Vinyl pressings
by Barclay James Harvest · 1981
Turn Of The Tide 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.
23 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
POLD 5040 A // 1 ∇ E 1 3 320Runout, A-side, variant 1
POLD 5040 B // 1 ∇ E 1 3 320Runout, B-side, variant 1
POLD 5040 A // 1∇E 13 320 6Runout, A-side, variant 2
POLD 5040 B // 1∇E 13 320 6Runout, B-side, variant 2
TOWNHOUSE POLDX 5040 A//1 ETHRunout, side A,
POL 160 2442189 1 380 POLYGRAM A64Runout side A variant 1 stamped
POL 160 2442189 2 380 POLYGRAM A37Runout side B variant 1 stamped
POL 160 2442189 1 380 POLYGRAM A43Runout side A variant 2 stamped
POL 160 2442189 2 380 POLYGRAM A30Runout side B variant 2 stamped
POL 160 2442189 1 380 POLYGRAM A64Side A runout Stamped, Variant 1
POL 160 2442189 2 380 POLYGRAM A37Side B runout Stamped, Variant 1
POL 160 2442189 1 380 POLYGRAM A14Side A runout Stamped, Variant 2
POL 160 2442189 2 380 POLYGRAM ASide B runout Stamped, Variant 2
POL 160 2442189 1 380 POLYGRAM A11Stamped, side A
POL 160 2442189 2 380 POLYGRAM A46Stamped, side B
2442 189 2442 189 1On label, side A
2442 189 2442 189 2On label, side B
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 | Austria | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | PolydorFirst yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Germany | Polydor 32 992 0First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Polydor 28MM 0046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Stunn STUNN 013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | South Africa | Polydor POLY 5533First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | Polydor 24 42 189First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 2220857 / Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Polydor 2383 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Polydor 2442 189First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2383 608LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
25 vinyl pressings of Turn Of The Tide are listed here, from 15 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, France, Germany and more. One of them is Polydor POLD 5040, released May 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLD 5040, POLDX 5040, 2383 608, 2442 189) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLD 5040 A // 1 ∇ E 1 3 320 and POLD 5040 B // 1 ∇ E 1 3 320. 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.
