Vinyl pressings
by Culture Club · 1984
Waking Up With The House On Fire was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
42 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 31 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 2330 A-1U-1-1- tim tom:cbsRunout side A, variant 1
V 2330 B-1U-1-2- TYRunout side B, variant 1
V 2330 A-1U-1-4- timtom:cbsRunout side A, variant 2
V 2330 B-1U-1-5- TYRunout side B, variant 2
VP2330A3 Tm 2 Tom GRAMPIANRunout, Etched, Side 1
VP2330B TY GRAMPIANRunout, Etched, Side 2
VP2330ADisc, Side 1
VP2330BDisc, Side 2
AL-39881-1M ✩ STERLING PSide A runout, variant 1
BL-39881-1A STERLING PSide B runout, variant 1
AL-39881-1F STERLING PSide A runout, variant 2
BL-39881-1V ✰ STERLING PSide B runout, variant 2
AL - 39881 - 1BB G1 STERLING A2Side A runout, variant 1
VL - 39881 - 1C G1 STERLING H18Side B runout, variant 1
AL-39881-1K G1 STERLING AIISide A runout, variant 2
BL-39881-1C G1 STERLING G9Side B runout, variant 2
V-2330-A 6S 15Side A runout
V-2330-B 6S 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | Virgin TLP-60105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia | Virgin V 2330First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Brazil | Virgin 104.8311First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Virgin VL 2313First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | El Salvador | Virgin VIL-03First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | El Salvador | Virgin VIL-03First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Virgin 206 700 / Virgin 206 700 -620First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | Virgin 70283 / Virgin 70 283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | Virgin 206 700LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Greece | Virgin VG 50090 / Virgin 062-VG 50090First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Virgin VG 50090First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1984 | Hong Kong | Virgin V 2330First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Iceland | Virgin V 2330 / Steinar V 2330First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Israel | Virgin V 2330First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | Virgin V 2330First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Kenya | Virgin V 2330LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Turkey | Relax 2009LP, Album | LP, Album |
50 vinyl pressings of Waking Up With The House On Fire are listed here, from 36 countries, released between 1984 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Virgin V 2330, released October 22, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2330, VP2330, OE 39881, 9E9-40005-S1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2330 A-1U-1-1- tim tom:cbs and V 2330 B-1U-1-2- 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.
