Vinyl pressings
by Julian Cope · 1984
World Shut Your Mouth was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 7 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.
MERL37 A/2 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ A//2 ▽420 V 1 1 4Side A, etched, stamped, variant 1
MERL37 B/1 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ B//1 ▽420 V 1 1 4Side B, etched, stamped, variant 1
MERL37 A/1 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ A//1 ▽420 V 1 1 2Side A, etched, stamped, variant 2
MERL37 B/1 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ B//1 ▽420 V 1 1 8Side B, etched, stamped, variant 2
JULS 1 A // 2 ▽ 420 V 11 1Side A runout
JULS 1 B // 1 ▽ 420 T 11 1Side B runout
JULS 1 A // 1 ▽ 420 V 11 1Runout side A
JULS 1 B // 1 ▽ 420 V 11 1Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Mercury 818 365-1 / Phonogram 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOG-1-3336First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Mercury 25PP-122First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Mercury 25PP-122First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Mercury 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury JULS 1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury MERL 37 / Mercury 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Mercury MERL 37 / Phonogram 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Mercury MERL 37 / Phonogram 818 365-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1984 | Ireland | Mercury MERL 37First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury MERL 37 / Phonogram 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury MERL 37 / Phonogram 818 365-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 900303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Mercury UMCLP086 / Universal Music Recordings UMCLP086LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
14 vinyl pressings of World Shut Your Mouth are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1984 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Greece, Ireland, Australia & New Zealand and more. One of them is Mercury MERL 37, released February 17, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MERL 37, 818 365-1, VOG-1-3336, 25PP-122) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MERL37 A/2 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ A//2 ▽420 V 1 1 4 and MERL37 B/1 J̷U̷L̷S̷ ̷1̷ B//1 ▽420 V 1 1 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.
