Vinyl pressings
by Black Sabbath · 1981
Mob Rules was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
40 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 22 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.
6302119 A//1▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) 1 1 4Side A
6302119 B//1▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) 1 1 4Side B
6302119 A//2▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) 1 1 2Side A, Variant 1
6302119 B//1▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) L 1 6Side B, Variant 1
BSK-1-3605-S1 + SLM+ + △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON B-16242-S1Runout Side A, variant 1
BSK-2-3605-S3 + SLM+ △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON B-16243-S3Runout Side B, variant 1
BSK-1-3605-S2 + SLM+ △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON B-16242-S2Runout Side A, variant 2
BSK-2-3605-S1 B-16243S1 TOWNHOUS LONDON + SLM+ △976-XRunout Side B, variant 2
BSK-1-3605-S3 SP TOWNHOUSE LONDON 0-/SM1-1SP SLM+ △976Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3605-S6 + SLM+ 0-1SM3-1 △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON SPSide B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3605-S6 + SP SLM+ △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON 0-1SM6-2Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3605-S6 + SLM+ 0-1SM1-4 △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON SPSide B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3605-S6 + SP SLM+ △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON MR Δ 25229Side 1 runout
BSK-2-3605-S4 + SP SLM+ △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON MR Δ 25229Side 2 runout
BSK-1-3605-S2 + SLM+ + △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON CAP.J.Side 1 (variant 1)
BSK-2-3605-S3 + SLM+ + △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON CAP.J.Side 2 (variant 1)
BSK-1-3605-S5#1 + SLM+ + △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDONSide 1 (variant 2)
BSK-2-3605-S3#1 + SLM+ + △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON CAP.J.Side 2 (variant 2)
BSK-1-3605-S5#2+ SLM + △976 TOWNHOUSE LONDON OSide A
BSK-2-3605-S4#1 + SLM + △976-X TOWNHOUSE LONDON OSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australasia | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australasia | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Vertigo 6302 119..53First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3605First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1981 | Greece | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Vertigo 6302 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Vertigo 25PP-36First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30851LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1995 | Russia | PolyGram 830 777-1 / Phonogram 830 777-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Italy | Earmark 41042LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2006 | Italy | Earmark 41042 PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| 2009 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 3605LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6302 119LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2021 | US | Rhino Records R1 599497 / Warner Records 603497850716LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP |
| 2021 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RPD1 3605 / Warner Records 603497845071LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2022 | Unknown | Rhino Records R1-599497 / Warner Records 603497850716LP, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo, LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo, LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2022 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT785DLP / BMG 4050538846850LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Vertigo 6302 119LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3605LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Vertigo 6302 119LP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Netherlands | Vertigo 6302 119LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Netherlands | Vertigo 6302 119LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (Black Sabbath) 164LP, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | Vertigo 6302 119 / Vertigo 63 02 119LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3605LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3605LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
76 vinyl pressings of Mob Rules are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1981 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, USA & Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Vertigo 6302 119, released October 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6302 119, BSK 3605, R13605, XBS 3605) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6302119 A//1▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) 1 1 4 and 6302119 B//1▽ETH TOWN HOUSE (pressed upside-down) 1 1 4. 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.
