Vinyl pressings
by April Wine · 1981
The Nature Of The Beast 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.
40 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 23 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.
STERLINGRunout; Stamped both sides
AQR530-A-1 ➀Runout; Etched A, Variant 1
AQR530-B-1Runout; Etched B, Variant 1
AQR-530-ARunout; Etched A, Variant 2
AQR530-ALabel A
AQR530-BLabel B
AQR530-A-1 ➀ STERLINGA side
̷A̷Q̷R̷-̷5̷0̷0̷-̷B̷ AQR·530·B-2 ① STERLINGB side
AQR530-ALabel A
AQR530-BLabel B
AQR530-A STERLINGA side
̷A̷Q̷R̷-̷5̷0̷0̷-̷B̷ AQR·530·B-2 STERLINGB side
AQR530-ALabel A
AQR530-BLabel B
AQR-530-A K.E.F Target symbol TLC-AA side
AQR-530-B Target symbol TLC-AB side
AQR-530A- TXSide A, etched
AQR-530-B-2 ② K.E.Y. CR TLC.T.Side B, etched
EST 1 12125 - 1U STERLINGSide A, stamped, variant 1
EST 2 12125 - 1U STERLINGSide B, stamped, variant 1
EST 1 12125 - 1U 1 5 STERLING S00-1-12125-Z5 1Side A, stamped/etched, variant 2
EST 1 12125 - 1U 1 1 STERLING S00-2-12125-Z5 1Side B, stamped/etched, variant 2
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 | Capitol Records 8975First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Capitol Records ST.12125First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Capitol Records 31C 064 86296First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530 / Capitol Records AQR 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1981 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530 / Capitol Records AQR 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530 / Capitol Records AQR 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530 / Capitol Records AQR 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Colombia | Capitol Records 11827First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 296LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | France | Capitol Records 2C 068-86296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | Capitol Records SOO-12125First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81412 / Aquarius Records ECS-81412First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 530LPLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 296LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Life Studio 54 LIFE 475LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Artistic Style RK-032LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SOO-12125LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
54 vinyl pressings of The Nature Of The Beast are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1981 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Canada, UK, US, Germany and more. One of them is Aquarius Records AQR 530.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AQR 530, EST 12125, SOO-12125, 1C 064-86 296) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STERLING and AQR530-A-1 ➀. 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.
