VINYL FILE SPOTLIGHT

Say what you want about the parody the Sex Pistols have turned themselves into, but there is no denying their place in punk rock's history books. This week we're looking into their 1977 7" single, God Save the Queen and the more than $20,000 that people have paid for it.

The Sex Pistols had released Anarchy in the UK in 1976 on EMI Records. However, their time with the label was short-lived, surprisingly not due to a notorious appearance on British talk show Talk in which the band dropped a number of f-bombs. Despite their reputation, sales potentials saw that the band would not remain label-less for long. In 1977 the band signed to A&M Records. The union lasted only six days. After announcing the signing, the band went back to the label offices and threw a party in which Sid Vicious puked on the label's managing director's desk. Before the two parties went their separate ways (Sex Pistols would later sign with Virgin), the Sex Pistols recorded their legendary single, God Save the Queen.

A&M didn't want anything to do with the band or the release and all copies of God Save the Queen were ordered destroyed. However, a small number of copies were saved from destruction (9 or 12 depending on sources) and were given to A&M employees as a sort of "gold hand-shake" when the label closed its London office in 1998. Not surprisingly, they have become one of the most sought after releases in music history. Although Virgin would go on to mass-release the single, the A&M versions have become the holy grail to many record collectors. Last year one sold on eBay for GBP 12,675. Another individual in England is said to have paid GBP 15,000 for a copy.

If you've got one, please send it to me for review. I'll return it, I swear…

THE PUNKNEWS.ORG VINYL FILE Suburban Home Records imprint, Vinyl Collective, is preparing to release their Norma Jean box set which will feature all three Norma Jean albums, Bless The Martyr and Kiss the Child, O' God, the Aftermath and Redeemer. Pre-orders should be going in a week or so and you can expect it on colored vinyl while supplies last. Vinyl Collective released an Every Time I Die box set as well, and it's almost out of print.

Speaking of Every Time I Die, it looks like their upcoming The Big Dirty will be available in a few vinyl formats. Ferret Records has decided to do a picture disc of the album, while Vinyl Collective should be handling the standard release.

Vinyl Collective will also be doing Sparta's Threes which will have a bonus track. It'll be out on 2xLP by the end of the year.

No Idea Records has just announced a slew of re-pressings for some albums that have been out of print. A number of Hot Water Music releases are included in the news. Hot Water Music re-presses include white and burnt clear colors of Caution and some recently discovered grey copies of the 2002 press of Live at the Hardback

Also included is a pressing of 200 burnt clear copies of I Hate Myself's 1997 album, Ten Songs.

While it's been out of print for a while, This Shit is Genius by Dillinger Four is back. It's also been re-printed burnt clear vinyl and is limited to 200.

Hot off the heels of the band's breakup, Planes Mistaken For Stars' 2004 effort, Up in Them Guts has been re-printed on assorted colors, although no numbers were available at press time.

173 blue copies of the Duck Down for the Torso 10" from CombatWoundedVeteran have been printed.

And the final bit of No Idea news is that 525 more copies of This Bike is a Pipe Bomb's 2001 10" Dance Party With… are available for your buying pleasure.

The newest album from Maritime, Heresy & The Hotel Choir is going to be available on limited, numbered vinyl and will include a bonus 7". It'll be on gold/clear vinyl while the bonus 7" includes covers of Hot Chip and Snailhouse songs. It will be out on October 2, which is two weeks before the release of the CD. Only 1,000 copies are going to be made.

The previously announced vinyl release of Heavens' Patent Pending has been pushed back due to errors made at the pressing plant, so don't start sweating if you haven't received your copy yet. We'll let you know when the status changes.

Polyvinyl Records is releasing Cold Colors from Saturday Looks Good To Me. The EP is a preview for their upcoming full-length, which will be available on K Records. The songs on Cold Colors are exclusive to the EP.

A new split from Burnt by the Sun and Car Bomb is out now care of Relapse Records. Burnt by the Sun contributes the song 'Goliath' while Car Bomb brings you 'Pieces of You.' The 7" is limited to 1,000 copies.

J. Mascis has a limited re-release of his 1996 acoustic album, Martin and Me available from Blanco Y Negro.

Seattle's Trap Them will be releasing a 7"EP care of Death Wish Inc. Seance Prime is out October 30.

Shout Out Louds new album, Our Ill Wills, will be available on vinyl when it hits shelves later this month.

The new Go! Team record, Proof Of Youth is out on vinyl and includes an appearance from Chuck D but not from Master P.

Sub Pop is taking pre-orders for the new Iron and Wine LP, Shepherd's Dog. While available, all pre-orders come with a limited 2 song CD. The street date for Shepherd's Dog is September 25.

In Can-Con news, Akron/Family have a 2xLP coming out on Young God Records. Look for it on September 18.

Black Dice have their new effort, Load Blown coming out on vinyl. It's the Brooklyn band's fourth album.

Talib Kweli is releasing his latest, Eardrum, on his new Warner imprint, Blacksmith. It will be available as a 2xLP.

Pre-orders for Rx Bandits' And The Battle Begun 2x10" started on Monday, Check out their webstore to buy it. They will be shipping on October 1.

Against Me! has brought a new record with them on their current tour with Gaslight Anthem. If you catch them on tour you an grab a 12" version of 'White People for Peace' that comes with the original song on the a-side and a Butch Vig remix on the b-side. It's limited to 1,000 copies. Word is they've also got red copies of the Thrash Unreal 7" with them. The band's most recent full-lenght, New Wave is also available as a 2xLP from Germany.

New from Going Underground Records is the Second Pressing of their newest release. Sick-e's Whispers 7" is available with 200 copies on red vinyl . This will be out Sept 17. The label also plans on releasing a new 7" from The Heartbeatz who contain members of The Contaminators who incidentally have their own 12" coming out around the same time. You can pick them up at their webstore.

Cobraside has just released two Detroit Cobras album. Both Tied & True and Get the Gore are available on black and colored vinyl.

As we announced yesterday, Rhino Records will be releasing a vinyl box set in commemoration of Joy Division's 30th anniversary.

It seems like in the mad dash leading up to the Fest, many labels are scrambling to get some releases out before the last weekend in October. Not to be left out and managing to stay in the news every week, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records is going to be dropping a split between Onion Flavored Rings and Future Virgins. Pre-orders should be announced via 1-2-3-4 Go! in the next week or so.

A389 Records will be handing the release of Pulling Teeth's followup to last year's