SEX PISTOLS NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS BELGIUM EXPORT FOR FRANCE 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Uncover the raw energy behind punk’s most infamous album with rare details, production secrets and iconic tracks

"Never Mind the Bollocks" by the Sex Pistols was not just a punk milestone but also a curious case of cross-border vinyl history. In 1977, France’s Barclay label officially released the album, yet many copies were pressed in Belgium for export into the French market. This Belgian-French link highlights both countries’ shared role in spreading punk’s defiant roar across continental Europe. The pressing bore Barclay’s imprint, making it an authentic edition, and symbolized how borders blurred when raw rebellion and cultural shockwaves demanded to be heard.

"NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS" Album Description:

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" is the only studio album released by the Sex Pistols, an English punk rock band formed in 1975. The album was released on 28 October 1977, by Virgin Records and was produced by Chris Thomas. It is considered one of the most influential albums in the history of punk rock, and it remains a significant cultural icon even today.

The Sex Pistols formed in London in 1975, with Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) as the lead vocalist, Steve Jones on guitar, Glen Matlock on bass, and Paul Cook on drums. The band quickly gained notoriety for their confrontational live performances, which often led to them being banned from clubs and venues. They signed with EMI Records in 1976 but were dropped shortly after due to their erratic behavior and offensive language. The band then signed with Virgin Records and began recording their debut album.

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" is a raw, aggressive, and uncompromising album that captures the energy and spirit of punk rock. The album features fast-paced, stripped-down, and guitar-driven songs that are short, catchy, and full of attitude. The lyrics are confrontational and often offensive, dealing with themes such as social alienation, political corruption, and sexual frustration. The album's sound and message were a direct response to the bloated and self-indulgent rock music of the 1970s, which the Sex Pistols saw as a reflection of the decadence and hypocrisy of British society.

The album opens with the song "Holidays in the Sun," which sets the tone for the rest of the record with its driving guitar riff and aggressive vocals. Other notable tracks include "Anarchy in the UK," "God Save the Queen," "Pretty Vacant," and "No Feelings." These songs showcase the Sex Pistols' musical and lyrical prowess, and they have become classic anthems of the punk rock genre.

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" was a game-changer for the music industry. The album's release sparked a cultural revolution and inspired a generation of musicians and fans. The Sex Pistols became the poster boys for the punk rock movement, and their music and message challenged the status quo and inspired social change. The album's impact was felt not only in the UK but also worldwide, as punk rock became a global phenomenon.

The album was also controversial due to its explicit language and provocative lyrics. The UK government tried to ban the album and prevent it from being sold, but this only added to its notoriety and popularity. The album's cover art, which featured a pink front cover and a green back cover with no text other than the band's name and the album title, was a statement in itself. It was a rejection of the slick and polished album covers of the time and a nod to the DIY ethos of punk rock.

Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks

Official Release or Bootleg?

Album Overview

"Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" is the first and only studio album by the English punk rock band Sex Pistols, originally released in October 1977. This album had an immediate and profound impact on the music scene, becoming one of the most influential punk rock records ever made. It features iconic tracks like "Anarchy in the U.K.", "God Save the Queen," and "Pretty Vacant," capturing the band’s raw energy and anti-establishment ethos. Despite the scandal surrounding it, the album reached #1 on the UK charts and remains a cultural milestone.

Release and Label Information

In continental Europe, the album was distributed through various local labels. In France, it was officially released on the Barclay label in 1977. The pressing known as the "Belgium export for France" refers to copies manufactured in Belgium for distribution in France. These carry the Barclay logo, catalog number 940 553, and the year 1977. Barclay was a legitimate French label under PolyGram, so this edition was part of the authorized network of releases. The "Unlimited Edition" note found on some labels was part of the official packaging.

