Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1984
People Are People 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.
67 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 18 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 12 BONG 5 A1 Anyway Amigo, You're Going To DIE !!!Runout side A, variant 1
MPO 12 BONG 5 B1 PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up]Runout side B, variant 1
MPO 12 BONG 5 A1 Anyway Amigo, You're Going To DIE !!! BRunout side A, variant 2
MPO 12 BONG 5 B1 PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up] BRunout side B, variant 2
7 BONG 5 A1 TimTom • CBS TOAST HAWAII - COMINGSOON! MPORunout side A
7 BONG 5 B1 IT’S JUS IT, IT’S JUST AQUES, A QUESTION OF COPYING. MPORunout side B
12 Bong 5A Hm MVS8 ANYWAY, AMIGO - YOUR'E GOING TO DIE !!!!Runout, Etched, Side A Variation 1
12 Bong 5B Hm PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up]Runout, Etched, Side B Variation 1
12 Bong 5A Hm ANYWAY, AMIGO - YOUR'E GOING TO DIE !!!!Runout, Etched, Side A Variation 2
12 Bong 5B Hm MVS S14 PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up]Runout, Etched, Side B Variation 2
7 BONG 5 A1 RW TimTom TOAST HAWAII - COMING SOON!Runout side A (variant 1)
7 BONG 5B GL 3 IT’S JUST IT, IT’S JUST A QUES, A QUESTION OF COPYING.Runout side B (variant 1)
7 BONG 5 A1 RW TimTom TOAST HAWAII - COMING SOON!Runout side A (variant 2)
7 BONG 5B GL 3 IT’S JUST IT, IT’S JUST A QUES, A QUESTION OF COPYING. S-32Runout side B (variant 2)
MPO 12 BONG 5 A1 Anyway Amigo, You're Going To DIE !!!Side A etched runout
MPO 12 BONG 5 B1 PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up]Side B etched runout
7 BONG 5 A. RW TOAST HAWAII - COMING SOON! S - 28Side A, on runout, hand-etched
7 BONG 5B GL 3 IT’S JUST IT, IT’S JUST A QUES, A QUESTION OF COPYING S - 26Side B, on runout, hand-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 | Australia | Powderworks POWT 0197 / Mute POWT 0197First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 92217 / Mute 92 92217First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 02140 / Mute 92 02140First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 92217 / Mute 92 92217First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 92217 / Mute 92 92217First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 02140 / Mute 92 02140First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 02140 / Mute 92 02140First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 02140 / Mute 92 02140First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 02140 / Mute 92 02140First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 92217 / Mute 92 92217First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 92217 / Mute 92 92217First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1984 | El Salvador | RCA RUS 111First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | France | Mute 101897First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | Vogue 311057 / Mute 311057First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Special Edition · Limited | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Special Edition · Limited |
| 1984 | France | Vogue 311046 / Mute 311046First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 126.820 / Mute 12 Bong 512", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress |
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 126.821 / Mute L 12 BONG 512", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Special Edition | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Special Edition |
| 1992 | Germany | Mute INT 126.821 / Mute L 12 BONG 512", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Special Edition | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Poland | B+H Records PUR 000743Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Limited | Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Limited |
| ? | Russia | буд кон Д60 5826Flexi-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 7 BONG 57", Single, White Label | 7", Single, White Label |
| ? | US | Sire 0-20214 / Sire 9 20214-0 A12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| ? | US | Sire 0-20214 / Sire 9 20214-0 A12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress |
83 vinyl pressings of People Are People are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1984 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Germany, Portugal and more. One of them is Mute 12 BONG 5, released March 12, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 12 BONG 5, 7 BONG 5, L12 BONG 5, 7-29221) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MPO 12 BONG 5 A1 Anyway Amigo, You're Going To DIE !!! and MPO 12 BONG 5 B1 PEOPLE [thumb up] PEOPLE [thumb up]. 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.
