Vinyl pressings
by Freddie Mercury · 1988
Barcelona was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 10 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.
POLH 44 A-2U-1-1Side A
POLH 44 B-1U-1-1Side B
POLH 44 A -1U-1-1 Townhouse DMM DVariant 1 Side A
POLH 44 B-2U-1-1 Townhouse DMM DVariant 1 Side B
STARL 5533-A-1Side 1, etched
STARL 5533-B-1Side 2, etched
837.277-1ASide 1 label
837.277-1BSide 2 label
837 237 - 1ASide A
837 237 - 1ASide B
837 277-1 1 01 P 1988 200side A
837 277-1 2 01 P 1988 200side B
837 277-1 1 01 ℗1988 200
837 277-1 2 01 ℗1988 200
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | Polydor 837 277-1 / Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Brazil | Polydor 837 277-1 / Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Polydor 837277-1 / Polydor POLH 44First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Portugal | Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Spain | Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Spain | Polydor 837277-1 / Circulo De Lectores 55731LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1988 | Spain | Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Venezuela | Polydor 30576-LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 220612 / Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK | Polydor POLH 44 / Polydor 837277-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | South Africa | Polydor STARL 5533First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Japan | Polydor 28MM 0664First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Japan | Polydor 28MM 0664First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1989 | Argentina | PolyGram 29163 / Polydor 837.277-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Colombia | Polydor 837 277 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | Russia | AnTrop П92-00257-8LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1992 | Russia | AnTrop П92-00257-8LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1992 | Spain | Polydor 837277-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1992 | UK | Polydor POLH 44 / Polydor 837277-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1992 | South Korea | Polydor 513 298-1 / Sung Eum Limited RG 3054LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1993 | Russia | AnTrop П92 00257 / AnTrop П92 00258LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1993 | Russia | AnTrop П92-00257-8LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Island Records 371 184 4LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited |
| 2012 | UK | Island RecordsLP, Album, Special Edition, 7", Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Special Edition, 7", Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | Europe | Mercury 0602577404290 / Universal Music Group International 0602577404290LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2019 | US | Hollywood Records D003241801LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Globo Polydor 837 277-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Polydor 837277-1 / Polydor POLH 44LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
31 vinyl pressings of Barcelona are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1988 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in UK, South Africa, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Polydor POLH 44, released October 24, 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLH 44, STARL 5533, 28MM 0664, 837277-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLH 44 A-2U-1-1 and POLH 44 B-1U-1-1. 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.
