Vinyl pressings
by Elvis Costello & The Attractions · 1981
Almost Blue 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.
38 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
XX LP 13 A1 W 10Side A Runout, Etched, Variant 1
XX LP 13 B1 W 12Side B Runout, Etched, Variant 1
XX LP 13 A1 W 6Side A Runout, Etched, Variant 2
XX LP 13 B1 W 4 5 BSide B Runout, Etched, Variant 2
XX LP 13 A₁ TOWNHOUSE W-16Runout, side A
XX LP 13 B₁ TOWNHOUSE B W-10 KDRunout, side B
XXLP 13-ALabel, side A
XXLP 13-BLabel, side B
W 38 XXLP 13 A1 TOWNHOUSEA side runout
W-39 XXLP 13B1 D TOWNHOUSESide B Runout, Etched, variant 1
XXLP 13-ASide A Label
XXLP 13-BSide B Label
W-34 XXLP 13 A1Side A Runout, Etched
W-17 XXLP 13 B1Side B Runout, Etched
TOWNHOUSESides A & B, Stamped
XXLP 13-ASide A Label
XX LP 13 A1Side A Runout, Etched
XX LP 13 B1Side B Runout, Etched
TOWNHOUSESides A & B, Stamped
XXLP 13-ASide A Label
XX LP 13 A₁ TOWNHOUSE W-8 KDEtched runout, side A ("TOWNHOUSE", stamped)
XX LP 13 B₁ D TOWNHOUSE W-8Etched runout, side B ("TOWNHOUSE", stamped)
XXLP 13-ALabel matrix, side A
XXLP 13-BLabel matrix, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | F-Beat XXLP 13First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | F-Beat FB 58 392 / F-Beat FB K 58 392First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | F-Beat XXLP 13 / F-Beat XXLP13First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | France | F-Beat FB K 58 392 / F-Beat XXLP 13First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | F-Beat 203 311First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | F-Beat FB K 58 392 / F-Beat XXLP 13First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | WEA BEAT 58392First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | WEA BEAT 58392First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Israel | F-Beat BAN 58392 / WEA International BAN 58392First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | F-Beat FB K 58 392 / F-Beat XXLP 13First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | F-Beat P-11107XFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | F-Beat P-11107XFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | F-Beat FB 58 392 / F-Beat FB K 58 392First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | F-Beat FB 58 392First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | WEA XXLP 13 / F-Beat XXLP13First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-335LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-335LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2015 | Europe | UMe 0602547331076LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | UMe 602547331076 / UMe 00602547331076LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
53 vinyl pressings of Almost Blue are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Canada, Ireland and more. One of them is F-Beat XXLP13, released October 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use XXLP13, E.C. CHAT 1, FC 37562, AS 1318) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XX LP 13 A1 W 10 and XX LP 13 B1 W 12. 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.
