Here We Go!
Welcome back to another entry in the Sex Pistols collection series.
This time, we’re taking a close look at Holidays In The Sun (VS191) — the final single released during Johnny Rotten’s time with the band — and comparing the UK original pressing with its 30th anniversary reissue.
💡 What’s a Reissue?
A reissue is a record that’s re-manufactured and re-released after its original release.
These are often produced when the original becomes rare or demand resurfaces.
The one we’re covering here is the 30th Anniversary Reissue, released in 2007.
🎶 Holidays in the Sun (Virgin VS191)
📀 Sleeve Comparison
👉 Here’s the UK original sleeve – front side
👉 And here’s the back side of the UK original sleeve
👉 Now the reissue sleeve – front
👉 And the reissue sleeve – back
🧷 Basic Specs
Title: Holidays In The Sun
Artist: Sex Pistols
Format: 7-inch single (45 RPM)
UK Original
- Release Date: 15 October 1977
- Label/Catalogue: Virgin VS191
- Sleeve: Picture sleeve (matte finish)
30th Anniversary Reissue
- Release Date: 22 October 2007
- Label/Catalogue: Virgin VS191 / EMI 5099950741175
- Sleeve: Picture sleeve (glossier finish)
🧷 Tracks
A-side: Holidays In The Sun
The opening track from Never Mind The Bollocks — a powerful rock number that kicks off with a dramatic sound effect.
This track includes Sid Vicious in the credit.
B-side: Satellite
An early track in the Pistols’ repertoire. Personally, I prefer the demo version.
🧷 Pressing Details
✔️ Matrix Numbers
- Original: VS-191-A-2 / VS-191-B-1
- Reissue: VS-191-A-1 / VS-191-B-1
The reissue has, of course, A1/B1 matrix numbers, and while the original has hand-etched runouts, the reissue uses machine-stamped ones.
✔️ Sleeve Comparison
Designed by Jamie Reid based on a Belgian travel ad, the original sleeve was widely distributed despite being recalled. Estimates say about 50,000 copies were released, so it’s not particularly rare.
- Original: Thin, matte-finish paper sleeve.
- Reissue: Sturdier sleeve with slight sheen and cleaner white areas.
Notable differences:
- The reissue omits the “dp” (Delga Press) logo found on the original. In its place are a barcode and generic copyright info.
- The reverse fold differs: the original folds over the back, the reissue tucks underneath.
- Die-cut shape at the record opening is also different.
✔️ Label Comparison
- Original: Vibrant blue-white gradient.
- Reissue: Fainter colour tone and slightly different “Virgin” text.
The copy I own is actually a pressing error with two labels applied to one side!
It doesn’t affect playback, but I left it as-is since it’s impossible to remove cleanly.
An otherwise ordinary reissue became somewhat rare due to this quirk 😅
💡 Weight difference:
- Original: 35g
- Reissue: 75g — more than double!
💡 What’s Heavyweight Vinyl?
Heavier pressings reduce warping and ensure more stable rotation.
They allow the stylus to track grooves more accurately — though in my setup (a basic portable with built-in amp), I couldn’t hear a clear difference 😅
I plan to revisit this once I retrieve my full stereo setup from my parents’ home.
🧷 Collector’s Notes & Side Info
The original sleeve is often referred to as “recalled”, but given how many copies still exist, it feels like the company sleeve used post-recall is actually rarer.
There was also a 1992 silver-label Virgin reissue — surprisingly tough to find today.
Dutch pressing (CBS Haarlem, VS191 matrix VR08-10264) is considered a UK release by Discogs due to its UK distribution.
Differences in label print:
UK pressings: grey text
Dutch: darker, almost sumi ink-like
The French Barclay pressing (640 116) features more saturated sleeve print colours than either the UK or Japanese versions.
🔜 Next Time…
We’ll be covering the only official studio album by the Sex Pistols:
Never Mind The Bollocks, Japanese pressing by Nippon Columbia. Stay tuned!
byebye 👋
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