Vinyl pressings
by Einstürzende Neubauten · 1985
½ Mensch was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 5 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.
BART 331A -1U-1-1..X1 TIMTOMRunout side A, variant 1
BART 331B -1U-1-1..X1 TYRunout side B, variant 1
BART 331A -1U -1-1..3 TIMTOMRunout side A, variant 2
BART 331B -1U -1-2 TYRunout side B, variant 2
BIZART 1A -1U-1-1- timtomstamped / etched A
BIZART 1B -1U-1-1- TYstamped / etched B
BIZZ/ART 1alabel A
BIZZ/ART 1blabel B
BART 331 A - 1U-1-1-x1 TimTomRunout etchings LP side A
BART 331 B - 1U-1-1-x1 TYRunout etchings LP side B
BART 451 A - 1U-1-1-x1 TimTomRunout etchings 7" side A
BART 451 B - 1U-1-1-x1 TYRunout etchings 7" side B
BIZART 1A -1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ xI TimTomSide A, variant 1
BIZART 1B -1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ xI TySide B, variant 1
BIZART 1A -1U - 1 - TimTom 25694Side A, variant 2
BIZART 1B -1U - 1 - Ty 25695Side B, variant 2
BIZART 1A -1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ xI TimTomVariant 1: LP side A
BIZART 1B -1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ xI TYVariant 1: LP side B
BART 451 A - 1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ 9 TimTomVariant 1: 7" side A
BART 451 B - 1U - 1 - 1 ⇀ 7Variant 1: 7" 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Germany | What's So Funny About.. SF 14LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Japan | Wave SP25-6005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | Wave SP25-6005First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Some Bizzare BART 331 / Some Bizzare BART 451First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Some Bizzare BART 331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | Some Bizzare BIZZ/ART 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | Some Bizzare BART 331LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | UK | Some Bizzare BART 331First yearLP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | US | Rough Trade BIZZ/ART 1 / Some Bizzare BIZZ/ART 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Rough Trade BIZZ/ART 1 / Some Bizzare BIZZ/ART 1First yearLP, Album, 7", All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 7", All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | UK | Some Bizzare BART 331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | Some Bizzare BART 331 / Some Bizzare BART 451First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | Germany | What's So Funny About.. SF 14First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | What's So Funny About.. SF 14 / Some Bizzare BART 451First yearLP, Album, 7", Single, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 7", Single, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1988 | US | Some Bizzare BIZZ/ART 1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Germany | Potomak LP 26141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Germany | Potomak LP 26141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | What's So Funny About.. SF 14LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Potomak LP 26141LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Potomak LP 26141LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
20 vinyl pressings of ½ Mensch are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1985 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Germany, Japan and more. One of them is Some Bizzare BART 331, released September 2, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BART 331, BIZZ/ART 1, SF 14, SP25-6005) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BART 331A -1U-1-1..X1 TIMTOM and BART 331B -1U-1-1..X1 TY. 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.
