Vinyl pressings
by Freddy Quinn · 1959
Unter Fremden Sternen was first pressed on vinyl in 1959. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 3 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.
23 981⁵ A II 2 3 9 8 1 A ΔMade in GermanyΔ K9 BS [sideways]Runout A, stamped
23 981⁵ B IV 2 3 9 8 1 B ΔMade in GermanyΔ K9 BW [sideways]Runout B, stamped
23 981⁵ A III Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 A K9 HLRunout side A, variant 1
23 981⁵ B V Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 B K9 HLRunout side B, variant 1
23 981⁵ A Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 A K9 EZRunout side A, variant 2
23 981⁵ B Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 B K9 FGRunout side B, variant 2
220 081 A Made in Germany 2 2 0 0 8 1 A E K 9Runout side A
220 081 B Made in Germany 2 2 0 0 8 1 B K 9 DRunout side B
23 9815 A II 2 3 9 8 1 A Made in Germany M K 9Runout side A, variant 1
23 9815 B 2 3 9 8 1 B Made in Germany M K 9Runout side B, variant 1
23 9815 A IV △Made in Germany△ 2 3 9 8 1 A A K 9 IRunout side A, variant 2
A C 23 9815 B III △Made in Germany△ 2 3 9 8 1 B K 9Runout side B, variant 2
23 981⁵ A 2 3 9 8 1 A △Made in Germany△ K 9 FRunout stamped side A
23 981⁵ B V 2 3 9 8 1 B △Made in Germany△ K 9 B NRunout stamped side B
23 981⁵ A IV Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 K 9 [sideways 'I M']Runout side A, stamped
23 981⁵ B III Made in Germany 2 3 9 8 1 B K 9 [sideways 'H W']Runout side B, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Denmark | Polydor 23981First year7" | 7" |
| 1959 | Denmark | Polydor NH 23981First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 23 981First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 220 081First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 23 981First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 23 981First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 23 981First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Japan | Polydor 1155First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1959 | Germany | Polydor 23 981First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor 885 866-77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Polydor NH-239817", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 23 9817", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 23 9817", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
13 vinyl pressings of Unter Fremden Sternen are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1959 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in Germany, Denmark, Japan. One of them is Polydor 23 981, released September 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 23 981, 220 081, 23981, NH 23981) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 23 981⁵ A II 2 3 9 8 1 A ΔMade in GermanyΔ K9 BS [sideways] and 23 981⁵ B IV 2 3 9 8 1 B ΔMade in GermanyΔ K9 BW [sideways]. 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.
