Metallica Vinyl Albums;

1. hauppuage record manufacturing/megaforce usa 83, yellow label test press, A1 matrix (MRI 069)
   NOTES;
   three copies known;
   one copy located in Spain, owned by Llorenc
   one copy located in Usa, owned by Rod
   one copy located in Usa, owned by Usa Collector
   all copies have yellow hauppuage record manufacturing. ltd labels on and come in plain white covers
2. the music connection/megaforce usa 83, yellow label test press dated 08/07/83 (MRI 069)
   NOTES;
   one copy located in Usa, owned by Usa Collector, matrix details unknown but probably A1
   comes in a plain sleeve with the date and catalogue hand written on the label
3. megaforce usa 83, first label with matrix A1-MRI-069, inner sleeve & gold promo stamp on the back cover (MRI 069)
4. megaforce usa 83, first label with matrix A1-MRI-069 & inner sleeve, fully signed (MRI 069)
   NOTES;
   inner sleeve is fully signed by Cliff Burton, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich circa `83/`84
   this is the best set of Burton-era autographs i`ve ever seen
   it`s also one of only a handful of autographed items with a message from Cliff Burton
5. megaforce usa 83, first label with matrix A2-MRI-069 & inner sleeve (MRI 069)
6. megaforce usa 83, first label with matrix A3-MRI-069 & inner sleeve (MRI 069)
7. megaforce usa 83, second label with matrix MRI069 & inner sleeve (MRI 069)
8. megaforce usa 83, second label with matrix B-MRI-069 & inner sleeve (MRI 069)
   NOTES;
   first label list side 1 and side 2 & list megaforce address
   second label lists side A and side B & list song times, second label versions are on `transluscent` brown vinyl
   very few known promo copies exist
   some copies have inner sleeves and some don`t, there does not appear to be any pattern
   some copies have the top corner cut off or a hole punched through one corner, these identify the record as an import which can not be sold at full price - some people claim these marks mean that the record is a promo, this is untrue
9. megaforce usa 83, numbered picture disc, signed by James (MRI 069)
   NOTES;
   #0008 owned by Usa Collector, located in Usa
   #0013 pictured, located in Australia, owned by Angelos, un-lucky for some
   #0030 pictured, located in Usa, owned by Andrew
   #0046 pictured, located in Singapore, owned by Adrian
   #0055 pictured, located in England, owned by Hector
   #4490 seen on ebay, highest number to date
   the matrix on this picture disc is the same as lp #7; B-MRI-069
   the number on this picture disc is a small sticker in the center of the record (where the label is on a normal lp)
10. megaforce usa 83, un numbered picture disc (MRI 069)
    NOTES;
    for unknown reasons a fair amount of the megaforce picture discs are not numbered, these appear to have been from the end of the print run when they had used all of the numbers up and so were released un-numbered
    
    
11. mayking/music for nations france 83, white label test press, dated 01/07/83 (MFN 7) 
    NOTES;
    three known copies exist;
    one copy located in Switzerland owned by Sikkie, fully signed in `86
    one copy located in Norway, owned by Seldal
    one copy located in Holland
12. music for nations france 83, first label with first cover, insert & inner sleeve (MFN 7)
13. music for nations france 83, first label with first cover & inner sleeve, unlabelled on side two (MFN 7)
    NOTES;
    one known copy, located in England, owned by Hector
    a side label is correct but side two is completely blank, this was pressed like this and has not been altered
14. music for nations england 83, second label with second cover & inner sleeve (MFN 7)
15. music for nations england 83, third label with second cover & inner sleeve (MFN 7)
16. music for nations england 84, third label, miss labeled w/ `Twelfth Night` `art & illusions` on b-side label (MFN 7)
    NOTES;
    one known copy, located in England, owned by Hector, bears the 2nd MFN label
    the Twelfth Night album was released in 1984 (MFN 36) which dates this to 1984
17. music for nations france 87, fourth label with third cover & inner sleeve (MFN 7)
    NOTES;
    8" x 11" insert on first copy is very unusual, so far i have only heard of one!
    first label is biege with "made in france" on it
    first cover has no barcode and no country of origin listed
    second label is red & yellow with "made in england" on it, track numbers & `produced` line up
    second cover has a barcode & "made in england" on the back cover
    third label is red & yellow but has no country of origin listed, track numbers & `produced` line up
    third cover has a barcode and "made in france" on the back cover
    fourth label has no country of origin listed, track numbers & `produced` do not line up
    this is probably the correct pairings but sometimes you will find other pairs (first label in second cover etc.)
    the second pressing cover is hardest to find, the first pressing is the easiest to find
    
    
18. banzai canada 83, with black banzai labels & inner sleeve (BRC 1901)
19. banzai canada 83, with white banzai labels & inner sleeve (BRC 1901)
    NOTES;
    the black banzai labels appear to be rarest
    
