Vinyl pressings
by Deep Purple · 1987
The House Of Blue Light was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 26 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.
422-831-3181-A POLH-32-A.2 MT. 11 9Variant 1 - runout side A, etched/stamped
422-831-3181-B POLH-32-B2 11 3Variant 1 - runout side B, etched/stamped
422-831-3181-A POLH-32-A-1 MT. 1Variant 2 - runout side A, etched/stamped
422-831-3181-1 POLH-32-B-1 MT. 4Variant 2 - runout side B, etched/stamped
422831 318-1-AS-RCA-1 STERLING A1Side A
422 831 318-1-BS-CRP-C G2 STERLING A2Side B
422831 318-1-AS-SR1 1-1 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A
422831 318-1-BS-SR1 1-2 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B
▻ 422831-318-1-AS-HRM STERLING B-2Side A runout, variant 1
▻ 422831 318-1-BS-HRM 1 B-Side B runout, variant 1
▻ 422 831-318-1-AS-HRM 1 STERLING B-Side A runout, variant 2
▻ 422831 318-1-BS-HRM 1 B-Side B runout, variant 2
STERLINGRunout, side A & B, stamped
422831 318-1-AS- RCA 1Runout, side A, etched
422831 318-1-B['S' scratched over]- CRA - CRunout, side B, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Argentina | Polydor 29022 / Polydor 831318-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Argentina | Polydor 29022 / Polydor 831318-1First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Australasia | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Colombia | Mercury 831 318-4First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Europe | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Finland | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 831 318-1 YFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 831 318-1 YLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1987 | Hungary | Gong SLPXL 37119 / Polydor SLPXL 37119First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Israel | Polydor 831318-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Polydor 831 318-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 11 0266-1311LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1990 | Spain | Polydor 424 630-1 / Polydor 831 318-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия С60 27357 004LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия C60 27357 004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия C60 27357 004LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия C60 27357 004LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Polydor 0600753635889 / Universal Music Catalogue 0600753635889LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Mercury 831 318-1 M-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
67 vinyl pressings of The House Of Blue Light are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1987 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Germany, Japan and more. One of them is Polydor POLH 32.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLH 32, 422 831-318-1 M-1, 422 831 318-1M-1, 831 318-1 M-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 422-831-3181-A POLH-32-A.2 MT. 11 9 and 422-831-3181-B POLH-32-B2 11 3. 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.