Official Release vs. Bootleg

Key points confirming this pressing as official:

  • Label and Licensing: Features the Barclay logo, catalog number 940 553, and ©/℗ 1977 credits, which bootlegs rarely include.
  • Distribution Timing: Released in 1977 as part of the initial European distribution; bootlegs usually appeared later or in banned markets.
  • Manufacturing Quality: Matches PolyGram/Barclay standards with proper matrix codes and high-quality printing, unlike typical bootlegs.
  • Collector Consensus: Recognized as an official French pressing variant, not a counterfeit or unofficial issue.
Conclusion

The "Never Mind the Bollocks – Belgium export for France" LP is an official release, not a bootleg. It was licensed and distributed by Barclay in 1977, with records pressed in Belgium for the French market. With its legitimate label, catalog details, and production quality, this pressing is a genuine part of the album’s original release history and a collectible official variant.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

British Punk Rock

Label & Catalognr:

Barclay 1977, Belgium 940553

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1977 – Made in Belgium

Producers:
  • Chris Thomas – Producer
  • Bill Price – Producer

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Members, Musicians:
  • Johnny Rotten – Lead Vocals
  • Steve Jones – Guitar
  • Glen Matlock – Bass Guitar
  • Paul Cook – Drums
  • Sid Vicious – Bass Guitar

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Holydays in the Sun (Note: the spelling on the record label
  2. Bodies
  3. No Feelings
  4. Liar
  5. God Save the Queen
  6. Problems
  7. Seventeen
Video: Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Anarchy in the UK
  2. Sub-mission
  3. Pretty Vacant
  4. New York
  5. EMI
Video: Megadeth - Anarchy In The U.K. [Official Video]
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols: a stark, high-contrast design on a warm yellow background. At the top, heavy black uppercase text reads “NEVER MIND,” beneath it “THE BOLLOCKS,” and a smaller line “HERE’S THE,” all left aligned with crisp, industrial spacing. Cutting diagonally across the lower half is a jagged hot-pink banner like a torn strip of paper, carrying the band name in off-white, irregular cut-out letters that look pasted by hand. In the extreme top-right corner sits a tiny black catalog number 940 553. No images, just typography and color, creating a confrontational, do-it-yourself punk aesthetic.

This front sleeve is a study in punk minimalism and impact: a flat, warm yellow field dominated by bold, black, all-caps typography. The stacked lines—NEVER MIND, then THE BOLLOCKS, and the smaller HERE’S THE—feel like a shouted headline, squared to the left and tightly spaced.

Slashing across the lower half, a jagged hot-pink band tilts upward, as if torn from a poster wall. On it, the group’s name appears in off-white, uneven “cut-paper” letters—imperfect edges, playful misalignment, and a jumpy baseline that channel a photocopied, glue-and-scissors DIY spirit.

There are no photos, icons, or ornaments—only color and type. A tiny catalog number, 940 553, perches in the extreme top-right corner, almost an afterthought. The result is confrontational, modern, and unmistakably punk: urgency over polish, attitude over decor.

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • 1 - Front sleeve shows the tiny catalog number 940 553 printed in the extreme top-right corner, a trait associated with the French Barclay issue.
  • 2 - This edition is the Belgian pressing exported for France, pairing Belgian manufacture with French market distribution under Barclay.
  • 3 - Year of issue is 1977, aligning with first-wave continental releases rather than later reissues.
  • 4 - Sleeve design features the fluorescent yellow ground with hot-pink diagonal banner—key identifiers collectors use to spot authentic early Barclay variants.
  • 5 - Some copies carry the “Unlimited Edition” note on the label—a period detail cited for the French market run.
  • 6 - Known label misprint: track listed as “Holydays in the Sun” on certain pressings, a collectible error specific to this variant.
  • 7 - No barcode on sleeve, consistent with 1977 manufacturing and helpful in distinguishing originals from later reissues.
  • 8 - Typography: heavy black sans-serif for NEVER MIND / THE BOLLOCKS / HERE’S THE with cut-paper style logotype on the banner—hallmarks of authentic artwork.
Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Never Mind the Bollocks for the Belgium export to France edition: a saturated hot-pink field scattered with ransom-style paper strips. Each strip carries a track title in mixed black and cream cut-out lettering: pretty vacant, liar, no feelings, NEW YORK, GOD Save THE QUEEN, SEVENTEEN, ANARCHY IN THE U.K., EMI Unlimited Edition, problems, bodies, holidays in The Sun. At the bottom center a tiny line reads Sex Pistols (P) 1977 and DISTRIBUTION: C.P.F. BARCLAY. A small circled A1 mark appears in the top-right. No imagery, only stark collage typography.

