The Cure · Three imaginary boys [Test pressing]

219--thecurerecords.com #1318 | Listed in: Three imaginary boys (1979)

Three imaginary boys

[Test pressing] - 12" United Kingdom Fiction (second cut)

Issued in 1979. Catalogue #FIX 1. Apparently the first mastering was not fine, so a recut was made. This second test pressing comes with stamped matrix code, same code inscribed in the first cut except for that "ok?". A-side on dead wax reads "FIX1 A // 1 ^ E STR L1 4 Strawberry The Gatwick Sound", b-side reads "FIX1 B // 1 ^ E STR L1 3 Strawberry". The white inner sleeve for this test pressing has a big Fiction paper. Some copies can be found with a promo photo attached to the sleeve too.

712.50€

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paper sleeve

By Fabien G (5)

Dec, 11 2008 6:11 PM

Wow, that's a nice item! O_O what's the paper sleeve? Do we know if there are all the same, or are some plain white, some with other things written on it?... And thus the question is: In this sort of case, must we pay attention to it?

Show all replies (18)

		jchristophem (194)	Jul, 15 2009 8:26 PM
		Very happy that we can see those pictures, so i think your decision is justified...Amazing items indeed!Thanks!

		webmaster	Jul, 15 2009 5:42 PM
		As an exception to the rule, we've used some images from the Internet that haven't been sent by our members. The reason is the exceptional rarity of the additions, plus the fact that maybe we'll not have the chance to get better images in the future. Apologies for the poor quality of the images, but we're sure you will appreciate it's nearly as much as we can do.

		jchristophem (194)	Jul, 11 2009 3:21 PM
		Yes redhill...;)

		tsao (0)	Jul, 11 2009 12:36 PM
		Amazing item.

		redhill (43)	Jul, 11 2009 9:11 AM
		is that a hint, hint jchristophem :) let's just hope our lucky winner received their goods, as the seller feedback was a bit shaky.

		jchristophem (194)	Jul, 11 2009 8:46 AM
		I am less and less on Ebay, but i am glad a friend of mine was watching it and told me..Beautiful item..yes, lets hope it makes a appearence on the site soon..

		orbinski (57)	Jul, 11 2009 6:32 AM
		I was trying to make a competitive bid on that auction, but boy was I wrong.. :) A perfect copy!

		vandeebgroup (72)	Jul, 11 2009 6:07 AM
		I was watching that one! Really amazing... LP label art mockups and everything. I hope scans show up here!

		jchristophem (194)	Jul, 10 2009 2:41 PM
		A similar, but much nicer copy of this sold on Ebay recently... check out item 260428684739..Nice price tag too!

		Fabien G (5)	Dec, 20 2008 8:01 PM
		hi Zack, I guess you should ask your question on 'lovesong' on the #2666 page! :) but thanks for the infos!

		vandeebgroup (72)	Dec, 19 2008 5:02 PM
		The use of vinyl test pressings as promotional copies is interesting to me. As someone who entered the music business at the tail-end of the CD era, it seems funny that test pressings would have been used, but it makes sense. You can now print a separate run of promotional CDs in jewel cases for such a tiny amount of money.... but of course back then you'd have to print a separate run of LP labels and jackets with "promotional use only" on them, have them assembled separately, etc. What an expense, and a headache!!! The record label I work for is increasingly just emailing links to MP3 download now for promotional use, press reviews, and so on. Sure is easier to promote bands now... too bad it isn't easier to get people to buy music instead of get it all for free! ....... And on a side note, does anyone know the story behind 'promotional test pressings' such as the USA 12-inch for Lovesong on Specialty? (item # 2666). This is so common, I'm assuming that the record company either paid to have a bunch of extra test pressings printed up, planning in advance to use them for promotion? Or, did they take some of the main pressing for retail, and put these "test press" type labels on them? It's strange to see the handwriting on the labels, but it's just printed on, not real handwriting. I know when we have a run of LPs pressed, we have the option of ordering as many additional test pressing copies as we'd like (beyond the standard 5), but they cost a more than 2X as much per unit compared to the actual run of LPs. It would never make sense to have actual test pressings printed up if you could use finished copies of the vinyl and stick them in a generic sleeve. The company we use also has a maximum of 45 test pressings available per run.... so maybe items like #2666 are just regular LPs with "test pressing style" labels and shouldn't be considered test pressings at all? --Zack

		Fabien G (5)	Dec, 19 2008 1:15 PM
		Well If they pressed, let's say only 3 or 5 of them, I guess it would have been easy to just add the pick and sticker. But yes, obviousy it wasn't. And I'll never have the money anyway! So I'll stope taking some of your time here. Thanks, bye.

		jchristophem (194)	Dec, 15 2008 9:09 AM
		It seems pretty obvious to me that there's no way one could ever find identical early test pressings!?!?(in terms of what came with them, flyers, photos etc) I mean, in 1979,Chris Parry started his new Fiction label and i would imagine it was very much on a shoe string ...All test pressings shown on this site are different..This would suggest there were very few pressed, then were given away to promote the album...Those are very hard to find these days, and, should you ever come accross one...don't think too much if a photo is missing, or there is no Important Notice sleeve...just get it...

		Fabien G (5)	Dec, 14 2008 6:22 PM
		thanks for the answer jchristophem. By " In this sort of case, must we pay attention to it?" I meant it's good to know if all the issues of this release have the same 'Important Notice' paper sleeve, we should note it if the print is different (or with nothing printed at all). In addition I appreciate that you state that there IS a cardboard sleeve! Good to know that! Imagine I come across that release like pictured, it doesn't show so I wouldn't have know, and thus thus that would mean the cardboard sleeve would have been missing, I would have bought an 'incomplete' record! This is something that has happened to me before, that is why I always ask for as many information as possible. And yes, there is absolutely NO DOUBT that this is a gigantic amount of work to upload it all!! so thanks for your answer and big up again to the webmaster! :)

		jchristophem (194)	Dec, 13 2008 10:11 AM
		Hi.Ok, probably just an oversight from our Webmaster..Since i own this item i can confirm the "inner sleeve" has the Important Notice, with a Fiction flyer...It also comes in a white carboard sleeve with "The Cure FIX 1" handwritten on the top left handside..This cardboard cover comes fully signed by Robert, Laurence and Simon.This obviously must have happened at a later date, as you know Simon was not in the band at the time those white labels of 3IB were going around..I am sure you will appreciate how difficult it is to scan 12" records and sleeve,and i couldnt be bothered to send the signed cardboard sleeve.I beleive the guys behind this site do a fantastic job, and i am sure you'll agree.It must be very time consuming to upload all the pics and infos, and they are bound to make little mistakes and forget to mention specific infos..I hope this goes some way to answer your query on this particular item... though i am still not sure what you mean by " In this sort of case, must we pay attention to it?"..jchristophem

		Fabien G (5)	Dec, 12 2008 11:22 PM
		by 'dictionnaries' I meant complete and definitive collection. And I don't smoke! :) Too much chocolate probably...

		Fabien G (5)	Dec, 12 2008 11:19 PM
		http://www.thecurerecords.com/... description reads "white 'important notice' sleeve", while this one doesn't, so I wanted to know... I know I'm excessive but I hate it when things are not perfect, especially 'dictionnaries', and this, well, I hate it when some pictures are missing! sorry...

		jchristophem (194)	Dec, 12 2008 10:57 PM
		Fabien G...Can i have some of what you've been smoking please? ;)

Three imaginary boys (Test pressing) 12" United Kingdom Fiction (second cut) 712.50€

Page thanks to jchristophem (194)