Suffer The Children was TFF's debut single, released with little fanfare and even fewer sales in late 1981. The single was issued in a plain white sleeve featuring the same photo later used as the cover of The Hurting LP. To my knowledge, three variations of this white sleeve release exist:
Glossy Card Sleeve / Sticker Label
This variation sets the pattern that later TFF singles would follow, pairing a card sleeve with a picture label. The matrix is handwritten and reads "IDEA 1 - A3" (B3 on the b-side). The word "DAMONT" is etched in the runoff groove vertically opposite the matrix, a reference to Damont Audio, the center where the record was manufactured. A picture of Roland & Curt wearing what appear to be Eskimo knitted sweaters graces the back sleeve.
Glossy Card Sleeve / Injection Label
This variation features the unusual pairing of a card sleeve with a silver injection label. The matrix is machine stamped and reads "IDEA 1 - A//2ET" (B//2ET on the b-side). There are no handwritten markings of any kind in the runoff groove. It's important to note that the track time on the a-side is on the same line and to the right of the (Orzabal/Smith) writing credit. This is reversed on the 1985 injection label reissue, and is an easy way to tell the two apart.
Paper Sleeve / Sticker Label
This variation came along in 1982 with the release of the Mad World shrinkwrapped double pack. The sleeve has the same design as the 1981 releases, but is made of thin paper. The record features a picture label and a handwritten matrix. The record itself quite obviously originated from the Mad World gatefold release, as its former matrix number "IDEA 33 2A" is scratched out and amended to read "IDEA 1 A1". The word "DAMONT" is etched in the runoff groove vertically opposite the matrix. The a-side on this variation plays 'Suffer The Children (Remix)', not the (Single Version). This is not specifically noted on the record.
A-Side
B-Side
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |