Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1984
Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody 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.
31 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 8 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.
MPO 7 BONG 7E A1x YOU'RE JOKING. NO I'M NOT JOKING! TYSide A, variant 1
MPO 7 BONG 7E AA1x IT'S CHAOTIC. IT'S BLUE MURDER. timtomSide AA, variant 1
MPO 7 BONG 7E A1x YOU'RE JOKING. NO I'M NOT JOKING! TYSide A, variant 2
MPO 7 BONG 7E AA1x IT'S CHAOTIC. IT'S BLUE timtom MURDERSide AA, variant 2
12 BONG 7 A1 timtom MPORunout, A-side
12 BONG 7 B1 TY MPORunout, B-side
7 BONG 7 A1 Tim Tom M̶P̶O̶Side A
7 BONG 7 AA1 Ty M̶P̶O̶Side AA
MPO 12BONG 7 A1 TIMTOMRunout side A, variant 1
TY MPO 12BONG 7 B1Runout side B, variant 1
MPO 12BONG 7 A1 TIMTOM A 84 - 11Runout side A, variant 2
TY MPO 12BONG 7 B1 A 84 - 11Runout side B, variant 2
7 BONG 7 A1 Tim Tom MPOSide A, variant 1
7 BONG 7 AA1 Ty MPOSide AA, variant 1
7 BONG 7 A1 ✓ Tim Tom MPOSide A, variant 2
7 BONG 7 AA1 Ty MPOSide AA, variant 2
12 BONG 7A timtomA side runout, etched
12 BONG 7B TYB side runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | France | Mute 102019 / Vogue 102019First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP |
| 1984 | France | Mute 102020 / Vogue 102020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | France | Vogue 311121 / Mute 311121First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | France | Mute 102019 / Vogue 102019First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | Mute 102020 / Vogue 102020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | France | Vogue 311121 / Mute 311121First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | Germany | Mute INT 111.824 / Mute 7 Bong 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Mute INT 126.839 / Mute 12 Bong 7First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Germany | Mute INT 111.824 / Mute 7 Bong 77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Ireland | Mute 7 BONG 7 EFirst year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1984 | Philippines | New York Records OC-EP-17034 / Mute 12 BONG 7First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | Mute 7 BONG 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | Mute 12 BONG 7First year12", 45 RPM, 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 45 RPM, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1984 | Spain | RCA Victor SPBO-7475 / Mute SPBO-7475First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Spain | RCA Victor SPCO-7474 / Mute SPCO-7474First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 126.839 / Mute 12 Bong 712", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Mute 12 BONG 712", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
48 vinyl pressings of Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1984 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Germany, Ireland and more. One of them is Mute 7 BONG 7 E, released October 29, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7 BONG 7 E, 12 BONG 7, 7 BONG 7, PRO-A-2271) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MPO 7 BONG 7E A1x YOU'RE JOKING. NO I'M NOT JOKING! TY and MPO 7 BONG 7E AA1x IT'S CHAOTIC. IT'S BLUE MURDER. timtom. 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.
