Vinyl pressings
by Japan · 1981
Tin Drum was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 17 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.
V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕ISide A, runout, etched, variant 1
V·2209.B·3 ƱTOPIA ΛSide B, runout, etched, variant 1
V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA ΛSide A, runout, etched, variant 2
V·2209.B·4 ƱTOPIA ΛSide B, runout, etched, variant 2
V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA. ASide A, runout, etched, variant 1
V·2209.B·3 ƱTOPIA. ASide B, runout, etched, variant 1
V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA. ASide A, runout, etched, variant 2
V·2209.B·4 ƱTOPIA. ASide B, runout, etched, variant 2
∴ V 2209 A-1U-1-1-1Side A, runout, stamped, variant 1
V 2209 B-1U-1-1-Side B, runout, stamped, variant 1
∴ V 2209 A-1U-1-1 0Side A, runout, stamped, variant 2
V 2209 B-2U-1-1-Side B, runout, stamped, variant 2
V·2209·A·3 ƱTOPIA BSide A, runout, etched, variant 1
V·2209·B·4 ƱTOPIA BSide B, runout, etched, variant 1
V-2209-A6 ƱTOPIA A 1 CSide A, runout, etched, variant 2
V-2209-B-3 ƱTOPIA ASide B, runout, etched, variant 2
V 2209 A 3U-1-1-2 TOWN HOUSESide A, runout, stamped, etched, variant 1
V 2209 B 2U-1-1-1Side B, runout, stamped, etched, variant 1
V 2209 A-3U-1-1-11 TOWN HOUSESide A, runout, stamped, etched, variant 2
V 2209 B-1U-1-1-1Side B, runout, stamped, etched, variant 2
·V-2209-A-3 ƱTOPIA. ASide A runout, etched, (A stamped), variant 1
V-2209-B-3 ƱTOPIA. ASide B runout, etched, (A stamped), variant 1
V-2209-A-4 1 3 ƱTOPIA.Side A runout, etched, [1 3 stamped], variant 2
V-2209-B-4 A ƱTOPIA.Side B runout, etched, [(A stamped], 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 204 169 / Virgin 204 169-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Finland | Virgin V 2209 / Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Finland | Virgin V-2209 / Virgin V 2209LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 204169First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 204169First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1981 | Hong Kong | Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12209First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6984 / Virgin VIRG-6984First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6984 / Virgin VIRG-6984First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Virgin V 2209 / Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Portugal | Virgin 602905First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Virgin V-2209 / Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Virgin VNC 5018 / Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Virgin V2209First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | Virgin LPCENT 41 / Virgin 7243 8 45064 1 4LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK, Europe & US | Virgin 535 100-5 / Universal Music Group International 0600753510056LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin 6746223 / UMC 6746223LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 2018 | UK | Virgin 671 041-7 / UMC 671 041-712", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin 671 041-7 / UMC 671 041-712", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin 674 622-3 / UMC 674 622-3LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UK | Virgin 674 622-3 / UMC 674 622-3LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Virgin V-2209 / Virgin V 2209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Virgin 204169LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED 158LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Virgin 204 169 / Virgin 204 169-320LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Virgin V2209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Stereophonic SCS 00028LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light SCS;00028LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 158LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin LPCENT 41 / Virgin 7243 8 45064 1 4LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
67 vinyl pressings of Tin Drum are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1981 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Virgin V2209, released November 28, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2209, V 2209, VL 2226, 204 169) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V·2209.A·3 ƱTOPIA Λ :〕I and V·2209.B·3 ƱTOPIA Λ. 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.
