Vinyl pressings
by Elvis Costello & The Attractions · 1986
Blood & Chocolate was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1986, 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.
XFIEND-80-A 2 MT.1 DAMONT BILBO.TAPEOneA side runout etched, variant 1
X FIEND-80-B2. MT.1 DAMONT BILBO.TAPEOneB side runout etched, variant 1
XFIEND-80-A 4 1 MT. BILBO.TAPEOne 4 D (horizontal)A side runout etched, variant 3
X FIEND-80-B2. MT.1 DAMONT BILBO.TAPEOneB side runout etched, variant 3
XFIEND-80-A5 ᴒ BILBO TAPE ONE ARunout side A, variant 1
XFIEND 80 B3 5 BILBO TAPE ONE ARunout side B, variant 1
XFIEND-80-A5 BILBO.TAPE ONE BRunout side A, variant 2
XFIEND 80 B3 1 BILBO.TAPE ONE ARunout side B, variant 2
XFIEND-80-A5 1 8 BILBO TAPE ONE ΛRunout, side A
XFIEND-80-B3 2 BILBO TAPE ONE ΛRunout, side B
AL40518-1E G1Runout side A, variant 1
BL40518-1E G1 A4Runout side A, variant 1
AL 40518-1E G1 A18Runout side A, variant 2
BL 40518-1E G1 B6Runout side B, variant 2
P(T) o AL40518-1CSide A runout, variant 1
VLADO P(T) ° BL40518-1CSide B runout, variant 1
(MP) P AL 40518-1E oSide A runout, variant 2
VLADO P(T) o BL 40518-1DSide B runout, variant 2
FC 40518 AL AL40518-1L I Λ1CRunout side A
FC 40518 BL -1K I BL40518-1K Λ1ARunout side B
AL 40518Label side A
BL 40518Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Europe | F-Beat X FIEND 80First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Germany | Line Records LILP 4.00200 / Line Records IPLP 4.00200 JLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | UK | Imp Records X FIEND 80LP, Misprint, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Misprint, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1986 | UK | Imp Records X FIEND 80LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1986 | UK | Imp Records X FIEND 80First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Columbia FC 40518 / Columbia C 40518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Columbia FC 40518 / Columbia C 40518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Columbia FC 40518 / Columbia C 40518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Columbia FC 40518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Germany | Line LILP 4.00200 / Line IPLP 4.00200 JFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | UK | Imp Records X FIEND 80First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | UK | Imp Records X FIEND 80First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | US | Columbia FC 40518 / Columbia C 40518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Australasia | Liberation Records LIB 5110LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-433 / Universal Music Special Markets B0013526-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2015 | Europe | UMe 0602547331090LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Worldwide | UMe 0602547331090LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Blood & Chocolate are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1986 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Imp Records X FIEND 80, released September 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use X FIEND 80, FC 40518, LILP 4.00200) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XFIEND-80-A 2 MT.1 DAMONT BILBO.TAPEOne and X FIEND-80-B2. MT.1 DAMONT BILBO.TAPEOne. 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.
