Vinyl pressings
by Hoodoo Gurus · 1985
Mars Needs Guitars! was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 8 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.
BT 7053-A DB HALLO MICK [seven-point star] MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301Side A runout
BT 7053-B DB HOORAY FOR HAZEL ! MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301Side B runout
BT 7053 ASide A label
BT 7053 BSide B label
[Stamped]MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301 [Handwritten]BT 7053-A DB HALLO MICK [seven-point star]Etchings Side A
[Stamped]MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301 [Handwritten]BT.7053-B DB HOORAY FOR HAZELEtchings Side B
CHR 1520 A // 3 ▽ 420 V 1 1 1Runout A stamped
CHR 1520 B // 2 ▽ 420 V 1 1 2Runout B stamped
ELA-△27121 BTA 009 ASide A Etched
EL A-△27121X BTA 009 BSide B Etched
ST-E-60485-1-A ARLabel Side One
ST-E-60485-1-B ARLabel Side Two
STE-60485A-2 JackEtched Side One
STE-60485B-2 JackEtched Side Two
STERLING SRC [logo]Stamped Both Sides
ST-E-60485-1-A SPLabel Side One
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia | Big Time BT 7053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Mercury MERM 1 / Big Time MERM 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Chrysalis 826 725-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | Victor VIL-28016First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | New Zealand | Big Time BT 7053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | New Zealand | Big Time BT 7053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Scandinavia | Big Time BT 7053First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK | Chrysalis CHR 1520 / Chrysalis Chr 1520First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Big Time BTA009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Elektra 9 60485-1 / Elektra 60485-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Elektra 60485-1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | US | Elektra 9-60485-1 / Elektra 60485-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Elektra 9-60485-1 / Elektra 60485-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | Big Time BT 7053 / Big Time BT-7053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | Chrysalis 207 491LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Australia | Big Time BTLP002 / Universal Music BTLP002LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Australia | Universal Music Australia BTLP002-40LP, Picture Disc, LP, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc, Colored vinyl | LP, Picture Disc, LP, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Chrysalis 207 491LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Chrysalis Chr 1520 / Big Time Chr 1520LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of Mars Needs Guitars! are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1985 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in Australia, UK, US, Canada and more. One of them is Big Time BT 7053, released July 29, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BT 7053, CHR 1520, BTA009, 9 60485-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BT 7053-A DB HALLO MICK [seven-point star] MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301 and BT 7053-B DB HOORAY FOR HAZEL ! MASTERED BY STUDIOS 301. 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.
