Merciful Release and Our Early Singles

Before the albums, there were the singles, and before the singles there was a label we ran ourselves. This is the story of Merciful Release and the early records behind some of our designs.

What is Merciful Release?

Merciful Release is Andrew Eldritch's own label. It put out our early singles and our first album, First and Last and Always. Later records came out through WEA, Elektra and East West, but the name stayed with us, and you'll find it on our merch too.

What was the first single?

"The Damage Done", pressed in just 1,000 copies. We started the band to hear ourselves on the radio, and that small pressing was the first step.

Which singles came after?

• "Alice" (1982): our single from 1982.
• "Anaconda" (1983): a name you'll see on a design or two.
• "Temple of Love": another of our singles.
• The EPs: The Reptile House E.P. and Body and Soul.

In 1992 the compilation Some Girls Wander by Mistake came out, followed by A Slight Case of Overbombing in 1993.

What about the early live shows?

Our 1985 show at the Royal Albert Hall was released as the video Wake. And the radio sessions we recorded between 1982 and 1984 came out in 2021 as BBC sessions 1982-1984, for Record Store Day.

How do these show up on the merch?

Some designs take their names from these releases and from the label itself. Others keep it to the head-and-star emblem and the band name, in the plain style of the early sleeves.

Tip: pair an early-years design with black jeans and boots, and keep the rest plain.

See every design in the shop.