Vinyl pressings
by Gavin Bryars · 1975
The Sinking Of The Titanic was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
1 pressing came out in 1975, the album's first year. 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.
OBSCURE NO·I·AI GMRunout A, stamped
K̶·̶4̶0̶I̶3̶4̶·̶B̶I̶ GM OBSCURE NO·I·BIRunout B, stamped
∴Runout A, stamped, rotated through 90° clockwise
BRunout B, stamped, rotated through 90° clockwise
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | UK | Obscure obscure no.1 / Island Records obscure no.1First yearLP | LP |
| 1975 | UK | Obscure OBS 1 BRYARSLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | UK | Obscure obscure no.1 / Island Records obscure no.1LP, Repress | LP, Repress |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure obscure no.1LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure obscure no.1LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure obscure no. 1LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure OBS 1 BRYARS / Obscure obscure no.1LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Editions EG 25MM 0155 / Polydor 25MM 0155LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Editions EG 25MM 0155 / Polydor 25MM 0155LP, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1982 | UK | Editions EG EGED 21 / Polydor 2335 245LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Editions EG EGED 21 / Virgin EGED 21LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Superior Viaduct SV161LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Italy | Dialogo DIALP 926LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Italy | Dialogo DIALP926LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Editions EG 25MM 0155 / Polydor 25MM 0155LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
15 vinyl pressings of The Sinking Of The Titanic are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1975 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK. One of them is Obscure obscure no.1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use obscure no.1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, OBSCURE NO·I·AI GM and K̶·̶4̶0̶I̶3̶4̶·̶B̶I̶ GM OBSCURE NO·I·BI. 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.
