Vinyl pressings
by Culture Club · 1982
Kissing To Be Clever was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
36 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 19 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.
V 2232 A-1U-1-1- timtom cbsside A stamped and etched - variant 1
V 2232 B-2U-1-1- TYside B stamped and etched - variant 1
V 2232 A-1U-1-1- 2 11 timtom-cbsside A stamped and etched - variant 2
V 2232 B-2U-1-1- TYside B stamped and etched - variant 2
V-2232-A2 POUNDA TA1PE ASide A runout, variant 1
A V-2232-B2 POUNDA FOR JULIE!Side B runout, variant 1
V-2232-A1 D POUNDA TA1PE A 1Side A runout, variant 2
A V-2232-B1 2 POUNDA FOR JULIE!Side B runout, variant 2
V-2232-A2 POUNDA TA1PESide A runout, variant 1
V-2232-B3 TOWN HOUSESide B runout, variant 1
V-2232-A2 POUNDA TA1PE DD DSide A runout, variant 2
V-2232-B3 1 C TOWN HOUSE ⋀Side B runout, variant 2
V 2232 A-1U-1-2-11 timtom.cbsSide A runout
V 2232 B-2U-1-1- TYSide B runout
VP + 2232 + A TOWNHOUSE ORLAKEA Side Runout
VP + 2232 + B2 TOWNHOUSE ORLAKEB Side Runout
G1 P AL 38398-2A COLUMBIA NY 2BA side runout variant 1
G1 P BL38398-1C COLUMBIA NY 2DB side runout variant 1
G1 P AL 38398-2A COLUMBIA NY C5A side runout variant 2
G1 P BL 38398-2A COLUMBIA NY B3B side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Virgin V 2232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia | Virgin V 2232 / Virgin V2232First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VL 2248First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VM 2248First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VL 2248LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VL 2248First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VL 2248First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Virgin VL 2248First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | Virgin 204 958 / Virgin 204 958-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Finland | Virgin V2232 / Virgin V 2232First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | France | Virgin 204 958 / Virgin 204.958First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Virgin 204 958 / Virgin 204.958First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Hong Kong | Virgin V 2232 RPFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Hong Kong | Virgin V 2232 RPFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Israel | Virgin BAN 2232 / Virgin V 2232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1596 / Universal Music Group MOVLP1596LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1596 / Universal Music Group MOVLP1596LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Worldwide | EMI 5882717LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Virgin VL 2248LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Virgin VL 2248LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (Culture Club) 592LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Epic FE 38398 / Virgin FE 38398LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic FE 38398 / Virgin AL 38398LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
69 vinyl pressings of Kissing To Be Clever are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1982 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Japan, New Zealand and more. One of them is Virgin V 2232, released September 24, 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2232, VP2232, ARE 38398, VIL-6008) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2232 A-1U-1-1- timtom cbs and V 2232 B-2U-1-1- TY. 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.
