The subtle differences between various single sleeves

[Galex]

Let me first admit: I am a sucker for PSB sleeves and their artwork. They have been almost as important as their music and lyrics to me as a fan and collector.

A long-term project of mine is to digitize all my 12” and 7” records. This project also involves scanning all the front sleeves and then editing the images to remove minor defects etc. This is what made me discover some interesting subtle differences between the sleeves of the UK/European releases of “Always on my mind”, and later the ones of “Heart”, respectively.

I have always assumed that the tiny still photo on the UK/European 7”, 12” and CD single of “Always on my mind”, taken from the movie “It couldn’t happen here”, were all the same. But no, they are all different, as shown in the comparison below.

Always OMM.jpg

With “Heart” it gets even more interesting. We all know that both the UK/European 7” and 12” came with two alternative sleeve designs – one showing Chris and the other showing Neil. We also know that (as explained in “Catalogue”) the 7” sleeves were printed with a brown tint, while the 12” sleeves were made blue. I have always thought that apart from that, the 7” and the 12” with Chris and the 7” and 12” with Neil used the same photos. But no! Looking closely, these are all different photos from the same shoot, clearly visible when you look at how they hold their hands.

Heart 7 and 12.jpg

Moreover, the sleeve of the 12” remix of “Heart” combines a sitting Neil and a standing, blurry Chris, using a brown tint, while the CD single shows the same combination but with a blue tint. But again, these are two different photos. At first, I thought that just Chris in the background was different, but looking more closely, Neil is also different, if ever so slightly.

Heart 12 remix and CD.jpg

Maybe this has been discussed at length before, but for me this is a recent discovery, giving me another justification for owning all these releases. Maybe there are more examples of such subtle differences between the various formats of other singles?

/Galex

[df118junkie]

Look at the worldwide Suburbia sleeves for more fun…

[misterme]

Thank you for this topic. I like to note the differences between PSB sleeves that look alike, but I never noticed the differences on the Always On My Mind ones. Good job !

[Oznerol]

and you have another variants on the cassette singles too!

[Oznerol]

Something I made some time ago ago with Heart 7" and 12" covers..

[Gabby]

I was today years old!

I'd be interested to know if this was an artistic choice. It comes across as a bit of a cynical joke to the collector.

I am, like the OP, a sucker for PSB artwork but only bought 12" singles and CDs so likely would never have noticed.

[Ramzy]

I noticed the differences in Always on my mind a while ago but I'd never spotted them on the Heart sleeves! Great eye for detail, Galex!

[leesmapman]

I was today years old!

Same!
Never knew the Always on my mind singles had different sleeves! My mind is blown.

[One of the crowd]

Being Boring is another one

[Galex]

Aah, the cassette singles! Never bought any of those. Damn! (Checking Discogs)

It seems to me that these differences must have been an artistic choice, but then it is a bit peculiar that they are not mentioned in "Catalogue".

/Galex

[Silver Age]

Then there is the unique USA sleeve for Always on my Mind, the one in the double pack with Actually.

[DiMaDa]

Does Chris have a ring on his finger on the 7" cover? It's not particularly clear from this scan here, but I took a closer look at the 7" cover at home, and it looks like he does

[MikeyC]

Excellent post, thank you! x

[negative_0ne]

cool.

i have most formats for those.

but never looked closely at them.

later
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ne gative 1

[young.offender]

What about the Very Sleeve?
There is one different head from each.
Also a funny Detail.