MATT JOHNSON Burning Blue Soul Vinyl Record LP 4AD 1981 UK 1st Press Bilbo Etched Matrix Laminated

Matt Johnson - Burning Blue Soul
(Original UK 1st Pressing in Front Laminated Flipback Picture Sleeve, complete with lyric inner sleeve)

Format: Vinyl Record - LP Album (33 rpm)
Country: UK
Year: 1981
Label: 4AD
Catalogue No. CAD 113

Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, etched): CAD-113-A I DID KNOW THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE... W 7 BILBO B
Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, etched): CAD-113-B .. ONLY I FORGOT. W 10 BILBO . TA1PE B

Condition: EX-/EX (Sleeve and vinyl record are in excellent clean condition. The inner sleeve has many visible spots of foxing and a very tiny split on the bottom edge)

Track Listing:
1. Red Cinders In The Sand
2. Song Without An Ending
3. Time (Again) For The Golden Sunset
4. Iceing Up
5. (Like A) Sun Rising Through My Garden
6. Out Of Control
7. Bugle Boy
8. Delirious
9. The River Flows East In Spring
10. Another Boy Drowning

This original 1981 UK 1st pressing of Matt Johnson's Burning Blue Soul is a vital artifact of the early post-punk and experimental scene. Released on the prestigious 4AD label under catalogue number CAD 113, this album captures Johnson's creative genius just before the formal inception of The The. This specific archival copy features the highly collectible hand-etched matrix messages: "I DID KNOW THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE..." on Side A and ".. ONLY I FORGOT" on Side B. These unique identifiers, along with the "BILBO" master signature, confirm its status as a genuine first-run pressing from the legendary 4AD vault.

The presentation of this first issue is distinguished by the front-laminated flipback picture sleeve, a design choice that adds a premium archival feel to the release. Included is the original lyric inner sleeve, which, despite some age-related foxing, remains an essential component for completeness. Unlike later reissues, this 1981 pressing offers the precise, atmospheric analogue soundstage that defined the early 4AD aesthetic, mastered with the clarity and depth that Matt Johnson's complex arrangements demand.

With the vinyl graded at Excellent condition, it retains a superb high-gloss lustre and provides a clean, immersive listening experience. From the haunting opening tracks to the experimental textures throughout, the record remains remarkably well-preserved. For collectors of 4AD history or fans of The The, this original UK first pressing - complete with its cryptic runout etchings and flipback sleeve - is an investment-grade piece that is increasingly difficult to source in such clean, professional condition.