. The only down side is that there won't be any bonus material attached to the vinyl releases. Maybe the pre-order already sold out? I'll look into it.

these link are to CD re-issues only, any idea if they're going to be vinyl re-releases too?

Curious: is the "Warning" text on the American versions of "Pink Flag" a sticker on the shrink-wrap, or is it stamped directly onto the sleeve? I'm hoping it's not stamped -- it would be another great album cover ruined by American censorship, over an almost illegible "fuck" in a thirty-second song...

Unfortunately it’s stamped on the sleeve! I prefer the uk press for that reason and for the reason that it sounds sharper too

I just bought second hand a version that looks pretty mint, Cat# SHSP 4076 but absolutely no matrix number printed in the record. Does anyone have a version like this?

i really struggled to see the matrix numbers on my copy - they are v faint, but the etched 'BLAIR' is easier to see. Mine is A-4 /B-3 but has smaller type on the labels and 'made in the UK' instead of 'Gt Britain' around edge. Got mine new in early 80s.

Just picked up this pressing, an original, so glad I did! This is my kind of music, such a consistently great album, this must have blown minds in 1977 when it came out....?!

Oh yes absolutely. Funny thing i discovered their second album first then Pink Flag. It was an instant hit that blew my mind forever If you love this album, you might want to look after the book from Wilson Neate. it is still available here for instance: https://www.amazon.com/Wires-Pink-Flag-Wilson-Neate/dp/0826429149Enjoy!

I have this same album, but the B side matrix is slightly different (an earlier cut was used).Instead of SHSP 4076 B-3, mine has SHSP 4076 B-2.A side matrix is the same: SHSP 4076 A-4.

'Never mind..' was important at that time. It surely was a setting according to fashion, marketing and music in 1977, but after more than 35 years its music just sounds funny. This one is different. Pink Flag is a reflection of that time. Of course, the short and compact 1 minute something pieces indicate its date of release. BUT there is more here. A different complexity, added with more than hints what was coming after punk.

Forget the Pistols and the Damned....this was the best 'punk' release of 1977. Arty, angular, it consists of a multitude of songs stripped down to bare essentials: often using the denuding as the process of composition itself. Minimalist and too intelligent to be pure punk, their inspirations (like all the best punk bands) came from experimental musics of the late 60's/ early 70's- Krautrock, velvets etc. It has what seems like dozens of little gems, perfectly formed and they say what they have to say and then depart. Boredom, of the Howard Devoto kind, is not to be found here. Highly recommended, it has stood the test of time and still sounds fresh, while being of it's period too. Masterpiece.