Vinyl pressings
by Erasure · 1987
The Circus was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. 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 1987, the album's first year, in 22 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.
STUMM 35 A1 P9 PAG TY1 ADRENALINRunout, A-side, etched - variant 1
STUMM 35 B1 P9 PAG TY1 ADRENALINRunout, B-side, etched - variant 1
STUMM 35 A1 PAG TY1 ADRENALINRunout, A-side, etched - variant 2
STUMM 35 B1 PAG TY1 ADRENALINRunout, B-side, etched - variant 2
STUMM-35A1 PAG DD TY1Runout, A-side, variant 1
STUMM-35B1 PAG HH TY1Runout, B-side, variant 1
STUMM-35 A1 PAG TY1 LLL TY1Runout, A-side, variant 2
STUMM-35 B1 PAG TY1 LLL TY1Runout, B-side, variant 2
STUMM 35 A1 P3 PAG TY1Side A runout
STUMM 35 B1 P3 PAG TY1Side B runout
STUMM- 35 A1 P4 PAG DAMONT G TY1Runout, side A - variant 1
STUMM- 35 B1 P4 PAG DAMONT G TY1Runout, side B - variant 1
STUMM- 35 A1 PAG DAMONT P9 TY1Runout, side A - variant 2
STUMM- 35 B1 PAG DAMONT P8 X TY1Runout, side B - variant 2
MPO STUMM 35 A2 XEtched runout - side A, variant 1
MPO STUMM 35 B2 XEtched runout - side B, variant 1
MPO STUMM 35 A2Etched runout - side A, variant 2
MPO STUMM 35 B2Etched runout - side B, variant 2
STUMM- 35 A1 PAG. L-✲19125 P8 ⑧ D TY1Runout, side A, variant 1
STUMM- 35 B1 P4 PAG DAMONT TY1Runout, side B, variant 1
STUMM- 35 A1 PAG A L✲19125 P8 ⑧ TY1Runout, side A, variant 2
STUMM- 35 B1 P4 PAG 19126 B L-19126 DAMONT Ⓕ TY1Runout, side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | Mute STUMM 35 / Possum Records STUMM 35First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Belgium | Mute STUMM 46035 / Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Brazil | Mute 670.4014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Greece | Mute VG 50268 / Virgin VG 50268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ireland | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1987 | New Zealand | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Portugal | Mute 602440First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Scandinavia | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Scandinavia | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | South Africa | Mute MUT 2006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | South Africa | Mute MUT 2006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Spain | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Spain | Mute STUMM 35First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Argentina | POP Show D 55.214LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Australia | Liberation Records L 30446 / Liberation Records L30446LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Intervention Records IR-010LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | UK & Europe | Mute STUMM 35 / BMG STUMM 35LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 2016 | USA & Europe | Mute STUMM 35 / BMG STUMM 35LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
46 vinyl pressings of The Circus are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1987 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, France, Germany and more. One of them is Mute STUMM 35, released March 30, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STUMM 35, 1-25554, 9 25554-1, 70508) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STUMM 35 A1 P9 PAG TY1 ADRENALIN and STUMM 35 B1 P9 PAG TY1 ADRENALIN. 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.
