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Queen Bohemian Rhapsody - Blue Vinyl - Complete UK 7" vinyl single (7 inch record / 45)
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| Tracklisting / Additional Info: |
History Of The Blue Vinyl Bohemian Rhapsody
On Wednesday 26th July 1978, a special dinner was held at the Selfridge Hotel in London to commemorate the fact that The International Division of EMI Records Ltd had been awarded the prestigious 'Queen's Award To Industry For Export Achievement'.
As Queen were a significant contributor to EMI's export sales and as a play-on-words with the 'Queen's Award', it was decided to manufacture a special limited edition of the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' single to mark the occasion. The single was pressed in a translucent royal blue vinyl, with a special purple and gold sleeve. The intention was that the vinyl was originally intended to be purple vinyl to match the sleeve but due to an error at the pressing plant they came out blue!
A limited run of up to 300 were pressed, but only 200 records and sleeves were numbered by hand, mostly on the a-side label and the back of the sleeve.
This special single was distributed to the EMI bosses, captains of industry and journalists who were present at the dinner. In fact, a large variety of commemorative freebies were distributed to the assembled throng, including:
A wine glass, engraved with the 'Queen's Award' logo.
A pale blue silk scarf, embroidered with the 'Queen's Award' logo. Some of the scarves were in a passport style folder.
A pen, presumably also with the same logo.
As well as these, all attendees would have had an invitation, a ticket and a menu. According to sources, it was largely pot-luck who at the dinner received which of the freebies and it was mainly first-come-first-served.
A special 'EMI Records International Division' outer-envelope was also manufactured. Roughly A4 in size and shaped to resemble a carrier bag, there is some uncertainty what this was for, which makes it seem likely it was simply another freebie given away at the dinner. Whatever it was, there seem to have been very few of them made!
All the freebies seem to be much rarer than the blue vinyl records themselves. However, this is probably because they have become separated over the years. None of them mention Queen in any way, so someone selling their blue vinyl in the 1980s may not have thought the buyer would have been interested in a seemingly unrelated item. It is only in recent years that the full set of items has become desirable.
Over the years, the blue vinyl has become the top-of-the-league item in any list of Queen collectables. The full monty (comprising numbered vinyl, sleeve, outer envelope, glass, scarf, pen, invitation, ticket and menu) would be worth a King's ransom. Even an unnumbered vinyl with no sleeve would be a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection.
Value over the years
Over the last ten years, the value of a blue vinyl has gone up and up and up. While some of this was undoubtedly due to hype, the current high values are holding firm and even, for a copy with all the trimmings, still going up.
OUR ONE - YOUR ONE
This amazing collection comprises of the following
Blue Vinyl Bohemian Rhapsody 7" hand numbered 74/200 on the label and back of the sleeve.
Custom A4 size purple custom carrying envelope with Queens Award logo.
Unworn pale blue scarf, embroidered with the Queens Award logo in cellophane wrapper
Not one but TWO wine goblets etched with the EMI logo and the Queen's Award logo.
The jewel in the crown of any collection, without doubt.
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| Condition : |
This item is in Excellent condition or better (unless it says otherwise in the above description). We buy items as close to Mint condition as possible and many will be unplayed and as close to new as you could hope to find. Irrespective of the source, all of our collectables meet our strict grading and are 100% guaranteed. Click here for more info. |
| Availability: |
Sold Out - 'Request Next' to get an email if it comes back into stock.
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| Year of Release: |
1978 - 46 years old |
| Artist: |
Queen (click here for complete listing) |
| Title: |
Bohemian Rhapsody (click here for more of the same title) |
| Postage/Shipping: |
Add item to your basket for a postage/shipping quote |
| Format: |
7" vinyl single (7 inch record / 45) |
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| Record Label: |
EMI |
| Catalogue No: |
EMI2375 |
| Country of Origin: |
UK
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| Language: |
Regardless of country of origin all tracks are sung in English, unless otherwise stated in our description. |
| Additional info: |
Deleted
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| EIL.COM Ref No |
QUE07BO198311 (quote this reference in any e-mails, letters, faxes or phone calls to help identify this item) |
| Genres: |
Rock
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| Related Artists: |
Anita Dobson, Bad News, Billy Squier, Brian May, Carmine Appice, Catherine Porter, Claire Sweeney, D-ROK, Darkness [Dance], Eddie Howell, Freddie Mercury, Heavy Pettin, Hilary Hilary, Ibex, John Deacon, Larry Lurex, Left-Handed Marriage, Minako Honda, Montserrat Caballe, Peter Straker, Roger Taylor, Smile, The Cross, The Immortals, The Others [1960S], The SAS Band, Tim Staffell, Wire Daisies |
| Complete Stock List: |
Queen |
| email: |
sales@eil.com to contact our sales team. |
| Alternative Names: |
None |
| To order by phone: |
Call +44 1474 815010 quoting EIL.COM reference number QUE07BO198311 |
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![](http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=198311&media=https://images.eil.com/large_image/QUEEN_BOHEMIAN%2BRHAPSODY%2B%2D%2BBLUE%2BVINYL%2B%2D%2BCOMPLETE-198311.jpg&description=QUEEN Bohemian Rhapsody (1978 UK in-house blue vinyl 7" specially
pressed for luncheon commemorating EMI attaining the Queen's Award
To Industry For Export Achievement in 1978, in unique custom purple
& gold presentation sleeve - hand numbered 74/200 on label & back of
sleeve, complete with original custom carrying envelope, unworn pale
blue embroidered scarf in custom printed commemorative cellophane
wrapper & pair of etched EMI wine goblets - the ultimate Queen
collectable!) )
