| Queen unreleased picture sleeves |
Unreleased sleeve for the Queen most selling LP.It's a 1980-testpressing with proofsleeve. It omits “Flash” and has got different track-order. The GH sleeve is photographic paper and not printed cardboard. For just the rumoured four "band approval" copies printing wasn't necessary and would have been too costly. Togheter with the front sleeve there's a promo 12" photo paper with all informations on sale and promo campaign.
The catalogue number for this release was supposed to be EMC 3350 (interestingly, just ONE number lower than Flash Gordon which was released as EMC 3351). Apparently the GH release was postponed due to the work that needed to be done on the Flash soundtrack. The two records have EMC 3350 as matrix number as well. The works unfinished sleeve
some slightly differences on this UK test pressing sleeve. The title in not in red as the commercial issue but black with no filler color inside. Also the back shows the missing of the titles for the LP. Other proofs covers have been found with the totally missing of the title box (not just blank) and the clogs pictured upside down.
Collectors have to be very careful before buying this item. Here’s my personal story about it. I first saw this item in the famous Record Collector article about the Queen 100 rarest records. In the same period I was in touch with the dealer (a very famous
Above is how the first printer's proofs came out on the market, before the appearance of the finished sleeve. I was told that only 2-4 card proofs exist and 2-3 normal paper ones
were in its possession.
Hammer to Fall live sleeve The only retired official Queen ps is the live sleeve of Hammer to fall. A certain number of copies of this single were distributed already before a retire call came from the band cause Many people think that Brian thought people could think it was a live version so he didn like it but this seems not true. A collecotr from UK , Paul Webb, kindly reported his meeting with Brian and informations about the fampus live sleeve: ""I have a 12" copy of the live p/sleeve, and on Brian's 1998 Another World Tour I won a QFC competition to meet the great man before the Royal Albert Hall show. I "Ah yes, I get the blame for this don't I. Well it's not true, it wasn't my fault that it got withdrawn. The man who took the picture was not an Official Queen photographer. This meant that we would have had to pay vast sums of money to him for using this picture. This all came to light just in time and the live cover was taken off the shelves. I really like the picture, I think it's so much better than the red version". This was direct from tha man himself. The 'Brian doesn't like it' story is an urban myth."" the following picture (courtesy of Paul Webb) is the 12" of the HTF live sleeve signed by Brain with added lirycs notes:
"To Paul - Toe your line and play their game. . . . . maybe!. . . . Brian May '98"
The capitol US version of hammer to fall with live sleeve exists also and it's incredibly rare. I compareed paper and printing with other Queen capitol single from that era like "I want to break free" solo member version and can confirm it was made with same style and colours. In
The Miracle different This picture sleeve splits the worldwide Queen collectors community. Some says it's a fake some not. But let's make a deep analysis of this ps. Not too much copies have appeared and no one can give a full history behind. They should feature a sticker on the sleeve or on the back (sometimes both) with artist's telephone number and informations. The quality of the printing isn't great comparing with the standard UK commercial hologram sleeve especially on the back sleeve but some collectors says it is an unfinished proof sleeve so it may be justified. Also these colours come up if you scan the standard hologram sleeve and then choose the "invert" function on an image program like photoshop f.e. The Hologram is the original one and this is a point in favour of its genuinity. But it seems to be a sticker so it can be also stucked in a 2nd time. Unfortunately there's no history behind this unreleased ps.. only rumours from collectors and nothing really confirmed by EMI at the moment. So buy it if you feel it can be a rare unique item.. if you have doubts invest your money in some other Queen rarity.. there are so many around...
No One But You (retired picture disc)
QUEEN No One But You ( withdrawn 1997 UK 4-track 7"
picture disc with different tracks to issued version (omits TYMD, and diff. cat. number QUEEN26).
The common issued version includes 'We Will Rock You' [featuring Chad & Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums and bass respectively], 'Tie Your Mother Down' & 'Gimme The Prize' with cat no. QUEENPD 27. Roger Taylor's fun In Space
Look at the magazine.. Isn't the one you see on the commercial issue of this LP?... no it's different. this image is from the test pressing photo paper sleeve. thanks to Jon Jemmett, Michael Ehrt, Andreas Voigts and all the other collectors for all the informations about these items. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 October 2008 ) | |||||
