Here We Go!
Welcome back — it’s time to spotlight one of the most iconic punk singles of all time:
👑 God Save the Queen (Virgin VS181)
This version is the original UK first pressing, and although the sleeve is a bit worn — and has some handwritten notes on it — it’s still one of my favorite pieces.
🧷 Basic Info
- Title: God Save the Queen
- Artist: Sex Pistols
- Format: 7-inch Single (45 RPM)
- Release Date: May 27, 1977
- Label / Catalog No.: Virgin VS181
- Sleeve: Picture sleeve
🧷 Tracks:
- A-side: God Save the Queen
- B-side: Did You No Wrong
🧷 Pressing & Variation Details
✔️ Matrix Numbers (Runout Etchings):
- First Press: VS-181-A-1 / VS-181-B-1
✔️ Label Differences:
- 1st Press: Blue label with silver text (both sides)
- 2nd Press: White text on A-side, silver on B-side
- 3rd Press: White text on both sides
✔️ Anti-Slip Ring (Ridge Texture)
- 1st Press: Sharp-edged, angular design
- Later Presses: Smoother, more rounded edges
💡 This raised ring helps prevent the record from slipping on the turntable.
✔️ Sleeve Design:
Designed by Jamie Reid — the cover famously obscures the Queen’s eyes and mouth.
This is not the “Safety Pin Queen” version you see on t-shirts.
There’s a rumor that she’s called “The Queen of Singles” — but I honestly had never heard that before 🤔
🧷 Sound Quality:
I personally enjoy the analog warmth on this one — though unlike Anarchy, I don’t notice a big difference from the CD version.
The battered condition might actually give it some extra charm 😅
🧷 Collector’s Notes:
Originally meant to be released on A&M Records, the band was dropped before the single could be launched — Virgin picked it up and released it as VS181.
Estimates suggest around 50,000 copies of the UK 1st pressing were made (matrix A1/B1), so it’s relatively easy to find compared to other rare punk records.
My copy is a confirmed first press based on matrix — but the center has been punched out, probably for jukebox use (NOC = Not Original Center).
It was roughly done — and back then, I didn’t even realize it wasn’t standard 😭
Later, I did pick up a solid center version — more on that next time!
💡 Side Note: The ultra-rare A&M pressing (AMS 7284) of “God Save the Queen” is considered one of the rarest punk singles in existence.
Only around 100 copies are known to exist — one sold at auction in 2024 for £24,320 (~¥4.7 million)!
🔜 Coming Next:
Next up, we’ll take a look at another version of “God Save the Queen” — same catalog number, but with a different twist.
Stay tuned!
byebye 👋
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