Anarchie Pour L’U.K. | French 7-inch Single (640 162)

Here we go.
This post introduces another item from my Sex Pistols collection.

This time, it’s a single related to The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle:
Anarchie Pour L’U.K. (640 162).

Released as a single cut from The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle, this record was officially issued only in France.
It is also known as the final single released by Barclay.

Please also see my previous articles on The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle (Part 1 and Part 2).

🧷 Basic details

・Title: Anarchie Pour L’U.K.

・Artist: Sex Pistols

・Format: 7-inch single (45 rpm)

・Year: 1979

・Label / Catalogue number: Barclay 640 162 (BA-105)

・Sleeve: Picture sleeve

🧷 Tracklist

・A1：Anarchie Pour L’U.K.

・B1：Anarchy In The U.K

The A-side is a French-language version of Anarchy in the U.K., arranged in a musette-style arrangement.

💡Musette refers to a style of French popular music that became widespread in Paris in the early 20th century.
It typically features accordion-led arrangements, often played in dance halls and cafés, with light waltz rhythms and a slightly melancholic feel.

The B-side features the Goodman demo version of Anarchy in the U.K.

🧷 Pressing / variation details

✔️ Matrix numbers (etched runouts)

・BLY – 640 162 A MPO

・BLY 640 162 B MPO

✔️ Sleeve

The sleeve features a simple design: a matte black background with a large circled “A”, the title, and the logo.

Both sides use the same design, with the only difference being the song title shown in French and English.

✔️ Label

The record comes with a black label with white text and a NOC configuration.
This so-called “dinked” or large-centre style is commonly seen on French singles.

🧷 Collector’s notes

Catalogue number:
The sleeve shows 640.162, while the labels display 640 162.

Sleeve variations:
There is said to be a rare misprinted sleeve where both sides read “Anarchie Pour L’U.K.”.
Considering the overall value of this release, it’s more of a curiosity than something I actively want, but it would still be interesting to see one in person.

There isn’t much more to add, so I’ll leave it there this time.

🔜 Coming up next

Staying with French releases, the next post will cover the French pressing of “Anarchy in the U.K.”.

Thanks for reading.

Bye bye 👋

For collectors interested in Japanese editions

If you are drawn to the design and information found on Japanese releases, particularly obi strips, you may want to take a look at my Never Mind The Bollocks Japanese CD OBI Gallery.
This page organises each obi strip variation issued for the album individually, presenting the obi itself as the main focus in a collector-oriented reference format.
It is intended as an entry point for those interested in Japanese obi strips.