UK 7" [Rough Trade RT146]
UK 7" [Rhino UK RT146; 2008 reissue]
Australia 7" [CBS RTANZ003]
Germany 7" [Intercord INT110.152]
Holland 7" [Ariola/Megadisc RT146/VR10802]
New Zealand 7" [CBS RTANZ003]

What Difference Does It Make?
Back To The Old House

Canada 7" [Sire 92 92397]
USA 7" [Sire 9 29239-7]

What Difference Does It Make?
Back To The Old House
These Things Take Time

UK 12" [Rough Trade RTT146]
UK CD5 [Rough Trade RTT146CD]
Australia 12" [CBS RTANZ12002]
Australia CD5 [Festival D1074]
France 12" [Virgin 80119]
Germany 12" [RT Deutschland RTT146]
Holland 12" [Ariola/Megadisc RTT146 (08-022832-20)]
Japan 12" [Tokuma Japan 15RTL-4]
New Zealand 12" [CBS RTANZ12002]
Portugal 12" [Transmedia TM/RT146]
Spain 12" [Nuevos Medios 41-086M]

Additional information:
The 2008 reissue of the 7" single by Rhino UK was also included in the "Smiths Singles box" which compiled the band's first 10 UK singles (plus two bonuses). On each of the five weeks leading to the release of the latter box, two singles from it were put up for sale individually. Collectors could therefore buy two single reissues every week, or wait at the end of the programme to get all of them in the box, alongside the two bonus 7"s.

Artwork information:
Original releases show Terence Stamp from the 1965 movie "The Collector". The photo is not a still from the film, it probably was a publicity shot. The first UK 12" and the Holland 12" didn't have the band's name on the front.

Because Stamp didn't approve of the Smiths using his photograph, later UK 12" pressings have Morrissey mock Stamp's pose and grin, holding a glass of milk instead of a chloroform pad. This picture was also used for Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Spain and Portugal 12"s. The Morrissey photo was also used on the USA, Australia, New Zealand and later UK 7"s, but with the band name.

Stamp finally gave his approval (after intervention by Sandie Shaw) and the original photograph was reinstated on later pressings of the UK 12", but with the band's name added. The UK and Australia cd-singles and 7"s from all countries except the USA, Australia and New Zealand also have this cover of Stamp and band name.

In France the 12" single shows Morrissey and the band name in white, on the right. There is no artwork for the Canadian single.

When the single was reissued in 2008, Rhino UK used the original Stamp image.

Morrissey, in an interview given to Len Brown, on his mocking the Terence Stamp photo for the cover artwork: "I didn't want to be on the cover, and it was the ugliest picture I'd ever set an eye upon."

Etchings on vinyl:
None

Additional release date information:
UK 7": 20 January 1984
UK 12": February 1984
UK and Australia cd-single: 1988
US and Canada singles: appr. April 1984
Japan 12": 25 June 1984
UK 2008 reissue: 17 November 2008

Chart peak information:
UK: 12

Promotion:
UK: This single was promoted with white label copies of the 7" dispatched with a two-sided press release (one side with artwork, other with track listing, news on upcoming album and Sandie Shaw single, and tourdates). Stock copies of the 7" were also sent to radio with a Scott Piering sticker on the back and a different press release, or occasionally, a three page APPEARING press kit.

Australia: Promos were produced on both 7" and 12" formats. They featured the same content as the stock releases, but the labels were black and white versions of the typical Australian 'Hat man' labels, with a promo-only warning. The 7" was usually slipped in a generic CBS sleeve (in blue or pink), while the 12" was slipped inside a promo-stamped stock sleeve. Some copies of the stock 12" with a "Demonstration record" sticker on the b-side have been reported.

Canada: A promo version of the 7" was sent to radio. It was identical to the stock 7", it also came inside a generic WEA sleeve, but the record's center had a small hole next to which was found promo text, instead of a large hole.

Germany: Stock copies of the 7" were distributed with a yellow and white INFO sheet. Some of the sleeves had a round 'Promotional copy' sticker on them.

Japan: Stock copies of the 12" single were sent to radio with a white SAMPLE sticker on the sleeve and promo text added on the label.

New Zealand: Stock copies of both the 7" and the 12" were distributed for promotion with a 'Not For Resale' sticker on the label on side B.

USA: This single was promoted with a version of the 7" identical to the stock version, except for added promo text printed on the label. The record was distributed inside the usual stock sleeve. "What Difference Does It Make?" was also chosen by Sire to promote the debut album (information at the latter link).