Pulp – Different Class

I never thought I would say “I have a original pressing of different class on vinyl”, but here we are now. Sound wise it isn’t too bad? On some songs it’s a bit strange (mis-shapes is a big one) but on other songs it’s mixed really well

This original pressing has razor sharp artwork (photos and typework) compared to the latest reissues (2011 - 2016).
Soundwise it's just odd. The mix is weirdly balanced without some body to deliver these awesome songs, the volume too low, no bass, no audible impact during the transitions in a song like 'Common People'. What were they thinking?

The quickest way to spot fakes on these is just look at the print job, it’s not shocking but it’s pretty bad compared to the genuine version. I’ve got the the original and it’s been carbon copied, everything is identcal, but just a poorer print, the print especially on the inner, is barely legible. My genuine copy also had MPO in the runouts

My version has barcode 7 31452 41652 3 and text "Simply Fuss Free!" as the bottom line on the back cover. The photos of the labels are also exactly the same. However, the runouts are
4785288 A / B. Is this a different pressing?

Pulp were patient enough to cope in their pre-Different Class years - never suffering for the music itself (in my personal opinion, ALL of their discography is fascinating). The effort payed off, marking the mid-90s literally with a second big bang. "Different Class" is true class material, Pulp spreading their wings and finally get the recognition they deserved ever since that funny little 1983 bastard-child of a band. This is way more progressive alternative rock - and despite its retro-leanings, Pulp made a solid monument - in all of its voyeuristic beauty.

A brilliant album and one that not only captured Pulp at their absolute peak but is also one of the most important recordings ever submitted to wax in British music history. The seediness, the wink and nudge as well as the many references to taste, society and above all class make this album an essential social document of sorts and as a consequence it could be argued that their legacy is every bit as important in defining Englishness as are groups like Fairport Convention, Pentangle et al.

As a complete album, it can sometimes be hard to pick your favourite tracks but I would surmise that Live Bed Show, Something Changed and the quite marvellous F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E are surely up there. The only downside to it all is the fact that my own perfect and pristine copy on vinyl with interchangeable sleeves was lost years ago due to burst water pipe. The scar has never healed although the expanded version on CD is quite a superb reissue. My only other point is this: is it really nearly 20 years old? Frightening!