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Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Armed Forces

by Elvis Costello & The Attractions · 1978

94 pressings27 countriesNew WavePop RockRock

Armed Forces was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Armed Forces

1 pressing came out in 1978, the album's first year. 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.

US

March 1978
Label and catalog number
Columbia AE7 11171Columbia ZSM 165296
Format
7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZSM 165296-1CRunout A

ZSM 165297-1CRunout B

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 94 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s70 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1978USColumbia AE7 11171 / Columbia ZSM 165296First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo
1978UKRadar RAD 14LP, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing
1979ArgentinaWEA 208767 / Radar Records RAD 14LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979ArgentinaWEA 208767 / Radar Records RAD 14LP, Album, Promo · PromoLP, Album, Promo · Promo
1979AustraliaRadar Records RAD 14LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979AustraliaRadar Records RAD 14LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979AustriaRadar Records RAD 56 597LP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, EPLP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, EP
1979BrazilWEA 38.026LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979ColombiaRadar Records 23(0631)00158LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979EuropeSmash Records SLEPT 5LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979EuropeRadar Records RAD 56 597 / Radar Records RAD 14LP, Album, 7", EPLP, Album, 7", EP
1979EuropeRadar Records RAD 56 597LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FinlandArletty ATTY-L 003LP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceRadar Records RAD 56 597 / Radar Records RAD 17287LP, Album, 7", EPLP, Album, 7", EP
1979GermanyRadar Records RAD 56 597 / Radar Records RAD 14LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 70 pressings from the 1970s
1980s11 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980UKF-Beat XXLP 5 / F-Beat XXLP5LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980UKF-Beat XXLP 5 / F-Beat XXLP5LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980YugoslaviaSuzy RAD 56 597 / Radar Records RAD 56597LP, Album, Misprint, StereoLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo
1980YugoslaviaSuzy RAD 56597 / Radar Records RAD 56597LP, MisprintLP, Misprint
1981USColumbia JC 35709LP, AlbumLP, Album
1984EuropeDemon Records FIEND 21LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984EuropeImp Records FIEND 21 / Demon Records FIEND 21LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1984UKImp Records FIEND 21LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984UKImp Records FIEND 21LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984USColumbia PC 35709LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1987AustraliaLiberation Records LIB5102LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
2010s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2010USMobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-331 / Universal Music Special Markets B0012749-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, NumberedLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered
2015WorldwideUMe 602547331083LP, Album, 7", EP, All Media, ReissueLP, Album, 7", EP, All Media, Reissue
2020s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2020UnknownUMe B0031761-01LP, Album, Reissue, LP, LP, LP, 10", Compilation, LP, 10", LP, 10", 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, Box Set, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, LP, LP, LP, 10", Compilation, LP, 10", LP, 10", 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, Box Set, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl
2020UnknownUMe B0031761-01LP, Album, Reissue, LP, LP, LP, 10", LP, 10", Compilation, LP, 10", 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, Box Set, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, LP, LP, LP, 10", LP, 10", Compilation, LP, 10", 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, 7", 45 RPM, Box Set, Remastered
Year unknown9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?CanadaColumbia WJC 35709LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
?EuropeRadar Records RAD 56 597 / F-Beat FB 56 597LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?EuropeRadar Records RAD 56 597LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
?FranceRadar Records RAD 56 597 / F-Beat FB 56 597LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?GermanyRadar Records RAD 56597LP, Album, 7", EPLP, Album, 7", EP
?USColumbia PC 35709 / Columbia 35709LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USColumbia PC 35709LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USColumbia PC 35709 / Columbia 35709LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?WorldwideUMe 602547331083LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo, All Media, ReissueLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo, All Media, Reissue

Tracklist

  1. A1Accidents Will Happen3:00
  2. A2Senior Service2:17
  3. A3Oliver's Army2:57
  4. A4Big Boys2:55
  5. A5Green Shirt2:42
  6. A6Party Girl3:20
  7. B1Goon Squad3:15
  8. B2Busy Bodies3:33
  9. B3Sunday's Best3:23
  10. B4Moods For Moderns2:49
  11. B5Chemistry Class2:55
  12. B6Two Little Hitlers3:10
  13. Live At Hollywood High
  14. C1Accidents Will Happen3:23
  15. C2Alison3:06
  16. DWatching The Detectives6:07

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Armed Forces are there?

94 vinyl pressings of Armed Forces are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1978 and 2020.

When was Armed Forces first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US. One of them is Columbia AE7 11171, released March 1978.

How do I tell if my copy of Armed Forces is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AE7 11171) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZSM 165296-1C and ZSM 165297-1C. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Armed Forces on vinyl worth?

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.

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