Judas Priest Korean import misprint Sad Wings of Destiny (1983)

This is a 1983 Korean pressing of the 1976 Judas Priest album Sad Wings of Destiny, their second studio album. This particular copy was misprinted in blue ink only as presumably the printer did not have sufficient coloured ink to print the cover properly. Steve Grannan bought this off a guy in Korea and the postage and packing ended up costing him more than the record itself. The cover art for the album, titled Fallen Angels, was illustrated by Patrick Woodroffe. It is best known for introducing the pitchfork-like symbol known as the “Judas Priest Cross,” as worn by the angel.

Sad Wings of Destiny was Judas Priest’s second and final studio record made while under contract with Gull Records, an independent UK company. Despite critical acclaim, the band was struggling financially due to lack of support from the label. Shortly after changing management, the band severed their ties with Gull and signed with Columbia Records. Consequently, Judas Priest lost all rights to the recordings on their first two albums and to all demo recordings made during the sessions while under contract with Gull.

Whilst the band lost the rights to recording royalties, they obtained copyright ownership of the songs themselves, many of which became staples for their live shows. “Victim of Changes”, “The Ripper”, “Tyrant” and “Genocide” appear on Judas Priest Unleashed in the East, a live album released by CBS in 1979. “Diamonds and Rust”, a Joan Baez song originally recorded for Sad Wings, but left off of the final album, was re-recorded for Sin After Sin, their first CBS release, and also on Unleashed. Gull later released the band’s original recording of “Diamonds and Rust” on a ‘best of’ album. Source: Discogs.com