Here We Go!
Introducing another item from my Sex Pistols collection.
This time I would like to introduce God Save The Queen (YK-90-AX),
a Nippon Columbia promo copy of the Japanese release.
A classic example of what a promo record looks like.
🧷 Basic Information
・Title: God Save The Queen
・Artist: Sex Pistols
・Format: 7-inch single (45 RPM)
・Release year: 1977
・Label / Catalogue number: Nippon Columbia YK-90-AX
・Sleeve: Single sheet insert sleeve
🧷 Tracklist
Side A
God Save The Queen
Side B
Did You No Wrong
The track configuration is the same as the Virgin release.
🧷 Pressing / Variation Details
✔️ Matrix numbers (runout etchings)
・AX-458-91-1
・AX-458-92-1
✔️ Sleeve
Blue background with silver text only, without the Queen image.
The reverse side features photos of the band members and a short description.
✔️ Label
Nippon Columbia’s distinctive blue label with silver lettering.
The band name and song title appear as logos, along with the indication that this is a promo copy.
Side B does not include the band name.
🧷 Collector’s Notes
✔️ Sleeve
This Japanese single features text only, without the Queen image.
Imported copies were apparently available at the time, but the Nippon Columbia version seems to have avoided the image, possibly due to social considerations.
✔️ Promo copy
As mentioned in the earlier Anarchy article, promo records were distributed free of charge by record companies to industry professionals such as radio stations, television stations, music magazine writers and major retailers for promotional or research purposes.
These copies occasionally appear on the market, but this particular record seems to have actually been used for its intended purpose.
First, several stickers are attached to the sleeve, which appear to be for internal management.
- ROCK – Possibly a genre classification. At the time, the category “punk” may not yet have been widely used.
- BOXへ「ゴ」でいれる！ – Likely referring to the “Go” of God Save.
- S’52.9.21 – Possibly the acquisition date.
The inner sleeve is also unusual. Instead of a company sleeve, the record is housed in a plain white sleeve with yellow tape attached.
At first I assumed this tape was for repair, but the sleeve itself is not torn, so it seems to have been used simply as a marker.
On the back of the sleeve, the running time for GSTQ is printed as 3:20, but this has been corrected by hand to 3:16.
After timing it myself, the actual length is indeed about 3:16.
Perhaps the four-second difference mattered.
These details suggest that the record was likely used at a television or radio station.
✔️ Inner sleeve
Because the record came with a plain white sleeve, I initially wanted the original company sleeve from the period. I ended up buying a cheap record during a 100-yen sale just to obtain one.
However, it turns out that promo copies had their own sample sleeve.
This one may be difficult to find.
As an extra, I have also included a Nippon Columbia advertisement from the time.
🔜 Next Article
Next time I plan to introduce
“Chaos (TFCK-88631)”.
Stay tuned!
byebye 👋
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.
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