A vivid hot-pink sleeve doubles as a collage poster. Across the surface, cream and black cut-paper strips look freshly glued, each naming a song in mismatched type, some upper-case, some lower-case, all slightly skewed as if torn from newspapers.

The titles bounce around the field—pretty vacant, liar, no feelings, NEW YORK, GOD Save THE QUEEN, SEVENTEEN, ANARCHY IN THE U.K., EMI Unlimited Edition, problems, bodies, holidays in The Sun—creating a kinetic, ransom-note rhythm.

Along the lower edge, fine print anchors the chaos: Sex Pistols (P) 1977 and DISTRIBUTION: C.P.F. BARCLAY. A tiny circled A1 sits in the top-right. The design is pure DIY punk—no photos, just paper, glue, and attitude.

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • 1 - Back sleeve uses a hot-pink ground with ransom-style track strips, a key identifier for early continental Barclay editions.
  • 2 - Bottom text line reads DISTRIBUTION: C.P.F. BARCLAY, confirming French-market distribution.
  • 3 - Small copyright line shows Sex Pistols (P) 1977, consistent with first-issue period.
  • 4 - Presence of the track banner EMI Unlimited Edition is characteristic of the French series artwork.
  • 5 - Track caption appears as holidays in The Sun, a capitalization variant noted by collectors.
  • 6 - No barcode on the sleeve, aligning with 1977 originals and helping distinguish later reissues.
  • 7 - A tiny circled mark A1 appears at the top-right, typical of printer or plate annotations on this run.
  • 8 - Mixed upper/lower case on titles (e.g., GOD Save THE QUEEN) matches authentic collage typography cues used on early pressings.
Photo of Vinyl Record
Close-up of the Side A record label from the Belgium export for France edition of Never Mind the Bollocks. Black paper label with white “Sex PisTOLS” at the top, French text ring around the edge, and centered album title “NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS IT’S THE SEX PISTOLS.” Left side reads MONO-STÉRÉO and FACE A; catalog number 940553 A appears mid-left. To the right are twin ST 33 logos and a boxed SACEM rights logo. Track list shows a notable typo: HOLYDAYS IN THE SUN, followed by I AM, NO FEELINGS, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, PROBLEMS with timings. Footer credits: Produced by Chris Thomas & Bill Price, ℗ Glitterbest 1977, Made in Belgium.

The label sits on deep-black paper, its surface slightly matte against the vinyl sheen. At the top, the group’s name appears in uneven white letters—Sex PisTOLS—mirroring the cut-out style of the sleeve. A fine French legal text circles the rim, framing the composition.

Beneath, the centered title reads: NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS IT’S THE SEX PISTOLS. On the left, MONO-STÉRÉO and FACE A confirm side and compatibility; the catalog 940553 A sits nearby. On the right, twin ST 33 marks and a boxed SACEM logo signal speed and rights society.

The track list is tightly set with timings, including the collectible misprint HOLYDAYS IN THE SUN. A footer credits producers Chris Thomas & Bill Price, shows ℗ Glitterbest 1977, and states Made in Belgium—clear evidence of the Belgian pressing for the French market.

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • 1 - Side designation appears as FACE A, a French-language marker aligning with distribution in France.
  • 2 - Catalog and side pairing reads 940553 A, matching the known French Barclay number series.
  • 3 - Rights society box shows SACEM (with SDRM/SACD/SGDL), typical for French-market pressings.
  • 4 - Speed and format are indicated by twin ST 33 circles, standard for 33⅓ RPM stereo LPs.
  • 5 - Track list includes the period misprint “HOLYDAYS IN THE SUN”, a collectible label variant.
  • 6 - Producer line credits Chris Thomas & Bill Price, consistent with first-issue details.
  • 7 - Footer carries ℗ Glitterbest 1977 and Made in Belgium, confirming Belgian manufacture for the French market.
  • 8 - Perimeter ring text is in French legal phrasing, reinforcing the intended French distribution.

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