Some Words of Warning on Fakes and Reproduction Sleeves
Collecting Status Quo 7‑inch vinyl singles is one of the most rewarding pursuits in British rock collecting. With a catalogue stretching from the late 1960s through multiple label changes, overseas pressings, promos and picture sleeves, Quo singles offer endless variety and genuine rarities. However, that same richness has made the field increasingly attractive to sellers of fake discs and reproduction sleeves, and collectors need to tread carefully - especially when confronted with items claimed to be Mexican, Portuguese or radio promo issues or with a rare sleeve.
The Attraction of White Labels and Overseas Pressings
White‑label singles have long held a particular appeal. Legitimate white labels were typically pressed in very small quantities for radio stations or internal use, and genuine examples do exist within the Status Quo catalogue. However, white labels are also among the easiest items to fake, as they lack printed graphics and are difficult to authenticate at a glance. A big clue is often if a white label looks "too new" - although some unscrupulous sellers apply fake aging to cover that an item is not genuine.
Mexican pressings add another layer of desirability. Original Mexican Status Quo singles, issued on labels such as Orfeón and Pye/Orfeón, are well documented and genuinely scarce. Their distinctive labels and unique picture sleeves can command strong prices when authentic. Unfortunately, this has led to a steady rise in fake sleeves being paired with otherwise common Mexican discs, or in some cases, entirely fabricated items.
Fake Mexican picture sleeves now crop up regularly on auction sites and are often misleadingly described as promos, radio promos or ultra‑rare sleeves, despite having no historical legitimacy.
Reproduction Sleeves: The Grey Area That Isn’t
One of the most common traps for collectors today is the so‑called “reproduction sleeve.” While some sellers are honest and label these as modern reprints, others are far less clear—using careful wording to imply originality without actually stating it.
On major auction platforms such as eBay, it is not uncommon to see listings offering Status Quo singles with “rare Mexican sleeve”, “rare Portuguese import in picture sleeve”, “hard‑to‑find promo sleeve” or “archive artwork”, only for the description (often buried deep in the text) to reveal that the sleeve is a modern reproduction. In many cases, the reproduction disclaimer is missing altogether, leaving less experienced buyers exposed.
Most collectors note that these reproduction sleeves “add little if anything to the value of the unsleeved disc”, yet they are routinely used to inflate prices. Sleeves supposedly from Portugal appear particularly prevelant. Don't forget that you can check all the genuine Portuguese sleeves here.
Disturbingly, sites such as "Popsike" show that many collectors have been fooled over the years, sometimes paying hundreds of pounds for disc that may be worth a tenth of the price, but come with an unofficial printed sleeve.
Common Red Flags to Watch For
Collectors should be particularly cautious when encountering:
- White‑label Status Quo 7"s with no provenance, especially when offered as Mexican or Latin American promos.
- Sleeves with overly bright colours, glossy modern card, or pixelated artwork, which often indicate digital reprints rather than period printing.
- Listings that rely heavily on phrases such as “looks original”, “believed to be”, or “no expert, but…”.
- Sellers offering multiple copies of supposedly rare sleeves, something that simply does not align with known production numbers or often where a single didn't ever come in a picture sleeve at all.
This site maintains detailed image archives of confirmed originals, allowing collectors to compare paper stock, print quality and layout. It is clear that knowledge & cross referencing is the best defence against fakes and mismatched sleeves.
Auction Sites and the Illusion of Legitimacy
The growth of online marketplaces has made rare records more accessible—but it has also given reproduction material an air of legitimacy. A sleeve photographed alongside a real record, priced just below known market value, can appear convincing. Over time, these reproductions risk becoming “accepted” by repetition, muddying the historical record and distorting prices.
Buying Smart: Practical Advice
If you are serious about collecting Status Quo 7" singles:
- Buy the disc first, the sleeve second. A real record with no sleeve is always preferable to a fake sleeve with a common disc.
- Cross‑reference with established discographies before bidding – the genuine Status Quo singles are typically shown on this site.
- Be wary of white labels unless their origin can be clearly demonstrated.
- Remember that rarity does not mean constant availability - if something seems to be everywhere, it probably isn’t rare.
Final Thoughts
Status Quo’s singles catalogue remains a fascinating and rewarding area of vinyl collecting, but it is no longer a field where blind trust pays off. Fake white‑label discs and reproduction sleeves are now an acknowledged problem within the collector community.
Armed with good reference material (such as this site!), a sceptical eye, and a willingness to walk away from dubious listings, collectors can still build outstanding collections while avoiding the growing number of modern pitfalls.
Examples of what to avoid
Here are some examples of Status Quo 7” single sleeves that are not genuine sleeves. They are either deliberately faked to deceive or are “home printed” and add little or no value to the genuine collector. Buyer beware!
