Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1987
Music For The Masses 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.
43 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 20 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.
✳ Stumm-47 - A-1 ✳ z MT.1 The Exchange L 19137 ①Runout side A, variant 1
✳ Stumm-47 - B-1 ✳ MT.1 o L Jonz L.19138 ①Runout side B, variant 1
12 BONG-13A₁ PAG JONZ HMV 1 A MUSIC FOR THE MASSES VOLUME 1Runout side C, variant 1, 2
12 BONG-14A₁ PAG. THE EXCHANGE HMV 1B MIXED BY THE SLOBRunout side D, variant 1, 2
STUMM 47 A1 X MPO THE EXCHANGE CORBY YOU'RE SO JAZZRunout side A, etched, variant 1
STUMM 47 B1 MPO JONZRunout side B, etched, variant 1
STUMM 47 A1 MPO THE EXCHANGE CORBY ' YOU'RE SO JAZZRunout side A, etched, variant 2
STUMM 47 B1 ˣ MPO JONZRunout side B, etched, variant 2
Stumm-47 A1 X MPO The Exchange Corby You're So JazzA
Stumm-47 B1 X MPO JonzB
MPO STUMM - 47 A¹
MPO STUMM - 47 B¹
✳ Stumm-47 - A-1 ✳ z MT.1 The Exchange L 19137 ①Side A, etched, variant 1
✳ Stumm-47 - B-1 ✳ MT.1 o L Jonz L.19138 ①Side B, etched, variant 1
✳Stumm-47 - A-1 ✳ H MT.1 L 19137 ①Side A, etched, variant 2
✳ Stumm-47 - B-1 ✳ MT.1 ①Side B, etched, variant 2
✳ Stumm-47 - A-1 ✳ 3 MT The Exchange DamontRunout side A, etched, variant 1
✳ Stumm-47 - B-1 ✳ MT 2 JONZ DAMONTRunout side B, etched, variant 1
✳ STUMM-47 - A-1 ✳ D MT.1 THE EXCHANGERunout side A, etched, variant 2
✳ STUMM-47 - B-1 ✳ MT.1 JONZ △Runout side B, etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Belgium | Mute STUMM 47 / Mute STUMM 46047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | Mute 670.4038 / Mute 000118First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56141 / Mute 92 56141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56141 / Mute 92 56141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56141 / Mute 92 56141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56141 / Mute 92 56141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56141 / Mute 92 56141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | Mute INT 146.833LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1987 | Hungary | Gong SLPXL 37209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Ireland | Mute STUMM 47First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Israel | Mute STUM 47-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Mute STUMM 47 / Ricordi STUMM 47First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Mute STUMM 47First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1987 | Portugal | Mute 602452 / Edisom 602452First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | South Africa | Mute MUT 2008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 146.833 / Mute Stumm 47LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | Australia | Liberation Records L 30438 / Mute L 30438LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Argentina | ABR Discos TI 896LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1992 | Germany | Mute INT 146.833 / Mute Stumm 47LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Europe | Mute DMLP6 / Mute 0094635842616LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2008 | USA & Canada | RhIno Records WBA1-233916 / Sire WBA1-233916LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | UK | Mute STUMM 47PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP942 / Mute STUMM47LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 2014 | US | Rhino Records R1 233916 / 081227960810 / Sire R1 233916 / 081227960810LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2014 | USA & Canada | Rhino Records 1-233916 / Sire 1-233916LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2016 | Europe | Mute STUMM47 / Sony Music 88985336731LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | Europe | Mute STUMM47 / Sony Music 88985336731LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Mute 19802841121 / Columbia 19802841121LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Mute INT 146.833 / Mute Stumm 47LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Greece | Virgin VG 50303 / Mute STNMM-47LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | South Africa | David Gresham Records MUT 2008 / Mute MUT 2008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Mute STUMM 47 / Sanni Records STUMM 47LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Spain | Mute STUMM 47 / Sanni Records STUMM 47LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 47LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 47LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Rhino Records 1-233916 / Sire 1-233916LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
83 vinyl pressings of Music For The Masses are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1987 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Germany, Belgium and more. One of them is Mute STUMM 47, released September 28, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STUMM 47, 1-25614, INT 146.833, 70536) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ✳ Stumm-47 - A-1 ✳ z MT.1 The Exchange L 19137 ① and ✳ Stumm-47 - B-1 ✳ MT.1 o L Jonz L.19138 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.
