COLLECTORS' GUIDE
The Messenger
A guide to every variation of 'The Messenger' commercially released, plus its associated singles and promos. Unless otherwise noted, all releases of the album feature the same standard tracklisting:
A1/1. The Right Thing Right
A2/2. I Want The Heartbeat
A3/3. European Me
A4/4. Upstarts
A5/5. Lockdown
A6/6. The Messenger
B1/7. Generate! Generate!
B2/8. Say Demesne
B3/9. Sun And Moon
B4/10. The Crack Up
B5/11. New Town Velocity
B6/12. Word Starts Attack
1-track promo CD
While not released as a commercial single, the title track was treated to a promo-only release in late 2012. The single-track CD features unique artwork taken from the accompanying promo video, and is housed in a cardboard slipcase with a plugger sticker on the back.
UK/Europe LP
Warner Music UK NVLP001
Barcode: 0 825646 514489
Standard vinyl release with heavy printed inner sleeve featuring lyrics on one side and portrait of Johnny on the other. When purchased new, most copies would have featured a round promotional sticker on the shrinkwrap.
The vinyl itself features dark blue labels, and the words "Step out to symphonies" (a lyric from New Town Velocity) are etched on to run-out grooves on the A side.
Some online retailers also offered a free MP3 download of the album with the purchase of the vinyl edition.
LP test pressing
It is unknown how many of these were pressed, but given the near-impossibility of procuring a copy, one would assume it to be a very small quantity. As with most test pressings, this LP has plain white labels on both sides and is packaged in a plain white anti-static sleeve. Like the commercial release, the "Step out to symphonies" etching is again present on A side run-out groove.
UK/Europe CD
Warner Music UK NVCD001
Barcode: 0 825646 514496
Standard CD release in digipack. Much like a scaled-down version of the vinyl edition, the standard digipack CD features the same artwork on the front and back covers, with the inner sleeve contents being refashioned into a booklet. The surface of the disc is dark blue with black text, matching the labels of its vinyl counterpart.
Stock copies of the CD were also sent to the media with a plugger sticker as seen above.
UK promo CD
Prior to the album's release, numbered and watermarked promo CDs were released to the media. The CD was housed in a PVC sleeve with a wraparound paper insert featuring the album's artwork on one side and tracklisting and copyright information on the reverse.
Argentina CD
Warner Music UK / Warner Music Argentina NVCD001
Barcode: 0 825646 514496
An imported version of the standard UK/EU CD for the Argentinian market. Notably, the Argentinian CD is packaged in a standard jewel case instead of a digipack. The disc itself is also printed significantly darker than that of its UK/EU counterpart.
Japan CD
Warner Music / Hostess HSE-60157 / NVCD001J
Barcode: 4 582214 509372
While other international releases kept the same tracklisting as the original UK/EU release, the Japanese CD saw the addition of 'Psychic beginner' (misprinted on the CD and booklet as 'Phychic beginner') as a bonus track.
The Japanese CD is packaged in a standard jewel case with a black and silver OBI strip, and also includes an additional booklet of lyrics in Japanese to all songs except the bonus track.
Mexico CD
Warner Music UK / Warner Music México NVCD001
Barcode: 0 825646 514496
Like the Argentinian release, the Mexican CD differs from its UK/EU counterpart only in that it is packaged in a jewel case instead of a digipack.
US LP
New Voodoo NVO1-534549
Barcode: 0 75597 95950
Much like its European equivalent, the US LP is a standard vinyl release with the record slipped inside a printed inner sleeve featuring lyrics on one side and portrait of Johnny on the other. Again, like its European equivalent, new copies came with a (larger, in this case) round promo sticker on the shrinkwrap.
The labels are standard Sire yellow-orange gradient style, and again the words "Step out to symphonies" are etched on to run-out grooves on the A side.
Some online retailers also offered a free MP3 download of the album with the purchase of the vinyl edition.
US LP on white vinyl (US tour exclusive)
New Voodoo NVO1-534549
Barcode: 0 75597 95950
Sold exclusively as tour merchandise on the US tour in 2013, this version of the standard US vinyl LP was issued on white vinyl.
US CD
New Voodoo NVO2-534549
Barcode: 0 75597 95951
Standard CD release in digipack. Like its European counterpart, the CD is much like a scaled-down version of the vinyl edition, featuring the same artwork on the front and back covers, with the inner sleeve contents being refashioned into a booklet slipped inside the cover flap.
US promo CD #1
As in the UK, numbered and watermarked promo CDs were sent to the media prior to the album's release. The artwork in this case was a much simpler affair though: copies of the promo CD were either slipped inside a windowed, plain white cardboard sleeve, or packaged in a clear jewel case with a plain paper insert and no cover. (Both variations can be seen above.)
US promo CD #2
Another minimalist affair, this promo CD (non-watermarked this time) came in a clear jewel case with a very basic plain paper back insert. It's unknown whether these were sent to the media before or after the album's release.
Upstarts 7"
Warner Music UK NSV001
Barcode: 5 053105 625314
Track listing:
A1. Upstarts
B1. Psychic Beginner
Standard release on 7" vinyl in glossy card sleeve.
Upstarts UK promo CD
In the UK, the first single from the album was promoted with a single-track promo CD, housed in a PVC sleeve with a wraparound paper insert featuring the album's artwork on one side and tracklisting and copyright information on the reverse.
Upstarts US promo CD
As in the UK, 'Upstarts' was promoted in the USA with a single-track promo CD, packaged in a clear jewel case with front and back artwork.
New Town Velocity 7"
Warner Music UK NSV002
Barcode: 5 053105 817511
Track listing:
A1. New Town Velocity
B1. The It-Switch
Standard release on 7" vinyl in glossy card sleeve.
New Town Velocity promo CD
Track listing:
1. New Town Velocity (Single Version)
2. The It Switch
Stylistically, the promo for 'New Town Velocity' is a minimalist affair in comparison to its predecessor, but it makes up for its aesthetic shortcomings by way of inclusion of the single's B-side track. The CD itself is housed in a PVC sleeve with a wraparound plain paper insert and a plugger sticker on the back.
European Me promo CD
Although plans to release 'European Me' as a single eventually fell through, single-track promo CDs were produced in anticipation. The CD itself is again a minimalist affair, housed in a clear PVC sleeve with plain white paper inserts and a plugger sticker on the back.