Vinyl pressings
by Ian Dury And The Blockheads · 1980
Laughter was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 14 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.
SEEZ 30 A-1Runout side A, variant 1
SEEZ 30 B-3Runout side B, variant 1
SEEZ 30 A-1 timtom-cbs 5601Runout side A, variant 2
SEEZ30 B-3 XXXΛIIII 5601Runout side B, variant 2
SEEZ 30 A-1 5601Runout, side A, variant 1
SEEZ 30 B-3 5601Runout, side B, variant 1
SEEZ 30 A-1 timtom-cbs 5601Side A, stamped, etched "timtom-cbs"
SEEZ 30 B-3 5601Side B, stamped
SEEZ 30-ALabel side A
SEEZ 30-BLabel side B
SEEZ 30 A-1Runout side A, variant 1
SEEZ 30 B-3Runout side B, variant 1
SEEZ 30 A-1 timtom-cbs 5601Runout side A, variant 2
SEEZ30 B-3 XXXΛIIII 5601Runout side B, variant 2
SEEZ 30 A-1 timtom-cbs 5601Side A, stamped, etched "timtom-cbs"
SEEZ 30 B-3 5601Side B, stamped
SEEZ 30-ALabel side A
SEEZ 30-BLabel side B
SEEZ 30 A-1 timtom-cbs 5601Side One
SEEZ30 B-3 5601Side Two
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Stiff Records L-37261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 531009 / Vogue 531009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24540 AP / Stiff Records 6.24540First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records SEEZ 30 / Stiff Records 6.24540 AOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records 15515 / Stiff Records Stiff 15.515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records 15515 / Stiff Records Stiff 15.515First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Italy | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Italy | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6757First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6757First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Stiff Records SEEZ 30 NPFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | Stiff Records SEEZ 30First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK | Demon Records DEMREC57LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | UK | Demon Records DEMREC339LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK | BMG BMGCAT749LPLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
37 vinyl pressings of Laughter are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1980 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Australia, France and more. One of them is Stiff Records SEEZ 30, released November 28, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SEEZ 30, JE 36998, L-37261, 531009) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SEEZ 30 A-1 and SEEZ 30 B-3. 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.
