18th Feb, 2025 10:00
The Billy Albert Collection Of Smiths Vinyl and Memorabilia
THE SMITHS - HOW SOON IS NOW? 7" (1987 UK WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING FOR THE B-SIDE OF WILLIAM IT WAS REALLY NOTHING - RT 166)
THE SMITHS - HOW SOON IS NOW? 7" (1987 UK WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING FOR THE B-SIDE OF WILLIAM IT WAS REALLY NOTHING - RT 166). Extremely rare 1987 UK 7" single -sided test pressing of 'How Soon Is Now?'. To maximise earnings Rough Trade kept the Smiths catalogue releases in production up to the end of their career. In 1987 during a new production run, they pressed 'William It Was Really Nothing' with a new cover star (Billie Whitelaw) and changed the 7" B-side with 'How Soon Is Now?' instead of the original 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' while keeping to the same catalogue number of RT166. This necessitated the need to create a new B-side pressing plate to produce this subsequent test pressing. Therefore this was only ever produced for internal approval, and would have only been pressed in single figures, you will be lucky to ever find another one! This pressing with very fetching light blue labels is 1-sided only with a test-tone only on the other side. The record is in great Ex+ condition showing only a couple of very light and fine paper marks. Appearing to be date stamped '10 OCT 1987'. A-side Matrix Etching - FB 7. B-side Matrix Etching - RT 166 B-2U-1-1-1 WE HATES BAD GRAMMER
Sold for £1,300
Hammer Price
THE SMITHS - HOW SOON IS NOW? 7" (1987 UK WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING FOR THE B-SIDE OF WILLIAM IT WAS REALLY NOTHING - RT 166). Extremely rare 1987 UK 7" single -sided test pressing of 'How Soon Is Now?'. To maximise earnings Rough Trade kept the Smiths catalogue releases in production up to the end of their career. In 1987 during a new production run, they pressed 'William It Was Really Nothing' with a new cover star (Billie Whitelaw) and changed the 7" B-side with 'How Soon Is Now?' instead of the original 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' while keeping to the same catalogue number of RT166. This necessitated the need to create a new B-side pressing plate to produce this subsequent test pressing. Therefore this was only ever produced for internal approval, and would have only been pressed in single figures, you will be lucky to ever find another one! This pressing with very fetching light blue labels is 1-sided only with a test-tone only on the other side. The record is in great Ex+ condition showing only a couple of very light and fine paper marks. Appearing to be date stamped '10 OCT 1987'. A-side Matrix Etching - FB 7. B-side Matrix Etching - RT 166 B-2U-1-1-1 WE HATES BAD GRAMMER
Auction: The Billy Albert Collection Of Smiths Vinyl and Memorabilia, 18th Feb, 2025
A few words from Billy Albert himself..
"The time has come to finally let go of my Smiths treasures, a wealth of treats for the casual Smiths collector and the hardcore completist. Yes it's an old cliché, I've enjoyed collecting and owning all of this, but it's now time for other collectors to enjoy these items.
I've long battled with the pros and cons of whether to sell this collection off piecemeal over time (like a small pension), or whether to let it all go in one sale with all the limitations that can possibly go with that alternative. My vanity ultimately won over to let it all go for the spectacle that you see before you.
Please fill your boots, you are unlikely to see another collection go up for sale like this for a long time until another hardcore collector either sadly passes on or has the bank manager knocking at their door. Thankfully neither of these circumstances have caused this sale. I am just too selfish to let my next of kin enjoy the proceeds of all of this after I am gone, when I can spend it on myself instead!"
Viewing
Viewing by appointment 17th February
