Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1987
Never Let Me Down Again 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.
55 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 16 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.
②x ONLY JOKING M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 A Commercial A THE EXCHANGE L18923 DAMONTHandwritten etchings Side A
L18924 DAMONT I'M GOIN' INTO ME SHELL. ①X M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 B1 4 JONZHandwritten etchings Side B
12 BONG-14 A1 PAG The Exchange Damont "Mixed By The Slob"Runout side A, etched, variant 1
12 BONG-14 B1 PAG Damont "Gone Fishing"Runout side B, etched variant 1
12 BONG-14 A1 PAG The Exchange "Mixed By The Slob"Runout side A, etched, variant 2
12 BONG-14 B1 PAG "Gone Fishing"Runout side B, etched, variant 2
L-12 BONG º14 A1 PAG The ExchangeRunout side A, variant 1
L-12 BONG 14 B1 PAG JONZ FRunout side B, variant 1
L-12 BONG 14 A1 PAG THE EXCHANGE BRunout side A, variant 2
L-12 BONG 14 B1 PAG JONZ BRunout side B, variant 2
ONLY JOKING M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 A Commercial THE EXCHANGE DAMONTSide A runout, variant 1
DAMONT I'M GOIN' INTO ME SHELL. G M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 B1 JONZSide B runout, variant 1
① ONLY JOKING M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 A Commercial THE EXCHANGE DAMONTSide A runout, variant 2
DAMONT I'M GOIN' INTO ME SHELL. U M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 B1 JONZSide B runout, variant 2
L-12 BONG 14 A PAG The Exchange A
L-12 BONG 14 B PAG JONZ A
L-12 BONG 14 A1 PAG THE EXCHANGE KRunout side A
L-12 BONG 14 B1 PAG JONZ FRunout side B
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 BONG 1246014 / Mute 12 BONG 14First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Belgium | Mute BONG 46014 / Mute BONG 14First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 07830 / Mute 92 07830First year12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM | 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 81897 / Mute 92 81897First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 81897 / Mute 92 81897First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 81897 / Mute 92 81897First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 07830 / Mute 92 07830First year12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM | 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM |
| 1987 | France | Mute 80323 / Virgin 80323First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | France | Mute 80330 / Virgin 80330First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1987 | Greece | Mute 7 BONG 147", 16 ⅔ RPM, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | 7", 16 ⅔ RPM, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 1987 | Ireland | Mute 12 BONG 14First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Ireland | Mute BONG 14First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Philippines | New York Records OC-EP-17168 / Mute L12 BONG 14First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Scandinavia | Mute L12 BONG 14First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1987 | Scandinavia | Mute 12 BONG 14First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 126.869 / Mute L12 Bong 1412", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Mute 1047477", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Canada | Sire 92 07830 / Mute 92 0783012", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue |
| ? | Russia | буд кон Д60 5866Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono | Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono |
| ? | UK | Mute L12 BONG 1412", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited |
67 vinyl pressings of Never Let Me Down Again are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1987 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, France, Germany and more. One of them is Mute BONG 14, released August 24, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BONG 14, 12 BONG 14, L12 BONG 14, P12 BONG 14) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ②x ONLY JOKING M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 A Commercial A THE EXCHANGE L18923 DAMONT and L18924 DAMONT I'M GOIN' INTO ME SHELL. ①X M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 B1 4 JONZ. 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.
