Vinyl pressings
by Ian Gillan · 1979
Mr. Universe was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
EWS-81254-A 1S 7 〄Runout side A, variant 1
EWS-81254-B 1S 4 〄Runout side B, variant 1
EWS-81254-A 1S 7 〄 6 - 6Runout side A, variant 2
EWS-81254-B 1S 4 〄Runout side B, variant 2
EWS-81254-A 1S 7 〄Runout side A
EWS-81254-B 1S 4 〄Runout side B
EWS-81254-ALabel side A
EWS-81254-BLabel side B
ACRO 3 A//2▽EPS 1 1 A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side A, stamped, variant 1
ACRO 3 B//2▽E PS 13 2 A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side B, stamped, variant 1
ACRO 3 A//1▽E PS 11 3 A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side A, stamped, variant 2
ACRO 3 B//2▽E PS L1 1 A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side B, stamped, variant 2
ACRO 3 A//1▽E PS 1 2 A Porky Prime CutRunout Side A. (A Porky Prime Cut is etched, rest stamped)
ACRO 3 B//2▽E PS L2 A Porky Prime CutRunout Side B (A Porky Prime Cut is etched, rest stamped)
ACRO.3ALabel Side A
ACRO.3BLabel Side B
63280 - A1A-side, variant 1
63280 - B1B-side, variant 1
63280 - A1 1.A-side, variant 2
63280 - B1 1.B-side, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Interfusion L 37135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Acrobat Records 1C 064 - 63 280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | CNR 660.053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Parlophone PSC 6138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Acrobat Records 7C 062-63280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | RPM RPM 1138First yearLP | LP |
| 1979 | UK | Acrobat Records ACRO 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Acrobat Records ACRO 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Eastworld EWS-81254First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Eastworld EWS-81254First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Virgin 2933 720LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Virgin 2933 720LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK | Fame FA 3057LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK | Demon Records DEMREC99LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2019 | UK, Europe & US | Demon Records DEMREC404LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | UK, Europe & US | Demon Records DEMREC404LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2019 | UK, Europe & US | Demon Records DEMREC171LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
17 vinyl pressings of Mr. Universe are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1979 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in Japan, UK, Australia, Germany and more. One of them is Eastworld EWS-81254, released September 20, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EWS-81254, ACRO 3, L 37135, 1C 064 - 63 280) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EWS-81254-A 1S 7 〄 and EWS-81254-B 1S 4 〄. 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.
