Vinyl pressings
by Bauhaus · 1982
The Sky's Gone Out was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. 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 1982, 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.
BEGA 42 'WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR" FI W-L W-27Etchings Side A variant 1
BEGA 42 B1 "A-WHENIT IS A DUCASSE" FI W-LEtchings Side B variant 1
'WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR" BEGA 42 A1 W-L W-540Etchings Side A variant 2
"A-WHENIT IS A DUCASSE" BEGA 42 B1 W-L W-3"Etchings Side B variant 2
BEGA 42 A1-1 WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR LB W-LSide A runout, variant 1
BEGA 42 B1-2-1 A-WHEN IT IS A DUCASSE LB W-LSide B runout, variant 1
Bega 42 A1 WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR LB W-LSide A runout, variant 2
Bega 42 B1 A-WHEN IT IS A DUCASSE LB W-LSide B runout, variant 2
AM SP 04918-A RCA 1. ⚇Variant 2 side A runout [etched]
AM SP 04918-B RCA 3.. ^⚇^Variant 2 side B runout [etched]
AM SP 04918-A RCA 1. ⚇ I A1 HVariant 3 side A runout [etched, stamped]
AM SP 04918-B RCA 3. ^⚇^ I A1 HVariant 3 side B runout [etched, stamped]
AM SP 04918-A ES 1Side A, variant 1
AM SP 04918-B ES 1Side B, variant 1
AM SP 04918-A ES 1. ⚇ III EMW IISide A, variant 2
AM SP 04918-B ES 1. ⚇ EMWSide B, variant 2
656.041-A WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR FOONSide A, Etched
656.041-B1 A - WHEN IT IS A DU CASSESide B, Etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Powderworks POW 6047 / Beggars Banquet POW 6047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Virgin 201968First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Greece | PolyGram 58000 / PolyGram 58.000First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Greece | PolyGram 58000LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1982 | Portugal | Beggars Banquet 613805 / Virgin 613805First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA42First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1982 | US | A&M Records SP-4918 / Beggars BanquetFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | A&M Records SP-4918 / Beggars Banquet SP-4918First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | Beggars Banquet 656.041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 42First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 42First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Vertigo VOGX-1-3326 / Beggars Banquet VOGX-1-3326LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Europe | Virgin 205 553-320 / Beggars Banquet 205 553LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Germany | Virgin 205 553-320 / Virgin 205 553LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | Virgin VIL-6053 / Virgin VIRG-6053LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M511LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | UK | Beggars Banquet BBQ 2097 LPXLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Beggars Banquet BBQLP2097LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
25 vinyl pressings of The Sky's Gone Out are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1982 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Europe, Australia and more. One of them is Beggars Banquet BEGA 42, released October 22, 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BEGA 42, BEGA42, SP-4918, 656.041) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BEGA 42 'WHEN IS A DOOR NOT A DOOR" FI W-L W-27 and BEGA 42 B1 "A-WHENIT IS A DUCASSE" FI W-L. 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.
