Diamond Head (2) – The White Album

I have the original 1980 self released record with all of the band names on it. The best album of all time by the best band of all time!

My copy has a plain unsigned sleeve, and completely blank labels. Bought it new at time of release via mail.

I saw a copy of either the 1980 Happy Face or 1980 Self Released version of this record on eBay about 6-7 years ago. The guy was asking for $100. At the time, I thought, "Ehhh, $100 bucks is a lot. I'll ." Still kicking myself over that one.

My copy also has the EG Notation on the matrix. Cover is signed by Duncan Scott, and there is a typewritten slip of paper (A3-ish size) inside the cover, giving track listings. It also says:

Also available-: T-shirts, Badges, “DH” Single “SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS”

Any complaints please write or return to;

“DIAMOND HEAD MUSIC LTD”.
43 Bagley st,
Stambermill.
Lye. nr Stourbridge.
West Midlands.

I bought the copy RedHoecords is talking about below (with the EG notation on the matrix), and it does appear legitimate - the 1st pressing White Album has a small and large ring impression on the label, the Happy Face 2nd pressing only has the small ring impression on the label.

The copy I purchased from RedHoecords has both the small and large ring impression - which to my limited knowledge would suggest the same stamper being used, but the EG notation being etched in at a later time during the first run, but not before the second one that was made with a different stamper (my assumption on this being the different size ring impressions).

I discovered this tidbit of information on https://www.hrrecords.de/high_roller/sites/release_detail.php?relno=562

"The album was sold at gigs and via mail order with adverts in Sounds starting to appear in July 1980. When the first 1,000 copies sold out, a second run (done in time for their tour with April Wine in January 1981), again of 1,000 LPs, would carry a centre label, but again appear in nothing but a plain white sleeve. Those two pressings – 2,000 copies in total – would be the only copies made of the original album, despite what some band would later claim in interviews."

And later down in the article, in response to :

"The following March (1981), talking to Paul Suter (again, in Sounds), Colin Kimberley would elaborate, although exaggerate the quantity of records pressed. “It’s sold getting on for 2,750 now,” he claimed, somewhat over-egging the pudding. “We had 2,000 cut originally and then we had another 1,000 done for the April Wine tour, with a label on it this time. The old white labels with the autographs on are the extra special ones!

It would seem that the first 1000 would have the autographs as noted, but then another 1000 floating around there - likely to be without autographs, since they were preparing for their tour and as the album began picking up momentum. This number seems to not coincide with the other information on Discogs stating the Happy Face pressing was 2000 copies.

This last quote states only 1,000 Happy Face ones with labels.

Any insight to that, as well as the variance in matrix numbers would be appreciated.

My copy has blank labels with hand written track info on plain sleeve (no signatures)
Matrix number is BILBO MMDHLP 1015 A1 EG Does listing for the blank label press need amending to show full matrix with EG? Or is this an unlisted version?

As far as I know also the 2nd Happy Face run was a bunch of 1,000 copies not 2k

I got my copy at a concert where Diamond Head were ing April Wine. Just a white outer sleeve with three signatures, and a plastic? polythene? inner sleeve.

I also bought my copy way back directly from the band through an add in Sounds musiaper, no signatures on the cover. Just a handwritten tracklist on a small paper written by Sean's sister, she was doing mail and merch in the early days. I guess all the mailorder copies have no signatures or maybe there must have been an extra pressing with blank labels after the first 1000 which were as the story goes all signed, 250 copies by each bandmember.

I bought this mail order from the band way back then . However my copy has no signatures on label or cover. in fact nothing at all. So will it be one of the first 1000 or ??