Vinyl pressings
by John Foxx · 1980
Metamatic 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.
17 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 11 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 2146 - A2 STRAWBERRYSide A, variant 1
V 2146 - B4 STRAWBERRYSide B, variant 1
V-2146-A4 .STRAWBERRY.Side A, variant 2
V-2146-B2 .STRAWBERRY.Side B, variant 2
201434 A-1/80S Made in GermanyRunout Side A
201434 B-1/80S Made in GermanyRunout Side B
S 201 434 ALabel Side A
S 201 434 BLabel Side B
〄Ⓑ V 2146A 111✢ PSide A runout
V 2146B 121✢Side B runout
V-2146-ASide A label
V-2146-BSide B label
3 SMX 56025 P2AA side - etched
I SMX 56026 C2CB side - etched
A MX194276 V2146-1A side
A MX194276 V2146-1B side
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 | Virgin L 37260First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Virgin V2146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Virgin V2146First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Australia | Virgin V2146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Virgin 2473 795First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Virgin 201 434 / Metal Beat 201 434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12146 / Metal Beat VIL 12146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6949 / Virgin VIRG-6051First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Metal Beat LAE 260 / Virgin LAE 260First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Virgin 201 434-320 / Virgin 201.434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Metal Beat 201 434 / Virgin 201 434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Virgin V 2146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Virgin I-201.434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Virgin V2146 / Metal Beat v 2146First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Portugal | Vadeca VV 33.036 YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK | Metal Beat METARSDLPLP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2014 | UK | Metal Beat METARSDLP / Demon Records 5014797890640LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | UK | Demon Records METABVELPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | UK | Metamatic META80LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Metal Beat 201 434 / Virgin 201 434LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Metal Beat 201 434 / Virgin 201 434LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED 46LP, Reissue, Album | LP, Reissue, Album |
| ? | UK | Virgin V2146 / Metal Beat V2146LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
27 vinyl pressings of Metamatic are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1980 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Portugal, Germany, Japan and more. One of them is Virgin V2146, released January 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2146, VV 33.036 Y, 201 434, VIP 6949) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2146 - A2 STRAWBERRY and V 2146 - B4 STRAWBERRY. 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.
