Vinyl pressings
by Black Sabbath · 1983
Born Again was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 20 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.
VERL 8 A // 2 ∇ 420 H 1 1 1 0 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 1
VERL 8 B // 1 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
VERL 8 A // 1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 10 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2
VERL 8 B // 1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 9 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2
VERL 8 A // 2 ∇ 420 H 2Side A run-out stamped - TOWNHOUSE 0 [Inverted]
VERL 8 B // 1 ∇ 420 HSide B run-out stamped - TOWNHOUSE [Inverted]
VERL 8 A // 2 ∇ 420 H 1 1 1 TOWNHOUSE 0Side A runout stamped
VERL 8 B // 1 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSESide B runout stamped
VERL 8 A // 1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 6Runout Side A
VERL 8 B // 2 ∇ 420 H 1 1 4Runout Side B
1-23978-A-JW4-2 OSide A runout, variant 1
1-25978-B-JW2-2 OSide B runout, variant 1
1•23978•A•JW4-#2 OSide A runout, variant 2
1 23978 B JW2-#2 OSide B runout, variant 2
1 23978 A-WW4 #2 ----◄Side 1 (Variant 1)
1 25978 B WW3 ----◄Side 2 (Variant 1)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australasia | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Brazil | Vertigo 8142711 / Vertigo 814271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Finland | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1983 | France | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | France | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Germany | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Greece | Polygram 814 271-1 / Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Greece | Polygram 814 271-1 / Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1983 | Greece | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Guatemala | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Ireland | Vertigo VERL 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Israel | Vertigo VERL 8 / Phonokol 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Israel | Vertigo 814271-1 / Vertigo 814271-4First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Italy | Vertigo 814 271-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | Vertigo 25PP-101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Russia | Phonogram 814 271-1 / Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Italy | Earmark 41048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2006 | Italy | Earmark 41048 PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Germany | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Germany | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | South Korea | KA Stereo KA 785LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Vertigo 814 271-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records W1-23978LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-23978LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
60 vinyl pressings of Born Again are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1983 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Germany, Finland and more. One of them is Vertigo VERL 8.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VERL 8, VERL 8 814271-1, 1-23978, 9 23978-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VERL 8 A // 2 ∇ 420 H 1 1 1 0 TOWNHOUSE and VERL 8 B // 1 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSE. 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.
