Vinyl pressings
by Chris de Burgh · 1988
Flying Colours was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 16 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.
395224-1 S1 B1Runout A, stamped, variant 1
395224-1 S2-2 A0Runout B, stamped, variant 1
395224-1 S1 2 ◡◡Runout A, stamped, variant 5
395224-1 S2 2 ◡◡Runout B, stamped, variant 5
397 002 - 1 S 1 320Side A
397 002 - 1 S 2 320Side B
395224-1 S1 TIMTOM 2 BURunout side A, variant 1
395224-1 S2 TY 2 DPRunout side B, variant 1
395224-1 S1 TImTom 2 CSRunout side A, variant 2
395224-1 S2-2 TY 1 C0Runout side B, variant 2
AMA 5224 A - 2U - 1 - 1 TY1 020 C - 4515 A-2Side A runout, variant 1
AMA 5224 B - 1U - 1 - 1 TY1 020 C - 4515 B-1Side B runout, variant 1
AMA 5224 A - 2U - 1 - 1 TY1 020 C - 4515 A-2 IISide A runout, variant 2
AMA 5224 B - 2U - 1 - 1 TY1 020 C - 4515 B-2Side B runout, variant 2
AMA 5224 A-2U-1-2 TY1Side A runout
AMA 5224 B-3U-1-1 TY1Side B runout
AMA 5224 A-2U-1-2 TY1Side A runout, variant 2
AMA 5224 B-2U-1-4 TY1Side B runout, variant 2
AMA 5224 A - 2U - 1 - 2 TY1Side A runout variant 1
AMA 5224 B - 3U - 1 - 1 TY1Side B runout variant 1
AMA 5224 A-2U-1-2 TY1Side A runout variant 2
AMA 5224 B-1U-1-1 TY1Side B runout variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | A&M Records TVL 93289First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Barbados | A&M Records AMA 5224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | A&M Records 395 224-1 / Polydor 395 224-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | A&M Records SP-505224LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Canada | A&M Records SP 5224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | A&M Records 397002-1 / A&M Records AMA 5224First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1988 | Europe | A&M Records 60 411 6LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Europe | A&M Records 395224-1 / A&M Records AMA 5224First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin 395224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | A&M Records 395224-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | A&M Records 395224-1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | Hungary | Gong SLPXL 37291 / A&M Records SLPXL 37291First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Ireland | A&M Records AMA 5224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Portugal | A&M Records 395 224-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Africa | A&M Records AMLH65224First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
31 vinyl pressings of Flying Colours are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1988 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in Europe, UK, US, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records 395224-1, released October 3, 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 395224-1, 397002-1, AMA 5224, SP 5224) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 395224-1 S1 B1 and 395224-1 S2-2 A0. 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.
