Authentic Metallica Kill Em All Vinyl Lp First Pressing 1983 megaforce Mri 069

Because I see so many misidentified first pressings of this album, I want to thoroughly explain what that means and how to distinguish a legitimate first pressing from subsequent Megaforce pressings and reissues. I apologize in advance for the lengthy explanation.

The runout matrix for the test pressing of KEA s first run is MRI-069-A STERLING A-1 on side A and MRI-069-B STERLING A- on side B. The first 1500 copies of KEA have the same runout matrix as the test pressing. The record up for sale here has the same runout matrix as the test pressing. The center label has no run times printed to the right of each track title on the center label. All subsequent Megaforce pressings of KEA have run times for each track printed to the right of the song title on the center label. The center of this record is dished or dish-shaped. All later versions have flat center labels. These 3 characteristics are what differentiate the actual first pressing from any later pressings of this album. Most of the alleged first pressings I see of this record are from later pressings. In fact, EVERY alleged first pressing that I see currently listed on eBay has run times on the center label indicating they are not actually from the first pressing.

There s some question about what kind of inner sleeve was included with the initial pressing. The record up for sale in this listing came with a poly-vinyl translucent inner sleeve when I purchased it from a collector 20 years ago. A number of sources state that the initial pressing had a paper inner sleeve with photos on one side and lyrics printed on the other side but I have never seen an authentic first pressing which also has this printed inner sleeve, only with the translucent plastic kind like this one. The Wikipedia page for KEA claims it came with a printed paper inner sleeve but cites no reference for that claim.

Considering Megaforce limited the first pressing to only 1500 copies for budgetary reasons Zazula has said the record company had no funds and that he had to use money meant for his mortgage to finance the printing of the record , then it doesn t make sense to me that they would incur additional expense to pay for custom-printed inner sleeves, especially at a time when that process was less simple and likely more expensive. It seems to me the sensible choice would be to opt for the least expensive inner sleeve which would probably be a poly-vinyl translucent sleeve like the one here which was very common for records at this time. Also, the person who owned this record prior to me took very good care of it and, although it s possible they would have separated an inner sleeve with photos and a lyric sheet,etc. from the rest of the record, it seems improbable. I don t know and, when I consider all these factors, I am inclined to believe that the original 1500 albums that were part of the first pressing probably came with poly-vinyl plastic inner sleeves like this one. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could verify or refute this in some definitive way.

Sorry again for the lengthy explanation but, for the reasons cited above, I am absolutely confident in saying that this is an AUTHENTIC vinyl LP and outer sleeve from the first pressing of Kill Em All by Metallica made by Megaforce Records in May, 1983. I m fairly confident that the inner sleeve is authentic to the first pressing but can t be 100 sure. The vinyl is in perfect condition. The outer sleeve looks like the outer sleeve from a record that was taken out and put back in frequently but in a careful way. Inner sleeve has held up well. Photos are of the actual item up for sale so you please judge the condition for yourself and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.

Label: Megaforce Records MRI 069