Vinyl pressings
by Black Uhuru · 1986
Brutal 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.
13 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 10 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.
RAS 3015-A MASTERED BY TRUTONE dGVariant 1 Runout A etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RAS 3015-B MASTERED BY TRUTONE dGVariant 1 Runout B etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RAS 3015-A dG MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUBVariant 2 Runout A
RAS 3015-B dG MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUBVariant 2 Runout B
RAS 3015-A dG MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUBSide A
RAS 3015-B dG MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUBSide B
RAS 3015-A MASTERED BY TRUTONE dGVariant 1 Runout A etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RAS 3015-B MASTERED BY TRUTONE dGVariant 1 Runout B etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RAS 3015-A MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUB dGVariant 2 Runout A etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RAS 3015-B dG MASTERED BY TRUTONE HUBVariant 2 Runout B etch; MASTERED BY TRUTONE stamp
RASL 004 A1 G CRSide A runout
RASL 004 B1 CRSide B runout
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 | Canada | Real Authentic Sound RASL 004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Finland | Polarvox RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | France | Blue Moon Productions BMD 109First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Germany | Bellaphon 260·07·088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Columbia YX-7386-AXFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | Columbia YX-7386-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Netherlands | Munich Records MR 119First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | New Zealand | Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | South Africa | Real Authentic Sound WIH 7034First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | UK | Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | France | Diggers Factory DIGLP008LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Jamaica | Thunder BoltLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | Thunder BoltLP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of Brutal are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1986 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, UK, Canada, Finland and more. One of them is Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RAS 3015, RASL 004, BMD 109, 260·07·088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RAS 3015-A MASTERED BY TRUTONE dG and RAS 3015-B MASTERED BY TRUTONE dG. 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.
