THE SMITHS - Self Titled (1984) – Factory Sealed

$

140

A rare copy of The Smiths’ legendary self-titled debut album. This 1984 original US pressing on Sire Records is Factory Sealed and has never been opened, handled, or played. Features a minor vintage retail notch/saw-cut on the edge. A spectacular, unplayed time capsule for serious indie, jangle-pop, and alternative rock archives!
Released in the US in the spring of 1984, the self-titled debut by the Manchester quartet completely revolutionized British and American alternative music. Produced by John Porter, the album famously introduced the world to the unique creative partnership of lyricist/vocalist Morrissey and guitarist/composer Johnny Marr.
Moving entirely away from the dominant, synthesizer-heavy new wave sounds of the era, the record pioneered a guitar-driven jangle-pop revival built around Marr’s intricate, multi-layered Rickenbacker arpeggios, Andy Rourke’s fluid basslines, and Mike Joyce’s driving, crisp drum architecture. 
Morrissey’s literate, poetic, and fiercely melancholic lyricism on tracks like "Hand in Glove" and "What Difference Does It Make?" gave a voice to an entire generation of disenfranchised youth. The iconic cover art—designed and curated by Morrissey himself—features a still of American actor Joe Dallesandro from Paul Morrissey’s 1968 Andy Warhol-produced underground film Flesh. 
Item Specifics • Artist: The Smiths • Title: The Smiths (Self-Titled Debut) • Label: Sire Records / Rough Trade • Catalog Number: 9 25065-1 (Spine: 1-25065) • Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo • Country/Pressing: US First Pressing (Allied or Capitol Pressing variant) • Release Year: 1984 • Genre: Rock • Style: Indie Rock / Jangle Pop / Post-Punk
Condition Grading:
Vinyl Disc Condition: Mint (M). Still Sealed. Never extracted from its original packaging, never handled by human hands, and entirely unplayed. Completely free from spindle wear, paper scuffs, environmental dust, or fingerprint degradation.
Jacket Cover Sleeve: Near Mint (NM). Beautifully preserved, thick rigid cardboard construction with striking, sharp 90-degree corners. The spine is perfectly squared with crisp, flawless factory typography. Print finishes remain extraordinarily vibrant with zero ultraviolet sun-fading or color bleeding. Features a minor promotional slit cut on the spine/corner, standard for promo distributions. Graphics remain crisp and unaffected.
Shrink Wrap Integrity: Crystal clear, original factory heat-shrink seal. No compression splits, stress tears, or ring-wear scuffing. Includes original factory "breathe holes" in the shrink wrap, validating its untampered authenticity.