Babooshka - UK 7" Single: First Issue

I probably should have waited until I found my better copy of the first issue, but since I have no idea where I've poked it at the moment, this copy is good enough.

Babooshka really is one of those singles where it gets more tricky trying to figure out the first issue from the reissue because they're almost indistinguishable from one another. It's further complicated by the fact that both releases were issued in paper sleeves, and the first issue release doesn't have an inscription on the run off vinyl at all.

Telling both releases apart mainly lies in the sleeves. If you take a look at the first issue back sleeve, there are three main things to look at. The first one is the opening of the sleeve. It has a sort of long rectangular shaped opening with curved edges, whereas on the reissue it's a smaller circular cut-out. The next thing you need to look at are the folds of the sleeve. On the bottom of the first issue, these folds have angled cuts, but on the reissue there are no cuts. The reissue folds run straight down to the bottom edge. The final thing you need to look at is the very tip of the guitar that Kate is holding. On the first issue there's a very clear space between it and the fold. However, on the reissue, the very tip of the guitar is obscured by the fold.

It's also important to note that there is a significant colour difference between the sleeves. The first issue sleeve has darker, richer colour, and the reissue has a much lighter printing.

As for the records, it's near impossible to tell them apart - but there is a way. It's easy enough to miss if you aren't looking for it, so you need to look at the full record label to see it. Either side will do. If you pay close attention to the whole label, you will see there are three indented rings. One is located on the outer perimeter of the punch out hole, the second (and more prominent one) is located at the inner part of the main portion of the label (closest to the punch out hole) and the last one is located at the outer edge of the label. The reissue only has one indented ring, which is located at the outer perimeter of the punch out hole.