Vinyl pressings
by David Sylvian · 1986
Gone To Earth 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.
12 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 9 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.
TOWNHOUSESide A and C, etched - all var
VDL 1 A-2U-1-5-1Side A, stamped - var.1
VDL 1 B-2U-1-1-1Side B, stamped - var.1
VDL 1 C-3U-1-1-1Side C, stamped - var.1
TOWNHOUSESide A only etched
VDL 1 A-2U-1-3-3 DSide A, stamped
VDL 1 B-2U-1-1-3-3 DSide B, stamped
VDL 1 C-6U-1-1-2 DM 302802 A-1/7-86Side C, stamped with German test pressing Matrix strikethrough
VDL 1 A-2U-1-1- x1 D TOWNHOUSEVariant 1 Side A runout
VDL 1 B-2U-1-1-x1 DVariant 1 Side B runout
VDL 1 C-2U-1-1- x1 D TOWNHOUSEVariant 1 Side C runout
VDL V̶B̶L̶ ̶ 1 D-2U-1-2-x1 DVariant 1 Side D runout
M6 353985 123901 A 2Runout side A, Stamped
M6 353931 2 123901 B 1Runout side B, Stamped
M6 359932 2 123902 A 1Runout side C, Stamped
M6 353933 2 123902 B 1Runout side D, Stamped
XL 302 801 A IN3 DMRunout, Side A, Etched, Variant 1 & 2
XL 302 801 B IN3 DMRunout, Side B, Etched, Variant 1
XL 302 801 B 2N3 DMRunout, Side B, Etched, Variant 2
XL 302 802 A IN3 DMRunout, Side C, Etched, Variant 1 & 2
VDL 1A 1S2 1 6-9Side A runout
VDL 1B 1S2Side B runout
VDL 1C 1S 5 6-9Side C runout
VDL 1D 1S 5Side D 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 | Virgin VD2393First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | Virgin 302 803 / Virgin 302 803-420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Germany | Virgin 302802LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | Greece | Virgin VG-50204/5 / Virgin VG 50204/5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Greece | Virgin VG-50204/5LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | Israel | Virgin VDLI 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Italy | Virgin VDLIFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | Virgin 20VB-1114.5First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | France | Virgin 123901First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Spain | Virgin XL-302803 / Virgin XL 302803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | UK | Virgin VDL1 / Virgin VDLIFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | UK | Virgin VDLIFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | UK | Virgin VDLIFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | Virgin 20VB-1114•15First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Virgin 7 90577-1 / Virgin 1-90577LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 679 533-7 / UMC 679 533-7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Unknown | Virgin EMI Records INTGDS00038LP / Integral INTGDS00038LPLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Virgin EMI Records 679 533-7LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Virgin VDLILP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
23 vinyl pressings of Gone To Earth are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1986 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, France, Spain, Japan and more. One of them is Virgin VDL1, released September 1, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VDL1, VDLI, 123901, XL-302803) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TOWNHOUSE and VDL 1 A-2U-1-5-1. 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.
