The Unknown Soldier / We Could Be So Good Together

This is the UK Elektra pressing of "The Unknown Soldier" / "We Could Be So Good Together", catalog number EKSN 45030, released in June 1968. What sets this copy apart from the more commonly encountered sibling pressing is one very specific physical detail: a 4-pronged push-out centre rather than a solid centre. That single difference is enough to distinguish it from the otherwise identical UK variant cataloged separately here on DoorsInfo. Both share the same catalog number and label configuration, but the centre treatment matters to completists.

The 7-inch itself presents in the standard Elektra UK sleeve format of the period. The label face follows the classic Elektra butterfly design common to UK pressings of this era, with the label text rendered in the house typeface, identifying the A-side as "The Unknown Soldier" and the B-side as "We Could Be So Good Together." The pressing weight is consistent with UK Elektra product of 1968, and the vinyl, when found in good condition, tends to be clean and quiet. The 4-pronged push-out centre is the functional identifier here: the four cuts radiating from the centre hole allow the disc to be snapped into a jukebox spindle adapter, while still functioning as a standard 45 on a record player with the centre intact. This was a common feature on UK pressings intended partially for jukebox distribution, and it creates a slightly different feel when handling the disc compared to its solid-centre counterpart. The label printing on copies in VG+ or better condition shows crisp black text on the Elektra label background, with the catalog number EKSN 45030 clearly printed. Condition of the sleeve varies considerably across surviving copies; the standard paper sleeve of the period was never particularly protective. Collectors should pay close attention to the centre when evaluating any copy presented as this specific variant, as the two versions are otherwise nearly indistinguishable at a glance.

The track sequence on this pressing places "The Unknown Soldier" on the A-side and "We Could Be So Good Together" on the B-side. This is the standard configuration for the UK market. For reference, at least one variant exists (1971), which adds another layer of complexity for anyone trying to build a comprehensive single discography for this release. "The Unknown Soldier" was, of course, one of The Doors' more overtly political statements, released during a period of intense public debate around the Vietnam War, and it accompanied the album Waiting For The Sun, which arrived later that same year. The single's anti-war message, paired with its promotional film, gave it a cultural weight that made it a significant release in the band's catalog beyond its commercial performance. "We Could Be So Good Together" is a comparatively lighter piece, a solid B-side that has attracted its own following among fans who prefer the more straightforward rock energy it delivers. On Discogs, this specific pressing, identified by the 4-pronged push-out centre, shows 40 collectors marking it as owned and 45 indicating they want it. The want list slightly outpacing the have list is a reasonable signal that this variant takes some patience to locate. It is not a scarce record in the broader sense, but finding a copy in solid condition with the centre intact and the labels clean enough to confirm the specific variant requires some diligence. Anyone tracking the full range of UK pressings of this single should also note the third cataloged UK variant and the EP release that packages both tracks alongside other material, both of which serve different collecting purposes.

For collectors focused on UK Doors singles, EKSN 45030 with the 4-pronged push-out centre is a legitimate variant worth tracking down, not a must-have rarity commanding significant premiums, but a specific and documentable pressing difference that completists will want represented in their collection. The want-to-have ratio on Discogs suggests modest demand against modest supply. Buy it when you find a clean copy at a fair price; do not overpay expecting scarcity that does not exist at that level.