| Record Title (alphabetical) and Sleeve | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| Again And Again | ||
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Not entirely sure of the "inspiration" for this one, but is houses a standard UK disc which has little value. | |
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But whoever produced it liked it enough to use it again | |
| Ain't Complaining | ||
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Claims to be a Portuguse Promo sleeve | |
| Are You Growing Tired Of My Love | ||
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An almost exact copy of the Dutch 7" sleeve | |
| Black Veils of Melancholy | ||
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Created by "Laimik GB" who seem to proudly claim that they are "Designers of 50's and 60's Record Sleeves". Just not official ones. | |
| Break The Rules | ||
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Not quite sure of the origin of the photo used here, but it's definitely not a genuine sleeve | |
| Caroline | ||
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Interesting mix of fonts on this one. Seen sold with a genuine German disc inside | |
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Bizarrely houses a standard UK disc well before the Quo UK Vertigo 7" singles came in picture sleeves | |
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"So Good" they used it twice. | |
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Another interesting mix of fonts. Again houses a standard UK disc for a release that didn't have a picture sleeve | |
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This one claims to be Portuguese | |
| Dear John | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
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Another claiming to be a Portuguese import | |
| Down Down | ||
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A play on the "On The Level" album sleeve with a topless woman added for no obvious reason. | |
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A recoloured variation on an official sleeve. Again paired with a low value common UK disc. | |
| Down The Dustpipe | ||
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A recoloured variation on the Norwegian Sleeve | |
| Dreamin' | ||
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A Portuguese disc is paired twith this fake. | |
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A Portuguese disc is also paired twith this fake with a stamp applied to the label | |
| Ice In The Sun | ||
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Another sleeve created by "Laimik GB" | |
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Another recolouration from a Scandinavian sleeve | |
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Claims to be Portuguese | |
| In My Chair | ||
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Supposedly a Mexican "Promo" sleeve, but not genuine | |
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A fake Portuguese sleeve | |
| In The Army Now | ||
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Claims to be a Portuguese Promo sleeve | |
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Claims to be a Portuguese regular sleeve | |
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Also claims to be a Portuguese regular sleeve | |
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Another claiming to be a Portuguese regular sleeve | |
| Living On An Island | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
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Another fake Portuguese import - sleeve claims to be a promo | |
| Make Me Stay A Bit Longer | ||
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Another sleeve created by "Laimik GB" | |
| Marguerita Time | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import with a sleeve based on the "Back To Back" album | |
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Another fake Portuguese import | |
| Mean Girl | ||
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A fake sleeve designed to mimic (and contain) the "Old Gold" reissue disc | |
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Paired with a standard UK Pye disc. | |
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No idea what is going on here! Houses a UK Pye disc with a group photo from a completely different era. | |
| Need Your Love | ||
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Advertised as a Mexican Radio Promo Sleeve | |
| Ol'Rag Blues | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
| Paper Plane | ||
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Again houses a standard UK disc for a release that didn't have a picture sleeve | |
| Pictures of Matchstick Men | ||
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At least someone has put some effort into ths one | |
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A fake sleeve designed to mimic (and contain) the "Old Gold" reissue disc | |
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Another sleeve created by "Laimik GB" | |
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These have been seen housing standard UK discs | |
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Advertised as "Portuguese", but typically houses a standard UK disc | |
| Rain | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese promo sleeve | |
| Roll Over Lay Down (Live EP) | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
| Rollin' Home | ||
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import utilising a 7" print of the "In The Army Now" album cover | |
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Another fake Portuguese import | |
| Something 'Bout You Baby I Like | ||
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A colour swap variation on the offical UK sleeve | |
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Another colour swap variation on the offical UK sleeve | |
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import with a colour variation of the above | |
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import, this time utilising a 7" sleeve based on the "Never Too Late" album cover | |
| What You're Proposing | ||
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Contains a dinked version of the standard UK single. | |
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese Promo sleeve | |
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Another fake Portuguese import with a 7" sleeve based on the Just Supposin' album cover |  |
A plain white printed card cover claiming to be a Portuguese radio promo. Houses a regular disc with a printed white sticker |
| Whatever You Want | ||
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Not sure what is going on here or why the random fonts were chosen | |
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Falsely claims to be a Portuguese import | |
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Another fake Portuguese import with a 7" sleeve based on the album cover | |
| Wild Side Of Life | ||
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Again houses a standard UK disc for a release that didn't have a picture sleeve | |
| Singles Box 1979-1982 | ||
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Unofficial cardboard box which houses 5 genuine Portuguese singles with generic covers | |
Examples of what to avoid (12" Singles)
Here is an example of a Status Quo 12” single sleeve that is not genuine..
| Record Title (alphabetical) and Sleeve | Comments |
|---|---|
| Rock 'til You Drop | |
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Not only a fake sleeve, but a bootleg "Israeli" disc too, claiming to be a promo |
Examples of what to avoid (Vinyl Albums)
Here are a couple of fake sleeve examples. Ther must be lots more. Note that these are different from bootleg vinyl releases (live shows, radio broadcasts etc) as they are trying to look like genuine articles to mislead the buyer.
| Record Title (alphabetical) and Sleeve | Comments |
|---|---|
| Back To Back | |
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A fake "Mexican promo" sleeve with a standard Mexican disc inside |
| Martinette | |
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A fake "Mexican promo" sleeve which seems to come with a genuine Vertigo disc with a "promo" sticker on it |
| Sin Ocasionar Dolor - En Radio Moderna | |
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A fake "Mexican promo" sleeve which seems to come with a genuine Vertigo disc with a "promo" sticker on it |
| The Sound of Money | |
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A fake sleevs for a "bootleg"! These appear to contain coloured vinyl for the "Dawn of the Frantic Four" bootleg in a bid to try and resell with a different sleeve. Originates from Spain. |
Fake Acetates
It is best to be aware that a number of fake Status Quo acetates are in circulation. They predominantly originate from a profilic American (alledged) acetate faker named Darryl Menkin. To witness some of his work you could check out this Facebook Page
Using vintage acetate blanks, seemingly readily available in the States, there are recently made fake acetates of everyone from The Beatles , The Rolling Stones and just about any collectable band. They can look very convincing, so it's the provenance of the disc that is important.
Here illustrated are a number that have found their way in to fellow collectors collections. They range from 16” to 10” to 7” diameter. There may be many more please be aware.
| Record Title (alphabetical) and Sleeve | Comments |
|---|---|
| Is It Really Me / Gotta Go Home | |
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| Junior's Wailing | |
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| Roadhouse Blues | |
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| Piledriver | |
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