Vinyl pressings
by Bathory · 1985
The Return...... was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
4 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 3 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.
BMLP 666 II A AD 850828 PD-CR [666 pyramid style]Side A, runout
BMLP 666 II B AD 850828 PD-CRSide B, runout
BMLP 666 II A AD 850828 PD-CR [666 in pyramid shape]Side Darkness
BMLP 666 II B AD 850828 PD-CRSide Evil
A- MX·A MX8041ASide A
A- ·BMX8041ASide B
BRC-1955A SNB 230 EL CRSide A runout, etched; "CR", circled/stamped
BRC-1955B THAT SIDE SNB 230 EL CRSide B runout, etched; "CR", circled/stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Canada | Banzai Records BRC 1955First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Combat MX 8041First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Combat MX 8041LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Sweden | Black Mark Label BMLP 666-2 / Black Mark Label BMLP 666-IIFirst yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1985 | Sweden | Black Mark Label BMLP 666-2 / Black Mark Label BMLP 666-IIFirst yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1987 | UK | Under One Flag FLAG 9LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Under One Flag FLAG 9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Under One Flag Flag 9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Under One Flag FLAG 9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Brazil | Not On LabelLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP 666-2 / Black Mark Production BMLP666-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2003 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP 666-2 / Black Mark Production BMLP666-2LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2003 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP 666-2LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2007 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP 666-2LP, Album, Reissue, Picture Disc, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Reissue, Picture Disc, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP 666-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2012 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP6662LP, Album, Repress, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMLP666-2LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2014 | Sweden | Black Mark Production BMPD6662LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Asia | Black Mark Production BMLP-666-IILP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Asia | Black Mark Production BMLP-666-IILP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2022 | Brazil | Mutilation Records MUTP367 / Mutilation Productions MUTP367LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | UK & Europe | Black Mark Production BMLP666-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Bathory RecordsLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Limited Edition · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Limited Edition · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc |
23 vinyl pressings of The Return...... are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1985 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in Sweden, US, Canada. One of them is Black Mark Label BMLP 666-2, released May 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BMLP 666-2, MX 8041, BRC 1955) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BMLP 666 II A AD 850828 PD-CR [666 pyramid style] and BMLP 666 II B AD 850828 PD-CR. 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.
