EXTRA RARE 1981 Top Of The Pops 889 (BBC Transcription Disc) VG+/VG OMD Simple Minds Soft Cell etc.

Extraordinarily rare BBC Transcription Services Disc from 1981!

VARIOUS ARTISTS - TOP OF THE POPS - 889 (1981 UK BBC TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES)

An extraordinary artifact from the height of British New Wave and Synth-Pop, BBC Top of the Pops - 889 (BBC Transcription Services, November 1981) offers a pristine snapshot of UK radio history. Hosted by Brian Matthew, this rare transcription LP was pressed strictly for international radio syndication and never offered to retail stores. Packed with iconic 1981 bands - including Soft Cell, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Simple Minds, Imagination, Japan, Linx,  Blue Rondo A La Turk and ABC - this pressing represents an essential centerpiece for collectors of early '80s British pop, synth-pop, and BBC archival broadcasts.

BBC Transcription Services operated purely as a broadcast licensing business for foreign radio stations and runs typically averaged ~100-300 copies.  Because of strict UK Musicians' Union rules and contracts, stations receiving these discs were meant to destroy or return the discs after their broadcast license window expired.  The vast majority of these discs were destroyed or lost over the years leaving only a handful in existence.

1981 UK private import/release by BBC Transcription Services, catalogs #149512 - S and #149513 - S.  This pressing is series Top Of The Pops #889, which aired 17th November 1981, hosted by BBC DJ Brian Matthew.  This transcription disc with green and white BBC labels features primarily New Wave music from the bands Simple Minds, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD), Soft Cell, Japan, Linx, Imagination, ABC, and Blue Rondo A La Turk.  Side A and track B1 features the recorded radio broadcast for the date.  Tracks B2 through B8 play the featured song tracks only with no DJ overlay.  There is a Closed Scroll/Loop between B1 and B2.

Sleeve grades VG.  Standard BBC Transcription Services yellow outer sleeve, stamped three times with "BROADCASTING OR PUBLIC PERFORMANCE PROHIBITED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE BBC".  The sleeve is overall in great shape but has a small (approx. 1.5" or 3.5 cm) seam burst in the middle of the spine, which causes the downgrade to VG instead of VG+.  Original generic inner sleeve included.  Also includes complete original transcription cue sheets/paperwork in excellent condition!

Vinyl grades VG+.  Plays through crisp and clear with no issues or deficiencies, a great play testing!  Visually, magnification and direct light yield a handful of light hairlines and insertion marks on Side A while Side B has a light scratch and a couple light hairlines, none of which impact playback.