Vinyl pressings
by Faith No More · 1989
The Real Thing 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.
5 pressings came out in 1989, the album's first year, in 4 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.
1-25878-A SH1 DMM AL-SP B-34718-SH1-DMM △24382 KDISC DMM JG 12̶ 0-1 ۞Side A runout
1-25878-B SH1 DMM SPO-1 B-34719-SH1-DMM △24382-X KDISC DMM JG 1-2 ıı|ı AL-SPSide B runout
1-25878-A SH1 DMM AL-SP B-34718-SH1-DMM △24382 KDISC DMM JG 1- 0-1 ۞Side A runout, hand-etched
1-25878-B SH1 DMM SPO-1 B-34719-SH1-DMM △24382-X KDISC DMM JG 1- ıı|ı AL-SPSide B runout, hand-etched
8281541 A1U-1-1Variant 1, machine stamped runout side A
8281541 B-1U-1-1Variant 1, machine stamped runout side B
8281541 A-2U-1-1Variant 2, machine stamped runout side A
8281541 B-1U-1-1Variant 2, machine stamped runout side B
828 154 1 S1 = 1 670 07 113Variant 1, side A runout, machine-stamped
828 154 1 S2 = 1 670 07 111Variant 1, side B runout, machine-stamped
828 154 1 S1 = 1 670 07 1120Variant 2, side A runout, machine-stamped
828 154 1 S2 = 1 670 07 1133Variant 2, side B runout, machine-stamped
1-25878[strikeout1]-A SH1 DMM B-34718-SH1-DMM △24382 KDISC DMM JG 1- ۞Runout side A variant 1
1-25878-B SH1 DMM B-34718-SPO-1 B-34719-SH1-DMM KDISC DMM JG 1- ıı|ı AL-SPRunout side B variant 1
1925878-A SH1 DMM AL-SP B-34718-SH1-DMM △24382 KDISC DMM JG SPCAN 1- SP0-1 SP1-2 ۞ (etched Star of Lakshmi symbol)Runout side A variant 2
1-25878-B SH1 DMM SPO-1 SM2.2 B-34719-SH1-DMM △24382-X KDISC DMM JG 1- \ı|ıı (etched to resemble hand giving middle finger) AL-SPRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Canada | Slash 92 58781 / Reprise Records 92 58781First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | US | Slash 9 25878-1 / Reprise Records 1-25878First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | US | Slash 1-25878 / Reprise Records 25878-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Europe | London American Recordings 828 154-1 / Slash 828 154-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | UK | Slash 828 154-1 / London Records 828 154-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Argentina | Polygram 29373 / London Records 828154-1LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1990 | Argentina | Polygram 29323 / London Records 828154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Brazil | London Records 828 154-1 / Slash 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Brazil | Slash 828 154-1 / London Records 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Greece | Slash 828 154-1 / London Records 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Greece | Slash 828 154-1 / London Records 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Greece | Slash 828 154-1 / London Records 828 154-1LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1990 | Mexico | London Records 828154-1 / London Records LPE 1006LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | South Korea | Slash 828 217-1 / London Records 828 217-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Spain | London Records 828 154-1 / Slash 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | UK & Europe | London Records 828 217-1 / Slash 828 217-1LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc |
| 1990 | Australia | Liberation Records L 30371 / Slash L 30371LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | UK & Europe | Slash 828 217-1 / London Records 828 217-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| 1993 | Greece | London Records 828 154-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP886 / Slash MOVLP886LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP886 / Slash MOVLP886LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP886 / Slash MOVLP886LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | UK | Slash 0825646094776 / Rhino Records 0825646094776LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | US | Slash 0825646094776 / Rhino Records 0825646094776LP, Album, Reissue, LP | LP, Album, Reissue, LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | USA & Europe | Slash RCV1 25878 / Slash 603497846207LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Argentina | Slash 0349-78462-0 / Reprise Records 0349-78462-0LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Germany | Reprise Records 0422828 154152LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Chile | Slash 0349-78462-0 / Reprise Records 0349-78462-0LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
28 vinyl pressings of The Real Thing are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1989 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1989, in US, UK, Europe, Canada. One of them is Slash 9 25878-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 25878-1, 1-25878, 828 154-1, 92 58781) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1-25878-A SH1 DMM AL-SP B-34718-SH1-DMM △24382 KDISC DMM JG 12̶ 0-1 ۞ and 1-25878-B SH1 DMM SPO-1 B-34719-SH1-DMM △24382-X KDISC DMM JG 1-2 ıı|ı AL-SP. 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.
