Vinyl pressings
by ABBA · 1976
Arrival was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
75 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 31 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
POLS 272 A 4 ARunout, Variant 1, Side A, Stamped
POLS 272 B 4 ARunout, Variant 1, Side B, Stamped
POLS 272 A 5 ARunout, Variant 2, Side A, Stamped
POLS 272 E 4 ARunout, Variant 2, Side B, Stamped
POLS 272 ASide A runout, stamped (variant 1)
POLS 272 B6Side B runout, stamped (variant 1)
POLS 272 A9 USide A runout, stamped (variant 2)
POLS 272 B3 <> USide B runout, stamped (variant 2)
POLS 272 A 9 P76 F 710 ✳✳✳Runout side A, stamped
POLS 272 B 9 P76 F 710 ✳✳✳Runout side B, stamped
POLS 272 A6Side A runout, stamped
POLS 272 B3Side B runout, stamped
EPC 860I8-2A-ISide A, Var. 1
EPC 860I8-5B-ISide B, Var. 1
S-860I8-2A-3Side A, Var. 2
EPC 860I8-IB-ISide B, Var. 2
EPC-S-86018-A-5Runout, A-side, etched - Variant 1
1 VRunout, A-side, stamped - Variant 1
EPC-S-86018-B-4Runout, B-side, etched - Variant 1
7 ERunout, B-side, stamped - Variant 1
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Africa | Polydor 2344 058First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVS-4427First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVS-4427First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1-4034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor VPL1-4034 / RCA Victor VPLI-4034First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor VPL1-4034LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1976 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor VPL1-4034 / RCA Victor VPLI-4034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Austria | Polydor 2310 483First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Austria | Polydor 65 940LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19115First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic SD 18207First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic SD 18207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19115First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19115First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19115First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Discomate DSP-5102LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1980 | USSR | Мелодия 33 С 60—11057-8 / Мелодия 33 С 60—11057-58LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Epic EPC 32320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Nautilus Recordings NR 20 / Atlantic NR 20LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | USSR | Мелодия С60-11057 / Мелодия С60-11058LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1983 | Spain | Epic EPC 32320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Epic EPC 32320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 0506LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 0506LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Polydor 2344 058LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия C60—11057-58LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | Bolivia | Polydor AL/PLL–35-83LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1997 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 198 / Polydor SVLP 198LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Polar 549 969-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2007 | Japan | Polar UIJY-9016 / Universal Music UIJY-9016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Polar POLS 272 / Polar 602527346502LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | Europe | Polar 4794565LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | USA & Europe | Polar POLS 272 / Polar 0602508337154LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Europe | Polar 0602445509126 / Polar POLS 272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | Europe | Polar 0602508379857 / Polar POLS 272LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (ABBA) LSLP-73LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Bulgaria | Polydor 2344 058LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Polar POLS 272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 821 319-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Kenya | Polydor 2344 058LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light G 82LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 86018 / Epic S EPC 86018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 86018 / Polar POLS 272LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32320LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 86018 / Epic S EPC 86018LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия С 60—11057-8LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия 33 С 60—11057-8LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия C60-11057-58LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия С 60—11057-8LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
204 vinyl pressings of Arrival are listed here, from 53 countries, released between 1976 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in Sweden, UK, US, Australia and more. One of them is Polar POLS 272.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLS 272, EPC 86018, SD 18207, VPL1-4034) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLS 272 A 4 A and POLS 272 B 4 A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
