List of DM 12” vinyl test pressings – all extremely rare
Items 094 :
Condition : Excellent
Includes : AW Letter of authentication. Unsigned to preserve unique design
(To be offered separately)
| General information : |
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Test Pressing (or White Label)
After an Acetate is manufactured, the very first records pressed from the vinyl stamper are known as ‘test pressings’ (TPs). There are usually only between 5 and 10 ever made. These are then sent to the record label and/or directly to the producer to approve the pressing quality. Quite often they are rejected and a further set might be manufactured after a second ’cut’. Occasionally test pressings are used in the actual promotion of a record – this happens when a record is really hot or is being rush released. Usually though, TPs are just that…tests. Most are disposed of after being pressed, therefore they are extremely rare. Just like acetates, there is a test pressing for every record ever released (commercial, and promotional versions). And just like acetates, the label is usually that of the pressing plant.
Scribe
On a vinyl pressing, in the run off groove (the area near the label), mastering engineers will carve into the acetate (or ‘scribe’) the catalog number of that particular release. This is done to identify the acetate, and will usually contain a long series of numbers (the main catalogue number, as well as additional numbers and letters to signify A & B sides). Look out for little hidden messages scratched in the run off groove area. This was a tradition, and phrases would be etched, at the band’s instruction, by UK cutting engineers.
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| Alan's comments : |
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“Each of these was made specifically for me to double check the ‘press’ and final quality of the record in question on my home equipment and in a listening environment I was familiar with. A TP will stand repeated plays as it is no different to a standard vinyl in that sense – however, due to their scarcity, they should still be kept unplayed to preserve their condition.”
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Details :
Master And Servant / L12BONG6 / UK 1984
Test pressing / label : ‘Mayking’, white sleeve, note to D Miller
5 x Stripped / RRBONG10 / UK 1986
Test pressings / Scratched by ‘Elaine’, white sleeves
2 x Never Let Me Down Again / 12BONG14 / UK 1987
Test pressings / label : ‘The Exchange’, transparent sleeves
Never Let Me Down Again / L12BONG14 / UK 1987
Test pressing / label : ‘The Exchange’, transparent sleeve
2 x Everything Counts-Live / 12BONG16 / UK 1988
Test pressing / label : white sleeve
Everything Counts-Live / L12BONG16 / UK 1988
Test pressing, no label
Everything Counts-Live / 1OBONG16 / UK 1988
Test pressing / pink label : ‘Townhouse’ Lynn, white sleeve
2 x Everything Counts-Live / P12BONG16 / UK 1988
Test pressing / label : white sleeve
Personal Jesus / 12BONG17 / UK 1989
Test pressing / label : ‘Mayking’, white sleeve
Enjoy The Silence / P12BONG18 / UK 1990
Test pressing, no label
3 x Policy Of Truth / 12BONG19 / UK 1990
Test pressings / no label, approval note from Mute
4 x Policy Of Truth / L12BONG19 / UK 1990
Test pressings, white label
Policy Of Truth / P12BONG19 / UK 1990
Test pressing / no label, pink label writing
3 x I Feel You / 12BONG21 / UK 1993
Test pressings / white label – ‘Townhouse’
3 x I Feel You / L12BONG21 / UK 1993
Test pressings / white label – ‘Townhouse’
2 x Condemnation / 12BONG23 / UK 1993
Test pressing / white label – ‘Townhouse’
