Vinyl pressings
by ABBA · 1981
The Visitors was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
65 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 33 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-342-A CUTTING ROOM PS Å ORRunout side A, variant 1
POLS 342B CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN ÅRunout side B, variant 1
POLS-342-A CUTTING ROOM PS ORRunout side A, variant 2
POLS 342 B CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN ÅRunout side B, variant 2
POLS-342-A CUTTING ROOM PS ORRunout side A, etched, variant 1
POLS 342B CUTTING ROOM PSRunout side B, etched, variant 1
POLS-342-A CUTTING ROOM PS ORRunout side A, etched, variant 2
POLS-342-B CUTTING ROOM PSRunout side B, etched, variant 2
0-3 SM2-2 STA 814837-C CUTTING ROOM SWEDENRunout A, variant 1
0-7 SM1-3 M1SF1SM6 STA 814838D CUTTING ROOM SWEDENRunout B, variant 1
SP 0-2SM1-1 M1SF1SMI STA 814837-B CUTTING ROOM SWEDENRunout A, variant 2
STA814838-C SP 0-5 SM1-2 M1SF1SM4 CUTTING ROOM SWEDENRunout B, variant 2
STA 814837 D B-16410-D MISFI SM2 ▲ 1059A side etched runout, variant 1
SLMA side etched, followed by a cross with a dot in each of its 4 quadrants, followed by another cross with a dot in its upper left quadrant, variant 1
STA 814838 B B-16411+B MISFI SM2 ▲ 1059-XB side etched runout, variant 1
SLMB side etched, followed by a cross with a dot in its upper left quadrant, variant 1
CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN EPC S 10032 A2Runout, A-side, stamped, variants 1 & 2
CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN EPC S 10032 B6Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 1
CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN EPC S 10032 A4Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 2
CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN EPC S 10032 A8Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVSI-4961First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 6607First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 6607First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 6607First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Polydor 2311 122First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8214 / Polar POLS 342First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8214 / Polar POLS 342First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic XSD 19332First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19332First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic XSD 19332First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Chile | RCA Victor 35102 / RCA Victor POLS 342First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Chile | RCA Victor 35102 / RCA Victor POLS 342First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | El Salvador | RCA Victor CA-1516First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Finland | Polar POLS 342First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Vogue 540020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Polar 549 973-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Polar POLS 342LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Polar POLS 342LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2022 | Europe | Polar 0602508379895 / Polar POLS 342LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Polar 00602445271108LP, 45 RPM, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | USA & Europe | Atlantic sd19332LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Uruguay | RCA Victor LPUS 385LP, Album | LP, Album |
95 vinyl pressings of The Visitors are listed here, from 46 countries, released between 1981 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Sweden, US, UK, Japan and more. One of them is Polar POLS 342, released November 30, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLS 342, POLS342, SD 19332, EPC 10032) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLS-342-A CUTTING ROOM PS Å OR and POLS 342B CUTTING ROOM SWEDEN Å. 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.
