Vinyl pressings
by Elvis Costello · 1989
Spike was first pressed on vinyl in 1989. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1989, the album's first year, in 14 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.
R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-A EDRunout side A, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-B EDRunout side B, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-A XX 32 EDRunout side A, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-B 62 EDRunout side B, variant 2
1̶-̶2̶5̶4̶8̶4̶-̶A̶-̶S̶R̶1̶ 1-25484-A-SR1 DMM MASTERDISK DMM SP1-1Runout side A - variant 1
1-25848-B-RE1-SRI-DMM SP1-2 DMM MASTERDISKRunout side B - variant 1
1̶-̶2̶5̶4̶8̶4̶-̶A̶-̶S̶R̶1̶ 1-25484-A-SR1 DMM MASTERDISK DMM SP1-1Runout side A - variant 2
1-25848-B-RE1-SR2-DMM SP1-1Runout side B - variant 2
B-34235-SRI-DMM 1-25848-A-SR1 DMM MASTERDISK DMM SP1-2 SP-AR △23831Runout side A, variant 1
1-25848-B-REI-SRI-DMM SP1-2 SP-AR B-34236-SRI-DMM △23831-X MASTERDISKRunout side B, variant 1
B-34235-SR1-DMM 1-25848 A SR1 1̶-̶2̶5̶4̶8̶4̶-̶A̶-̶S̶R̶1̶ DMM MASTERDISK DMM SP1-2 SP-AR △23831 0-Runout side A, variant 2
1-25848-B-RE1-SR2-DMM SP1-2 SP-AR △23831-X B-34236-SR2 DMMRunout side B, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 925848 1-ASide A
R/S Alsdorf 925848 1-ASide B
1-25484-A-SRI-DMMEtched Side 1
1-25848-B-REI-SRI-DMMEtched Side 2
1-25848-A-SR1-DMM MX302307 25848-1-1Runout A Variant 1
1-25848-B-SR1-DMM MX302308 25848-1-2Runout B Variant 1
1-25848A SR1 1̶-̶2̶5̶4̶8̶4̶-̶A̶-̶S̶R̶1̶ -DMM MASTERDISK DMM SP1-5 SP-AUS MX302307 25848-1-1Runout A Variant 2
1-25848-B-REI-SR1-DMM MX302308 25848-1-2 MASTERDISK SP1-6Runout B Variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 25848-1 / Warner Bros. Records 25848.1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 670-9019First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 58481First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 848-1 / Warner Bros. Records WX 238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 925848-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 925848-1LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1989 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records LDXB-6883First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records 925848-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 925848-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 848-1 / Warner Bros. Records WX 238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 848-1 / Warner Bros. Records WX 238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-25848 / Warner Bros. Records 9 25848-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25848-1LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1989 | US | Warner Bros. Records W1-25848LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1989 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-25848 / Warner Bros. Records 9 25848-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP904 / Warner Bros. Records MOVLP904LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Warner Records MOVLP3004 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP3004LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Europe | Warner Records MOVLP3004LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
22 vinyl pressings of Spike are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1989 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1989, in Europe, US, UK, Israel and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 925 848-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 925 848-1, 1-25848, 925848-1-A, 925848-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-A ED and R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-B ED. 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.
