Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols

~ Release by Sex Pistols (see all versions of this release, 53 available)

Annotation

Quoting Wikipedia:

The original UK album (Virgin V2086) contained only eleven tracks, before the group changed their mind and decided to include "Submission".

However, Virgin had already pre-emptively produced stampers for the eleven-track version, and by early October 1977 had already pressed 1,000 copies. Rather than scrap these, Virgin released them anyway, initially as promos, then commercially, as an attempt to counteract a sudden flood of imports from France, where a twelve-track version of the album (including "Submission") had been released in mid-October by Barclay Records.

In response to this, Virgin also brought forward the album's intended UK release date by a week, and instead of waiting for the twelve-track album to be mastered, issued further copies of the eleven-track album (reportedly 50,000 copies, although some collectors now dispute these official figures as on the high side). Most of these copies included a poster and "Submission" (Virgin VDJ 24) as a freebie single.

Quoting Wikipedia:

The original UK album (Virgin V2086) contained only eleven tracks, before the group changed their mind and decided to include "Submission".

However, Virgin had already pre-emptively produced stampers for the eleven-track version, and by early October 1977 had already pressed 1,000 copies. Rather than scrap these, Virgin released them anyway, initially as promos, then commercially, as an attempt to counteract a sudden flood of imports from France, where a twelve-track version of the album (including "Submission") had been released in mid-October by Barclay Records.

In response to this, Virgin also brought forward the album's intended UK release date by a week, and instead of waiting for the twelve-track album to be mastered, issued further copies of the eleven-track album (reportedly 50,000 copies, although some collectors now dispute these official figures as on the high side). Most of these copies included a poster and "Submission" (Virgin VDJ 24) as a freebie single.

Annotation last modified on 2012-03-04 00:09 UTC.

Tracklist

112" Vinyl
#TitleRatingLength
A1Holidays in the Sun
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer) and Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (on 1977-06-18)
recording of:
Holidays in the Sun
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Sid Vicious
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
4.153:10
A2Liar
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-04 until 1977-05)
recording of:
Liar
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.22:39
A3No Feelings
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-04 until 1977-05)
recording of:
No Feelings
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
42:48
A4God Save the Queen
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer) and Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1977-03)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 21), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 173) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 365)
recording of:
God Save the Queen
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
4.453:17
A5Problems
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-04 until 1977-05)
recording of:
Problems
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.64:10
B1Seventeen
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-04 until 1977-05)
recording of:
Seventeen
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.42:00
B2Anarchy in the U.K.
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer) and Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
lead vocals:
Johnny Rotten (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976-11)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 120)
recording of:
Anarchy in the UK
lyricist:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
composer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
4.23:30
B3Bodies
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1977-08)
recording of:
Bodies
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Sid Vicious
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
43:00
B4Pretty Vacant
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer) and Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1977-03)
part of:
NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 34)
live recording of:
Pretty Vacant
writer:
Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols), Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols) and Paul Thomas Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
A Thousand Miles Long, Inc., Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.73:14
B5New York
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-04 until 1977-05)
recording of:
New York
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.853:03
B6E.M.I.
engineer:
Bill Price (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Chris Thomas (UK record producer / remixer)
recorded at:
Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1977-03 until 1977-04)
recording of:
EMI
writer:
Paul Cook (drummer for the Sex Pistols), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols member), John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) and Glen Matlock (bass guitarist of the Sex Pistols)
publisher:
Arista Music, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Rotten Music Ltd (publishing company of Johnny Rotten), Stephen Philip Jones, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
3.83:08
27" Vinyl

Credits

Release group

covers:Never Mind the Bollocks 1983 by The Bollock Brothers
translated covers:Never Mind the Cossacks Here’s the Ukrainians by The Ukrainians
part of:Shredding Paper: 25 Years of Punk - Greatest Albums Ever! (number: 2) (order: 2)
My Life in Music: Tom Morello (SPIN magazine, 2003-10) (number: C) (order: 3)
Rolling Stone: 40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time (2016-04-06) (number: 3) (order: 3)
The Guardian 100 Best Albums Ever (number: 3) (order: 3)
Q Magazine: 20 Loudest Albums of All Time (number: 10) (order: 10)
Uncut: The 100 Greatest Debut Albums (2006) (number: 19) (order: 19)
Absolute Radio’s The 100 Collection (number: 20) (order: 20)
Rolling Stone: 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time (2022-07-01) (number: 23) (order: 23)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 41) (order: 41)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 41) (order: 41)
Pitchfork: The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s (number: 51) (order: 51)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 80) (order: 80)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 80) (order: 80)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005 edition) (number: 392) (order: 393)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/30445 [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/r9gw [info]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/vb8c [info]
other databases:http://www.musik-sammler.de/album/15803 [info]
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sex_pistols/never_mind_the_bollocks_heres_the_sex_pistols_f9/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000199637 [info]
Wikidata:Q457275 [info]