Vinyl pressings
by Beastie Boys · 1986
Licensed To Ill was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 17 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.
GET OFF MY BACK BBB P 45567-A AL 40238-1A - H MASTERDISK SBMA H SM0232 1ALC9variant #1 side A
WATCH YOUR BACK BL 40238-1C G1 MASTERDISK SMM G18variant #1 side B
GET OFF MY BICK BBB P 45567-A AL-40238-1A-D MASTERDISK SBMA42 SBM01 A1A11variant #3 side A
S13MA 3 SBMO3 CICA [above] WATCH YOUR BACK ↓ 45567-B BL-40238-1A G3variant #3 side B
GET OFF MY BICK BBB SBMA #1 4̶5̶5̶6̶7̶B̶ AL-40238-1A-I G1 MASTERDISK SBMA 1 [looks like "SBM 05" underneath] E2Runout variant 1 side A
WATCH YOUR BACK B4 SBMA [looks like SBM02 underneath] SBMA #1 45567-B BL-30238-1A-B G1Runout variant 1 side B
GET OFF MY BICK BBB 45567-A AL-40238-1A G4 MASTERDISK C 3 SBMA 4 SBM o 3Runout variant 2 side A
SBMA 3 SBM03 CIAS WATCH YOUR BACK ↓ 45567-B BL-40238-1A G3Runout variant 2 side B
Get off my DICK 666 AL-40238-1B D GI MASTERDISK DMMRunout variant #1 side A hand-etched
Watch your back ... BL-40238-1C GI MASTERDISK DMM K2Runout variant #1 side B hand-etched
GeT off My BACK 666 AL-40238-1B D GI MASTERDISK DMMRunout variant #2 side A hand-etched
S13MA 3 SBMOH WATCH YOUR BACK 45567-B BL-40238-1A G3 DIA14Runout variant #2 side B hand-etched
AL-40238 1B2HZ DMs 5Runout area side A, variant 1, [hand-etched + machine stamped "5"]
BL- 40238-1D2HZ DM 8Runout area side B, variant 1 [hand-etched + machine stamped "8"]
AL-40238 1B2HZ: DM- 4Runout area side A, variant 2, [hand-etched + machine stamped "4"]
BL- 40238-1D2HZ: DM 5Runout area side B, variant 2 [hand-etched + machine stamped "5"]
GeT off My BACK 666 AL-40238-1B D G1 MASTERDISK DMMSide A run out, etched
S13MA 3 SBMOH WATCH YOUR BACK 45567-B BL-40238-1A G3 DIA14Side B run out, etched
AL 40238Side A center label matrix
BL 40238Side B center label matrix
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Argentina | Discos CBS 120000865First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Argentina | Columbia 620.000.865First yearLP, Promo, Album · Promo | LP, Promo, Album · Promo |
| 1986 | Argentina | CBS 120.000.865First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | CBS 450062 1 / Def Jam Recordings 450062 1First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1986 | Brazil | Epic 144.930 / Epic 144930First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Colombia | CBS 142021First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | Colombia | CBS 142021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Costa Rica | CBS 1100976First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 450062 1 / Def Jam Recordings 450062 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 450062 1 / Def Jam Recordings 450062 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 450062 1 / CBS DEF 450062 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | Def Jam Recordings DEF 450062 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Israel | Def Jam Recordings 450062-1 / CBS 450062-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | Def Jam Recordings 28AP 3278First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Netherlands | Def Jam Recordings DEF 450062 1 / Def Jam Recordings DEFCL 32 580 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 527 351-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2005 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 9826893 / Def Jam Recordings 60249826893LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Italy | Not On Label (Beastie Boys) BEASTILL008LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Europe | Not On Label BEASTILL008LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | Europe | Not On Label BEASTILL008LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Europe | Not On Label (Beastie Boys) BEASTILL008LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Germany | Not On Label (Beastie Boys) LICENSEDBEASTILL008LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 06025 478 207-5 (4)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0024720-01 / UMe B0024720-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 06025 478 207-5 (4)LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0032443-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Unknown | Def Jam Recordings B0038097-01LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 2023 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 06025 478 207-5 (4)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0032443-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings B0038097-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2024 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0024720-01LP, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2024 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0038097-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Beastie Boys) BB-00LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Def Jam Recordings 06025 478 207-5 (4)LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 460949 1 / Columbia DEF 460949 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 00602547820754LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Def Jam Recordings 450062-PLP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | UK | Def Jam Recordings 450062 1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Not On Label BBOY001LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo |
80 vinyl pressings of Licensed To Ill are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1986 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong and more. One of them is Def Jam Recordings C 40238.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use C 40238, BFC 40238, FC 40238, BB1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, GET OFF MY BACK BBB P 45567-A AL 40238-1A - H MASTERDISK SBMA H SM0232 1ALC9 and WATCH YOUR BACK BL 40238-1C G1 MASTERDISK SMM G18. 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.
