Vinyl pressings
by John Foxx · 1981
The Garden 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.
21 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 15 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-2194-A1 [Utopia Studios logo] C ASide A, variant 1
V.2194-B1 C ASide B, variant 1
V-2194-A1 [Utopia Studios logo] C CSide A, variant 2
V.2194-B1 CSide B, variant 2
V-2194-A1 ƱTOPIA CSide A
V.2194-B1 CSide B
V2194aLabel side A
V2194bLabel side B
A MX194474 V2194-1Side A
A MX194475 V2194-2Side B
V2194aLabel side A
V2194bLabel side B
Å MX194474 V2194-1Side 1 - Stamped
Å MX194475 V2194-2Side 2 - Stamped
META 1103-A SNB230Side A, Etched
META 1103-B SNB230Side B, Etched
V 2194 A FXRunout side A, etched
V 2194 B FXRunout side B, etched
V2194aLabel side A
V2194bLabel side B
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 | Australia | Metal Beat V 2194First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered |
| 1981 | Australia | Metal Beat V 2194First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Canada | Metal Beat META 1103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Finland | Virgin V 2194 / Metal Beat V 2194First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 204096 / Metal Beat 204096First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 204 096 / Virgin 204 096-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 204 096 / Virgin 204 096-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12194 / Metal Beat VIL 12194First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6982 / Virgin VIRG-6982First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6982 / Virgin VIRG-6982First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | Virgin LAE-484First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Virgin 204.096 / Virgin 204 096-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Metal Beat V 2194 / Virgin V 2194First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Virgin 603605First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Virgin VNC 5004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Italy | Get Back GET135LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK | Metamatic META70LPYLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | UK | Metamatic META70LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2194 / Metal Beat V 2194LP, Album | LP, Album |
28 vinyl pressings of The Garden are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1981 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Canada, Finland and more. One of them is Virgin V2194, released September 25, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2194, V 2194, META 1103, 204096) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V-2194-A1 [Utopia Studios logo] C A and V.2194-B1 C A. 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.
