Vinyl pressings
by Barclay James Harvest · 1987
Face To Face was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 7 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.
831 483 - 1 S 1 320 V 1Side A runout variant 1
831 483 - 1 S 2 320 1 XSide B runout variant 1
831 483 - 1 S 1 320 V 1Side A runout variant 2
831 483 - 1 S 2 320 1 KSide B runout variant 2
831 483 - 1 S 1 320 1 ASide A, stamped
831 483 - 1 S 2 320 1 TSide B, stamped
POLD- 5209- ASide A, Variant 1
POLD- 5209- BSide B, Variant 1
POLD- 5209- A MT MW 3Side A, Variant 2
POLD- 5209- B MT 6Side B, Variant 2
160 831481 1 // 1 380 POLYGRAM A3Stamped runout, side A
160 831483 1 // 2 380 POLYGRAM A3Stamped runout, side B
831 483-1 1On label, side A
831 483-1 2On label, side B
POL 8[ 1 deleted with *] 31483 A MT410 2426Runout, side 1
POL 831483 B2 MT410 2426Runout, side 2
831483-1 S ALabel, side 1
831483-1 S BLabel, side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | France | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor POLD 5209 / Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Israel | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Portugal | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Portugal | Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Spain | Polydor 831 483-1 / Polydor 831 483 - 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Polydor POLD 5209 / Polydor 831 483-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Korea | Polydor 831 483-1 / Sung Eum Limited SEL-RG1066LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
11 vinyl pressings of Face To Face are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1987 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in Germany, UK, France, Greece and more. One of them is Polydor 831 483-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 831 483-1, POLD 5209) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 831 483 - 1 S 1 320 V 1 and 831 483 - 1 S 2 320 1 X. 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.
