Holland 7" [Megadisc/CBS MD5290]

The Headmaster Ritual
Nowhere Fast (live Oxford 18/3/85)
Stretch Out And Wait (live Oxford 18/3/85)
Shakespeare's Sister (live Oxford 18/3/85)
Meat Is Murder (live Oxford 18/3/85)

Holland 12" [Megadisc/CBS MD125295]

The Headmaster Ritual
Nowhere Fast (live Oxford 18/3/85)
Stretch Out And Wait (live Oxford 18/3/85)
Meat Is Murder (live Oxford 18/3/85)

UK CD5 [Rough Trade RTT215CD]
Australia CD5 [Festival D1079

Additional information:
Megadisc in Holland decided to release "The Headmaster Ritual" as a single instead of the Rough Trade UK choices of "How Soon Is Now" (which was already out in Holland as a single) or "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". The song was released on two formats, at different times, each with different artwork. The 7" was backed by "Oscillate Wildly" just like the UK 7" of "How Soon Is Now" while the 12" was backed by live tracks from a recent gig at the Oxford Apollo. These live tracks soon found themselves on the UK "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" 12".

When Rough Trade UK decided to re-release some Smiths singles on compact disc in 1988, "The Headmaster Ritual", which didn't originally get a commercial release in 1985, was chosen as a-side instead of "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". The cd-single was also released in Australia where the Festival label was following in the footsteps of Rough Trade UK. The cd-single was soon withdrawn in the UK because cover star Viv Nicholson objected to the "spineless bastards" line in the title track. This made the item highly collectible.

Artwork information:
The 7" has a generic typographical jumble on a plain red background. More attention was given to the 12" artwork which used a photograph of a young boy (played by Robert Duncan) dressed in a rodeo outfit, taken from the 1965 movie "The Uncle". It must be noted that a very limited number of the 7", most likely repressings, were printed with the 12" artwork. For the 1988 cd-single, new artwork was put together. It showed Viv Nicholson, at her easel. Photos of her had already been used on the covers for the "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "Barbarism Begins At Home" singles.

Etchings on vinyl:
None.

Additional release date information:
UK cd-single: 28 November 1988
Australia cd-single: late 1988

Promotion:
Holland: A one-sided promo 7" numbered MD7999/01 was pressed in Holland with "The Headmaster Ritual" to promote the "Meat Is Murder" album. Follow the latter link for information.

USA: "The Headmaster Ritual" was selected by Sire to promote the "Meat Is Murder" album. Follow the latter link for information.