Vinyl pressings
by Black Sabbath · 1987
The Eternal Idol was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 9 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.
VERH 51-A 1 1Side 1 stamped. Variation1
VERH 51 B 11 6Side 2 stamped. Variation1
VERH 51-A 1 1 5Side 1 stamped. Variation2
VERH 51 B1 1 1Side 2 stamped. Variation2
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-A-SR2 1-1Variant 1 hand-etched side A
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-A-SR1 1-2Variant 1 hand-etched side B
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-A-SR2 1-1Variant 2 hand-etched side A
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-B-SR2 1-1Variant 2 hand-etched side B
1-25548-A-SH3 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29592-SH3 18753Runout side A, variant 1
1-25548-B-SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29592-SH2 18753-XRunout side B, variant 1
1-25548-A-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29592-SH1 ∆/8753 /-/Runout side A, variant 2
1-25548-B--SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29593-SH2 ∆18753-X /-/Runout side B, variant 2
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-A-SR2 1-1Side A [etched aside from stamped SRC logo]
[SRC looped 'S' logo] 1-25548-A-SR1 1-2Side B [etched aside from stamped SRC logo]
832 708-1AA-side
832 708-1BB-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australasia | Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 55481First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records W1-25548LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Europe | Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Spain | Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Vertigo VERH 51LP, Album, Test Pressing, Promo, White Label · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Promo, White Label · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25548-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25548First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25548-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25548LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25548-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 W1-25548LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25548-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25548First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | UK | Vertigo VERH 51 / Vertigo 832 708-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Japan | Vertigo 25PP-225First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Not On Label (Black Sabbath)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | BMG 964129121 / BMG 4099964129120LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Warner Records RCV1 25548 / Warner Records 603497819256LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Worldwide | BMG 964130831 / BMG 4099964130836LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | US | Warner Records R1 25548 / Warner Records 603497813629LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of The Eternal Idol are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1987 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Japan, Australasia and more. One of them is Vertigo VERH 51, released November 23, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VERH 51, 9 25548-1, 25PP-225, 832 708-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VERH 51-A 1 1 and VERH 51 B 11 6. 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.
