Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1981
Speak & Spell was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 14 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-5·A-3 * EG. JA TAPE OneRunout side A, variant 1
* STUMM-5·B-3 * EG. JA TAPE OneRunout side B, variant 1
* STUMM-5·A-3 * EG. ( ) - - ( ) JA TAPE OneRunout side A, variant 2
* STUMM-5·B-3 ( ) * EG. JA TAPE One ( )Runout side B, variant 2
STUmm 5 A1 JA TAPE ONE GGRunout side A
STumm 5 B3 GG JA TAPE ONERunout side B
STUMM 5 A1 TAPE One GGRunout etching side A
STUMM 5 B3 TAPE One G GRunout etching side B
SRK-1-3642-RE1-LW1 • ✲Side A - runout, variant 1
SRK-2-3642-RE1-LW2 • ✲Side B - runout, variant 1
SRK·1·3642·RE1·LW1Side A - runout, variant 2
SRK·2·3642·RE1·LW4Side B - runout, variant 2
SRK·1·3642·RE1·WW1 -------◁Side A runout, etched, variant 1
SRK·2·3642·RE1·WW1 #2 -------◁Side B runout, etched, variant 1
SRK·1·3642·RE1·WW1 -------◁Side A runout, etched, variant 2
SRK·2·3642·RE1·WW1 -------◁Side B runout, etched, variant 2
SRK-1-3642 RE1 JW2Side A runout, variant 1
SRK 2 3642 RE1 JW2Side B runout, variant 1
SPK-1-3642-RE1. JW2 #1 0Side A runout, variant 2
SPK.2-3642-RE1. JW2 #1 0Side B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Mute POW 6012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Sire XSR 3642First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Sire XSR 3642First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Sire XSR 3642First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Sire XSR 3642First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Mute 540016 / Vogue 540016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Mute 540016 / Vogue 540016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Mute 540016 / Vogue 540016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Mute 27 950-5 / Mute Stumm 5LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1981 | Germany | Mute Stumm 5 / Mute INT 146.801LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Ireland | Mute STUMM 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Mute STUMM 5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Mute STUMM 5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Mute POW 6012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Philippines | New York Records NYR-4455 / Mute STUMM 5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Australia | Liberation Records L30434 / Mute L30434LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 146.801 / Mute Stumm 5LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1990 | Mexico | Sire LGEB-7011 / Reprise Records LGEB-7011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Argentina | ABR Discos TI 875 / Mute TI 875LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Argentina | ABR Discos TI 875 / Mute TI 875LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1991 | Brazil | Mute 670.9312 / Mute 01265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Sweden | Mute STUMM-5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1992 | Guatemala | ToCo International 656 669-1 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Rhino Records 1-234236 / Reprise Records 1-234236LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2007 | Europe | Mute DMLP1 / Mute 0094635797916LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP948 / Mute STUMM5LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2014 | US | Reprise Records 1-234236 / Sire 1-234236LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | Europe | Mute STUMM5 / Sony Music 88985329991LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | Europe | Mute STUMM5 / Sony Music 88985329991LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Columbia 19802887691 / Mute 19802887691LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Mute STUMMP 5LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | Possum Records STUMM 5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue |
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | Possum Records STUMM 5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | Possum Music STUMM 5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Europe | Mute STUMM5 / Sony Music 88985329991LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| ? | France | Mute 540016 / Vogue 540016LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Mute ORL 9208LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Russia | Mute INT 146.801 / Mute Stumm 5LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | Sanni Records STUMM 5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Sanni Records STUMM 5 / Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Mute STUMM 5 / Sanni Records STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
100 vinyl pressings of Speak & Spell are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1981 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Germany, Australia and more. One of them is Mute STUMM 5, released November 6, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STUMM 5, SRK 3642, INT 146.801, POW 6012) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, * STUMM-5·A-3 * EG. JA TAPE One and * STUMM-5·B-3 * EG. JA TAPE One. 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.
