Vinyl pressings
by Bryan Ferry · 1973
These Foolish Things was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 7 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.
ILPS 9249 A-1 LORunout side A stamped 1
ILPS 9249 B-1 GDHRunout side B stamped 1
ILPS 9249 A-1 LO 1Runout side A stamped 2
ILPS 9249 B-1 GDP 2Runout side B stamped 2
ILPS 9249 A-1Runout side A stamped, variant 1
ILSP 9249 B-1Runout side B stamped, variant 1
ILPS 9249 A-1 HA IRunout side A stamped, variant 2
ILSP 9249 B-1 HA 2Runout side B stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9249 A-1 LORunout, side A, variant 1
ILPS 9249 B-1 GDHRunout, side B, variant 1
ILPS 9249 A-1 ARunout, side A, variant 2
ILPS 9249 B-1 AGRunout, side B, variant 2
6499 679 1 380 CIDISRunout side A
6499 679 2 380 CIDISRunout side B
6499 679 1Label side A
6499 679 2Label side B
S 87 266 A-1 Made in GermanyRunout side A
S 87 266 B-1 Made in GermanyRunout side B
S 87 266 ALabel side A
S 87 266 BLabel side B
S 87266 A-1 Made in GermanySide A stamped
S 87266 B-1 Made in GermanySide B stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6499 679First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 87 266 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 87 266 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Island Records 87266 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Island Records 87266 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Island Records ILPS 9249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Sweden | Island Records ILPS 9249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Australia | Island Records L 35015 / Island Records L-35,015LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | Island Records 410.037LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | Atlantic SD 7304LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Spain | Polydor 23 10 507LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1339LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | EG 2310 507LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 9101LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1986 | Europe | EG 207 956 - 620LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | UK | EG EGLP 9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Japan | Virgin 25VB-1154 / EG 25VB-1154LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Worldwide | Virgin BFLP1 / UMC BFLP1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | UK | Virgin BFLP1b / UMC BFLP1bLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Atlantic SD 7304LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Atlantic SD 7304LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Polydor 2310 507LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 87 266 XOTLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Polydor 2310507LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | Island Records L 35015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9249LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Atlantic SD 7304LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
52 vinyl pressings of These Foolish Things are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, France, Germany, Italy and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9249, released September 28, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9249, 6499 679, 87 266 IT, ILPS 19249) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9249 A-1 LO and ILPS 9249 B-1 GDH. 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.
