Vinyl pressings
by Barclay James Harvest · 1984
Victims Of Circumstance was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 9 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.
00 817950-1S1 POLD 5135 A⃥ ⃥ ⃥//2⃥ ⃥ ▽420 H 2Runout, side A, stamped, variant 1
00 817950-1.S2.2 POLD 5135 B⃥//2⃥ ▽420 H LET-OP DREMPELSRunout, side B, stamped/etched, variant 1
[not entered]Runout, side A, variant 2
00 817950- S2.2 POLD 5135 B//2 ▽420 HRunout, side B, variant 2
00 817950-1S1.2 POLD 5135 B//2 420 HSide A [Stamped]
00 817950-1.S2. POLD 5135 B//1 ▽420 HSide B [Stamped]
LET-OP DREMPELSSide B, [Etched]
POLD 5135 A // 1 ∇ 420 HA-side runout stamped
POLD 5135 B // 1 ∇ 420 HB-side runout stamped
LET OP- DREMPELSB-side runout etched
POLD 5135 A // 1 ∇ 420 H 12 1A-side runout stamped Variant 2
P O L 5 1 3 5 A / 3 ∇ 4 2 0 POLYGRAM I.M. 0479501Stamped side A
P O L 5 1 3 5 B / 3 ∇ 4 2 0 LET OP - DREMPELS ! POLYGRAM I.M. 0479501 2Stamped side B
817 950-1 1Label side A
817 950-1 2Label side B
POLYGRAM I.M. 8 17951 1 P O L D 5 1 3 5 A // 3 ∇ 4 2 0 H 1 A7side A
POLYGRAM I.M. 8 17951 2 P O L D 5 1 3 5 B // 3 ∇ 4 2 0 H LET OP- DREMPELS ! 2 B 12 A7side B
POLYGRAM I.M. 81799501 / POLD 5135 A//3∇420 H A7Stamped runout, side A
POLYGRAM I.M. 00 81799501 2 POLD 5135 B//3∇420 H LET OP-DREMPELS ! A6Stamped runout, side B
POLYGRAM I.M. 81799501 / POLD 5135 A//3∇420 H 1 A15Stamped runout, side A
POLYGRAM I.M. 81799501 2 POLD 5135 B//3∇420 H LET OP-DREMPELS ! 2 B12Stamped runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | France | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 32 192-7LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 40 849 2LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Polydor 817950-1 / Polydor 817950/1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Greece | Polydor 817950-1 / Polydor 817950/1LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Japan | Polydor 28MM 0362First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Portugal | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | South Korea | Polydor SEL-RG709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Spain | Polydor 817 950-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Polydor POLD 5135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
15 vinyl pressings of Victims Of Circumstance are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in Germany, UK, France, Greece and more. One of them is Polydor 817 950-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 817 950-1, POLD 5135, 817950-1, 28MM 0362) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 00 817950-1S1 POLD 5135 A⃥ ⃥ ⃥//2⃥ ⃥ ▽420 H 2 and 00 817950-1.S2.2 POLD 5135 B⃥//2⃥ ▽420 H LET-OP DREMPELS. 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.
