Vinyl pressings
by John Lennon & Yoko Ono · 1980
Double Fantasy 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.
94 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 38 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.
GHS-1-2001-SH1 RT +[Dots in all four quadrants] +[Dot in top-left] +[No dots] ∆530 B-15413 +[Dot in top-left]Side A Etched
STERLING SLMSide A Stamped
GHS-2-2001-RE1-SH7 +[Dot in top-left] SLM +++[Dots in all four quadrants in all three] +[Dot in top-left] ∆530X MNSide B Etched
STERLINGSide B Stamped
GHS-1-2001-LW1 STERLING ✻Runout Side A - Var. 1
GHS-2-2001-LW1 STERLING ✻Runout Side B - Var. 1
GHS-1-2001-LW2˙ 1 ✻✻ STERLINGRunout Side A - Var. 2
GHS-2-2001-RE1-LW5˙ 2 ✻Runout Side B - Var. 2
GHS-1-2001 E2 [EDP logo] ||||/ 6 SF1 SM 3 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
GHS-2-2001-RE-1-ED2 [EDP logo] ||| MI SFIMI STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
GHS-1-2001 E2 [EDP logo] 0-1 M4-2 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
GHS-2-2001-ED2 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
△530 B-15413 GHS-1-2001-SH1 MR 24916 STERLINGRunout A Variant 1
△530-x GHS-2-2001-SH1 B-15414 STERLINGRunout B Variant 1
B15413 GHS-1-2001-SHI △24916⧁ + [no dots] + [dots in all but lower right quadrant] △530Runout A Variant 2 Etched
STERLING SLMRunout A Variant 2 Stamped
GHS-1-2001-SH1 RT Sterling SLM + △530 B-15413A Side runout, Variant 1
GHS-2-2001--RE1- SH1- [ED1 Scratched Out] AR (EDP) PM1 ƧF1 B-15414RE1 + SterlingB Side runout, Variant 1
Sterling SLMA Side stamped
(EDP) SterlingB Side stamped
GHS-1-2001 E2 EDP STERLING SP SF1 SM17 0-4 SM2-2Side A runout, variant 1
GHS-2-2001-RE1- ED1 EDP PM1 2F1 SM7 STERLING SP 0-3 SM8-4Side B runout, variant 1
GHS-2-2001 E2 EDP STERLING SM2-1Side A runout, variant 2
GHS-2-2001-ED2 EDP STERLING SP 0-2SM2-2Side B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Geffen Records SLIN 3205First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Geffen Records GHS 2001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Geffen Records GHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Austria | Geffen Records GEF 99 131First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Bolivia | Geffen Records WL - 900001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Geffen Records 36.172First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Geffen Records 36.172First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records GHS 2001 / Lenono Music GHS 2001LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 2001 / Lenono Music XGHS 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mexico | EMI 120 791425 1 / Capitol Records 120 791425 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | US | Capitol Records C1-91425LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1993 | Russia | Santa Records AA 0003LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK & Europe | Geffen Records 0600753571026 / Lenono Music 0600753571026LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | Geffen Records 36.172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Geffen Records 610.7029 / Geffen Records 36.172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Geffen Records K 99131 / Geffen Records K 99 131LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Geffen Records GEF 99 131 / Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Geffen Records GEF 99 131 (GHS 2001)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Geffen Records GEF 99 131 / Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | Capitol Records SLEM 1635LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | Geffen Records GEF 99 131LP, Mispress | LP, Mispress |
| ? | Russia | Not On LabelLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Scandinavia | Geffen Records GEF 99131 / Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Singapore | Geffen Records GHS 2001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Africa | Geffen Records GFC(X) 1001 / Geffen Records GFC (X) 1001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-3066LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
174 vinyl pressings of Double Fantasy are listed here, from 47 countries, released between 1980 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Geffen Records GHS 2001, released November 17, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GHS 2001, K 99131, K99131, P-10948J) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, GHS-1-2001-SH1 RT +[Dots in all four quadrants] +[Dot in top-left] +[No dots] ∆530 B-15413 +[Dot in top-left] and STERLING SLM. 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.
