Vinyl pressings
by Barclay James Harvest · 1979
Eyes Of The Universe was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 15 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.
2383 557 S1=2 HB STRAWBERRYRunout side A variant 1
2383 557 S2 =2 EX STRAWBERRYRunout side B variant 1
2383 557 S1 STRAWBERRY VC3Runout side A variant 2
2383 557 S2 =2 STRAWBERRY FN1Runout side B variant 2
2383 557 S1=2 1∙15 C Z STRAWBERRYRunout side A
2383 557 S2=2 2 A ∙ 4A C S STRAWBERRYRunout side B
2383 557 S1=2 STRAWBERRY
2383 557 S2 =2 STRAWBERRY
2383 557 S1=2 STRAWBERRY 3 K BRunout side A, variant 1
2383 557 S2=2 V D C STRAWBERRYRunout side B, variant 1
2383 557 S1=2 STRAWBERRY L Y 4Runout side A, variant 2
2383 557 S2=2 4 S I STRAWBERRYRunout side B, variant 2
Strawberry
2328 557
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australasia | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Polydor 30 555LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | France | Polydor 2442 167First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Polydor 27 284-9LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1979 | Germany | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Polydor 2383 557 / Polydor 2837 002First yearLP, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Special Edition |
| 1979 | Israel | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | Polydor 2 383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | Polydor 2 383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2383 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Spain | Polydor 23 83 557First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Switzerland | Polydor 2837 002First yearLP, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Special Edition |
| 1979 | Taiwan | Taiwan Nova Records 15MP-13First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | Polydor 30 555 7LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1980 | Germany | Polydor 30 555 7LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1980 | Greece | Polydor 2383 557LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1279LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | South Korea | Sung Eum Limited SEL-RG 879LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Polydor 2442 167LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| ? | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Polydor 2383 557-18 / Polydor 2383 557 18LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2383 557LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2383 557LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 2383 557LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
40 vinyl pressings of Eyes Of The Universe are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1979 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in Germany, UK, US, Portugal and more. One of them is Polydor 2383 557, released November 5, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2383 557, POLD 5029, PD-1-6267, 2442 167) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2383 557 S1=2 HB STRAWBERRY and 2383 557 S2 =2 EX STRAWBERRY. 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.
