Vinyl pressings
by Depeche Mode · 1987
Strangelove 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.
71 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 17 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.
7 BONG-13-A1. MT 4 EXCHANGE DAMONT MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME - 1Runout side A, variant 1
R BONG 13 B1= BONG 13 B1 MPO JONZ WE DO ANY STYLERunout side B, variant 1
7 BONG - 13-A1 MT DAMONTRunout side A, variant 2
R 7 BONG 13 B1 = BONG 13 B1 JONZ WE DO ANY STYLE MPORunout side B, variant 2
12 C̶L̶U̶B̶- BONG-13·A-1 1 MT. TOWN HOUSE DAmONT ESide A, runout, etched, variant 1
12-BONG-13B1 P 3 WE DO ANY STYLE PAG JONZ DAMONT CSide B, runout, etched, variant 1
12 C̶L̶U̶B̶ - BONG-13 A-1 1 MT. TOWNHOUSE DAMONT QSide A, runout, etched, variant 2
12-BONG-13 B1 P 3 WE DO ANY STYLE PAG JONZ 3 DAMONT QSide B, runout, etched, variant 2
7 BONG-13-A1. MT 6 EXCHANGE DAMONT L MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME - 1Runout side A, variant 1
7 BONG-13-B. 4 MT. JONZ DAMONT WE DO ANY STYLE SRunout side B, variant 1
7BONG-13-A1 1H 1 MT EXCHANGE DAMONT L MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME - 1Runout side A, variant 2
7BONG-13-B 1H1 MT JONZ DAMONT WE DO ANY STYLE 1Runout side B, variant 2
12•BONG-13 A1 PAG P 2 MUSIC FOR THE MASSES VOLUME 1Runout side A, variant 1
12-BONG-13B1 WE DO ANY STYLE PAG JONZ P 2Runout side B, variant 1
12•BONG-13 A1 PAG JONZ MUSIC FOR THE MASSES VOLUME 1 CRunout side A, variant 2
12-BONG-13B1 WE DO ANY STYLE PAG JONZ CRunout side B, variant 2
7 BONG-13-A1. MT I 2 L 18696 DAMONT MN 2 MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME - 1Side A runout, variant 1
7 BONG-13-B. P 3 MT. L 18697 DAMONT WE DO ANY STYLE 3Side B runout, variant 1
7 BONG-13-A1. MT2 ①- EXCHANGE L 18696 DAMONT MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME 1 ②Side A runout, variant 2
7 BONG-13-B. 3 MT. JONZ L 18697 DAMONT WE DO ANY STYLE ③Side B runout, variant 2
12•BONG-13 A1 PAG P 4 JONZ MUSIC FOR THE MASSES VOLUME 1Side A, runout, etched.
12-BONG-13B1 WE DO ANY STYLE PAG JONZ P 4Side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Unknown | Not On Label (Depeche Mode) DANCE BONG 1312", Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1987 | Unknown | Not On Label (Depeche Mode) DANCE BONG 1312", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Unknown | Not On Label (Depeche Mode) DANCE BONG 1312", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Australia | Possum Records ETUM 816First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Australia | Possum Records MUTE 3019First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Belgium | Mute BONG 46013 / Mute BONG 13First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 83667 / Mute 92 83667First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 83667 / Mute 92 83667First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 06960 / Mute 92 06960First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 80315 / Mute 80315First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Mute INT 126.866 / Mute L 12 Bong 1312", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited |
| 1990 | Germany | Mute 12 Bong 13 / Mute INT 126.86212", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress, Stereo |
| 1990 | Philippines | Mute EPM 89-04212", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1992 | Germany | Mute INT 126.866 / Mute L 12 Bong 1312", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited |
| 1992 | Germany | Mute BONG 13 / Mute INT 126.86212", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Mute 12 BONG 1312", Single, Repress, 45 RPM | 12", Single, Repress, 45 RPM |
| ? | UK | Mute 12 BONG 1312", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Repress |
| ? | US | Not On Label12", White Label | 12", White Label |
102 vinyl pressings of Strangelove are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1987 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Germany, Greece and more. One of them is Mute BONG 13, released April 13, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BONG 13, 12 BONG 13, L12 BONG 13, SHOP BONG 13) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7 BONG-13-A1. MT 4 EXCHANGE DAMONT MUSIC FOR THE MASSES - VOLUME - 1 and R BONG 13 B1= BONG 13 B1 MPO JONZ WE DO ANY STYLE. 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.