    
20. bernett france 83, with red labels, some copies stickered, no inner sleeve (SB 18007)
21. new electric way/music for nations france 83, 1st press with white n.e.w. labels, no inner sleeve (2336)
22. new electric way/music for nations france 83, 2nd press with `193361` cat# on labels, no inner sleeve (2336)
    NOTES;
    some labels bear a different catalogue number; `193361` for some reason, the covers are the same
    
    
23. roadrunner holland 83, 1st press? with inner sleeve (RR 9902)
24. roadrunner holland 83, 2nd press? with inner sleeve & mfn flag on back cover (RR 9902)
    NOTES;
    it is not known which roadrunner version came out first, however the version with the `m.f.n.` flag on the back cover is the rare version
    roadrunner labels are grey, some labels however appear to be a very light grey, almost white. this variation is shown on the first press lp above, i`ts not known if this is a different pressing
    
    
25. nexus japan 84, white label promo with promo sticker & lyrics insert (K25P 438)
26. nexus japan 84, with `brown` labels, obi strip & lyrics insert (K25P 438)
27. nexus japan 84, with `blue` labels, obi strip & lyrics insert (K25P 438)
    NOTES;
    the brown label is the normal version, the blue label version is extremely rare and to date (08/2008) only one copy has surfaced
    
    
28. music for nations england 86, white vinyl test press of the picture disc (MFN 7P)
    NOTES;
    five known copies exist;
    one copy located in England, owned by Hector
    one copy located in Holland, owned by Matthijs
    one copy located in Norway, owned by Henning
    one copy located in Italy
    one copies location currently unknown
    this test press is often listed as dating from `83 when it was pressed in `86 as a sample for the picture discs
    approximately 10-12 copies exist
29. music for nations england 86, picture disc, first press (MFN 7P)
30. music for nations england 86, picture disc, part of picture on side 2 missing (MFN 7P)
    NOTES
    three copies known, all are first pressings;
    one copy located in England, owned by Hector, this is missing a section near the base of the rear picture
    one copy located in Greece, owned by Vasilios, this is missing a section near the base of the rear picture
    one copy located in Norway, owned by Henning, details unknown
31. music for nations england 86, picture disc, second press with barcode on back (MFN 7P)
    NOTES;
    music for nations picture discs have the "kill `em all" logo in blue which makes it easy to differentiate between the uk & usa pressings, like the test pressing, this lp is often listed as dating from `83
    there are bootleg copies of one of the mfn picture discs, see the `bootleg copies` section below for details
    
    
32. wea/elektra australia 87, with red/black elektra labels but no bonus tracks (600142-1)
    NOTES
    bit of a mystery this one, has no country of origin listed but all copies i know of have come from australia
    
    
33. young/rge brazil 87, with gold promo stamp on the back cover & lyrics insert (320.7006)
34. young/rge brazil 87, with silver labels & lyrics insert (320.7006)
    NOTES
    the gold promo stamp is in portuguese, this lp is one of only a few lp`s that comes housed in a single sized cover (i.e. no spine). the labels bear several spelling mistakes; "horsemAn" & "mIstaine" for example
    
    
35. music for nations france 87, double lp in gatefold sleeve, first label with sticker (MFN 7 DM)
36. music for nations france 87, as above, misslabelled with `ride the lightning` label on side four (MFN 7 DM)
37. music for nations england/france 87, double lp in gatefold sleeve, second label with sticker (MFN 7 DM)
38. music for nations england/france 87, as above but miss printed, inner gatefold cover upside down (MFN 7 DM)
    NOTES
    four known copies of the miss label exist;
    one copy located in England, owned by Hector
    one copy located in Germany, owned by Andreas
    one copy located in Sweden, owned by Snoppen
    one copy located in Sweden, owned by Marcus
    one known copy of the miss printed cover exists;
    one copy located in England, owned by Hector
    gatefold covers say "made in france" on the back cover
    the first labels have no country of origin listed, the second labels say "made in england"
    this was a re-issue as a double lp for better sound quality early `87 after music for nations had success with the `master of puppets` gatefold lp
    sticker; "limited edition direct metal mastered double lp"
    
    
39. elektra/speciality usa 88, white label test press, eleven tracks due to sequencing error (60766)
    NOTES;
    one copy known, located in England, owned by Philip
    both Phil`s copies came from Michael Alago who had them for sampling purposes, the first test they made accidentaly missed off the `Anasthesia` before Whiplash
40. elektra/speciality usa 88, white label test press (60766)
    NOTES;
    two known copies exsist;
    one copy located in Usa, owned by Usa Collector
    one copy located in England, owned by Philip
41. elektra usa 88, white label promo with gold stamp, two bonus tracks & round red sticker (9 60766-1)
42. elektra usa 88, red/black labels, with two bonus tracks & round red sticker (9 60766-1)
43. elektra usa 88, grey labels, with two bonus tracks & square red sticker (9 60766-1)
44. elektra usa 88, "columbia house" edition, with two bonus tracks, no barcode (E1-60766)
45. elektra usa 88, "BMG direct marketing" edition, with two bonus tracks, no barcode (R 17187)
    
