Sold Date: June 2, 2020
Start Date: May 26, 2020
Final Price: £29.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 15
Seller Feedback: 2130
Buyer Feedback: 27

The Smiths:

This Charming Man b/w Jeane

Rough Trade Records / Capitol; RT136, 1983

This Charming Man was the Smiths’ second single and the first to make an impact on the wider public. Hand in Glove, their debut single (also 1983) had not been a hit. This Charming Man made it to number 25 in the UK charts.

There are a confusing number of variants of the original release of this record. I’ll come to those in a moment – as far as I understand them – but first I’ll just describe the condition.

I’ve owned this single from new. It has been played over the years although I guess it is at least 25 years now since I last played it prior to testing it for this listing. There are faint lines to the playing surfaces but the record plays all the way through very cleanly, with no crackling. The labels are nice and clean as you can see. The sleeve is also in nice, clean, bright condition. There are a couple of very faint numbers (15/2) written to the top right corner at the front. I didn’t write those so I guess the record shop did. I think the most likely explanation is that I bought this record in the sale, and that is the date the shop reduced the price.

This single was originally issued by Rough Trade as part of some arrangement with Capitol Records. The first issue has the Capitol logo on the label. Allegedly, Morrissey himself objected to this, presumably because it undermined the band’s indie credentials. He also objected to the fact that that pressing had a solid centre rather than a traditional push-out, pronged centre.

A push-out centre version was then issued but still with the Capitol logo. That version was then  withdrawn but - presumably to save disposing of the records they had already pressed – Rough Trade simply covered the Capitol logo with a small sticky label carrying the Rough Trade logo. Subsequent versions were pressed with the same label but the Rough Trade logo now printed in place of the Capitol logo. I think this latter variant is the one most commonly seen.

This example has the Rough Trade sticky label over the Capitol logo.

Oddly it also has a “anti-slip serrations” (a ridged ring around the label to stop singles slipping when stacked). According to collectors’ websites, the sticky label version (like this one) did not have anti-slip serrations. Make of that what you will. It may be that there are plenty of other examples like this one out there that have never been noted. Equally, this one might be a rarity. Who knows? I just went into a record shop in 1983 and bought it!

I’m selling other original punk, new wave and indie singles on eBay at the moment, including another Smiths listing. Click on See Other Items above if you would like to view the ones that are there at the moment. The postage price for two is records the same as the price for one.

UK Postage and packing:  £2.75.

International postage and packing:  Click on the “Postage and Payments” tab above to see prices to overseas destinations.

All postage prices quoted (UK and international) are maximum charges.  If postage and packing costs less than these estimates, I will refund the difference after posting (subject to the difference being £1.00 or more. Unless otherwise indicated, the postage prices I give in the listing are for a tracked and signed-for service, as required by eBay. If however, winning buyers would prefer cheaper options, I am always happy to help with that if I can. Please contact me for a quote.

I hope this description has given you enough to go on but should you require any further information, or more images, please do e-mail.  Please also look carefully at the hi-res photos – they are part of the description.  Thanks for your interest in this auction and good luck if you decide to bid.

Please note:  I will not respond to requests to close the auction early regardless of the value of the offer made.  Ending early is contrary to both the principle and spirit of an auction. It is also unfair to other eBayers who may be watching the auction intending to bid at a later time.

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