The Smiths reward careful buying because two copies of the same album can look similar at first glance but be quite different once you check the details. The sleeve, the printed inner and the matrix information all matter, although they do not always matter equally. If you are buying to listen, condition and a clean, playable record may come first. If you are collecting original UK pressings, completeness and pressing details become more important.
That is the useful distinction to keep in mind when looking for second hand vinyl records. You do not need to know every variation before buying your first Smiths LP, but you should know what you are looking at, what is missing and whether the asking price reflects it.
Why The Smiths still matter on vinyl
The Smiths have a physical presence that suits vinyl: distinctive sleeves, carefully presented Rough Trade releases and printed inners that belong with the records. The main albums are still findable, but small details can move desirability sharply between copies. That makes them enjoyable records to collect without making every purchase a forensic exercise.
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The UK release is The Smiths. ROUGH 81, February 1985. For collectors looking at an early copy, the matrix run-outs are important:
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ROUGH 81 A//1
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ROUGH 81 B//1
The earliest cut also has a useful listening tell. Barbarism Begins At Home runs the full 6:57. That is the sort of detail worth checking because it connects the physical pressing to what comes off the turntable, rather than relying only on the sleeve or label.
The record should also have its original printed inner. A replacement inner does not make the LP unlistenable, of course, but it does mean the copy is not complete in the same way as one that has stayed together since purchase.
When buying remotely, ask for clear photographs of both run-outs if the pressing is being described as an early copy. A good seller should be comfortable with that request. It is a sensible check, not needless fussing over a record that is nearly forty years old.
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
The key UK release is The Queen Is Dead. ROUGH 96, June 1986. The first pressing has the following matrix details:
ROUGH 96 A//1 / ROUGH 96 B//1
The original printed inner is another important part of the package. Look for the correct inner rather than assuming that any paper sleeve inside the jacket is original. Copies can be found with plain replacements, later inners or no inner at all, so it is worth asking before you buy.
The sleeve itself should be checked carefully too. Look along the spine and edges for splits, rubbing and laminate wear, then look at the vinyl under a strong angled light. A clean-looking cover cannot tell you whether the record has been heavily played, and a smart-looking disc cannot make a badly damaged sleeve complete.
For this title especially, do not be embarrassed to ask for photographs of the label, sleeve, inner and run-out area. Those four views usually answer most of the practical questions.
The other essentials
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The Smiths, ROUGH 61, 1984: The debut and a natural starting point, especially when you want the band’s earliest full-length statement in its original UK form.
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Hatful of Hollow, ROUGH 76, 1984: A worthwhile find for the early sessions and singles collected in one place, with the textured sleeve adding to its physical appeal.
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Strangeways, Here We Come, ROUGH 106, 1987: The final studio album, valued for its place at the end of the original run and its distinctive presentation.
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Louder Than Bombs, ROUGH 255, 1987: A substantial compilation that gives a Smiths shelf more depth beyond the main studio albums.
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The World Won't Listen, ROUGH 101: A useful companion compilation for collectors who want the group’s non-album material represented in the period sequence.
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Hand In Glove, RT 131; This Charming Man, RT 136: The RT prefix identifies the singles, which are a good route into collecting if you prefer shorter formats or want to build a shelf gradually.
Some of these records are easier to find than others, and condition will vary considerably. Start with the music you most want to play, then become more selective as your collection grows.
Identifying a UK first pressing
The catalogue number is your first checkpoint. For the albums listed here, confirm that the number on the label and sleeve matches the title. Singles use the RT prefix, so do not treat an album-style ROUGH number as the only way to identify a Smiths release.
After that, inspect the run-out area. This is the narrow section between the final track and the centre label, and it is where pressing information is usually recorded. The run-out often tells you more than a seller’s description or a sticker on the outer sleeve because it belongs to the physical disc itself.
Read the matrix, not the sticker. Compare what you can see with the details expected for the specific title, and ask for a sharper photograph if the markings are unclear. A catalogue number can confirm the general release, but the run-out helps establish which cut you are actually holding.
Why the printed inner matters
On Smiths titles, the printed inner can be worth around a third of the value. That does not mean a missing inner makes a record worthless, and it is not a reason to walk away if your main aim is to listen. It does mean the price should reflect the omission, particularly when the seller is presenting the copy as complete or collectible.
Check for tears, seam splits, writing, staining and paper replacements. An original inner with a little honest age may be preferable to a clean modern substitute, depending on your priorities. If the inner is missing, simply treat the copy as incomplete and decide whether the saving makes sense.
This is also where photographs matter. A listing that shows the sleeve and record but says nothing about the inner leaves a gap in the description. Ask before buying rather than discovering the omission when the parcel arrives.
Grading matters more than the year
A later pressing in clean condition can beat a battered first pressing for listening. A record with heavy scratches, groove wear or persistent noise may be historically interesting, but it will not necessarily be the most enjoyable copy to put on after work.
Look at the vinyl and sleeve as separate things. A jacket can have corner wear while the disc plays very well, or a smart sleeve can contain a record with a noisy playing surface. Neither is automatically a bad buy, provided the description is honest and the price reflects the condition.
For a clearer explanation of condition terms and what to expect from each grade, read our vinyl grading guide. It is useful whether you are buying your first Smiths LP or comparing two copies of the same pressing.
A simple buying checklist
Before you commit, run through these five points:
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Title and catalogue number: Check that the label and sleeve match the release you think you are buying.
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Run-out area: Ask for a clear photograph if the pressing details are important to you.
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Sleeve condition: Check the spine, corners, edges, laminate and any signs of damp or ringwear.
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Contents: Confirm whether the original printed inner is present and note any tears, writing or replacements.
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Playing condition: Read the separate vinyl and sleeve grades, then ask about any audible noise, skips or repeated marks that are not clear from the listing.
Buying carefully does not take the fun out of collecting. It usually makes the purchase more satisfying because you know what has arrived, what it is and why it suits your collection.
If you are ready to browse, shop our second hand vinyl records and take your time over the details.