    
46. elektra canada 88, with gold promo stamp on back cover, two bonus tracks & round white sticker (96 07661)
47. elektra canada 88, with two bonus tracks & round white sticker, labels have text at bottom (96 07661)
48. elektra canada 88, with two bonus tracks & round white sticker, labels have text at top (96 07661)
49. elektra canada 88, `columbia record house` edition (E1 60766)
    
    
50. polygram/vertigo argentina 89, with promo labels & two bonus tracks (29194)
51. polygram/vertigo argentina 89, with two bonus tracks (29194)
    NOTES;
    tracklist on argentina copies is in spanish, lp`s mention the extra tracks on the cover, no inner sleeves
    promo labels; "diffusion - venta prohibide", (promo - sale prohibited)
    
    
52. polygam/vertigo australia 89, no inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    
    
53. phonogram/vertigo europe 89, with spaceship labels & inner sleeve (838 142-1)
54. phonogram/vertigo europe 89, as above but with misslabeled b side label (838 142-1)
55. phonogram/vertigo europe 89, with yellow labels & inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    NOTES;
    these last three lp`s are often listed as being english, german etc., they have no country of origin listed
    one copy located in England owned by Andy P., is missing most of the print on side b
    
    
56. phonogram/vertigo spain 89, with madrid 28027 address on cover, no inner sleeve (838 142-1)
57. phonogram/vertigo spain 91, with madrid 28002 address on cover, with inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    
    
58. polygram/vertigo brazil 90, no inner sleeve (838 142-2)
    
    
59. phillips/vertigo colombia 90, with black & white back cover, no inner sleeve (838-142-1)
    NOTES;
    this lp comes in a single sized cover (no spine) and has blue & white spiral labels
    
    
60. vertigo ecuador 90, no inner sleeve, w/ black text on labels (LP-31021)
61. vertigo ecuador 90, no inner sleeve, w/ silver text on labels (LP-31021) 
    
    
62. phonogram/vertigo korea 90, with lyrics insert & blue labels (SEL-RP 2002)
    
    
63. polygram/vertigo mexico 90, with tracklist in english & spanish on cover, no inner sleeve (LPR 23067)
    
    
64. sonographica/vertigo venezuela 90, with spaceship labels (20.074)
    
    
65. polygram/vertigo greece 92, says `92 on labels, no inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    
    
66. polygram/rodven/vertigo venezuela 93, with different back cover (210-199)
    NOTES;
    this lp has the `kill `em all` logo on the cover smaller then usual & has pink/white/orange labels
    black cover is missing the group photo and lists `whiplash` as being on side two
    
    
67. phonogram/vertigo "russia" 94, with black labels, no inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    NOTES;
    this lp is usually credited as being russian, has no country of origin listed, back cover has `MFN` logo on it
    metal militia is listed as metal mania on the label, jump in the fire is listed as jump in the fire (anesthasia) on the label
    
    
68. universal/vertigo eu 2001, re-issue lp on 180 gram vinyl with black & red labels & inner sleeve (838 142-1)
    NOTES;
    released on 18/06/01, inner sleeve bears the new metallica fan club address in san rafael
    
    
69. universal eu 2008, 180 gram re-issue (5308531)
70. universal eu 2008, double lp in gatefold cover, 180 gram re-issue w/ bellyband  (5308527)
    NOTES;
    uk/european gatefold edition alledgedly limited to 1000 copies
    
    
71. warner bros. usa 2008, 180 gram re-issue w/ sticker (343612 1)
72. warner bros. usa 2008, double lp in gatefold cover, 180 gram re-issue w/ sticker & bellyband (09362-49909-25)
    NOTES;
    usa copies released on ??/04/08, eight test pressings were given away by the metclub, presumably two test pressings of each version (2 versions of kill & 2 versions of ride)
    no copies have surfaced yet, if you have one please let em know the details
    
    bootleg copies;
    
    
73. "music for nations" "england" unknown year, bootleg copy of picture disc (MFN 7P)
    NOTES;
    this bootleg picture disc is identifiable easiest by the addition of the letters/numbers PA7956 in the matrix
    
    
74. "music for nations" korea unknown year, bootleg copy with different back cover, no inner sleeve (MFN 7/HM 1)
    NOTES;
    bootleg copy has green/black mfn labels, back cover has inner photo sleeve instead of regular back cover
75. no label korea unknown year, bootleg copy with monochrome cover, no inner sleeve (583)
    NOTES;
    this lp cover was copies from the japan lp, label misspells `anesthieD`, comes in a single sized cover
    last two lp`s are credited as being korean but have no counrty of origin listed
    
    
76. "megaforce" brazil unknown year, bootleg copy with `free poster` printed on cover (MRI 069) 
    NOTES;
    copied from the original megaforce pressing, poster is a live shot of James & Cliff from Donington `85
    
    
77. "phonogram/vertigo" germany 02, bootleg picture disc with die cut cover (838-142-3)