Vinyl pressings
by Killing Joke · 1981
What's This For...! 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.
14 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
EG MD 550 A//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSE PADRES PRIDERunout side A, variant 1
EGMD 550 B//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSE NICK & STEVERunout side B, variant 1
EG MD 550 A//1▽E TH L1 TOWNHOUSE PADRES PRIDERunout side A, variant 2
EGMD 550 B//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSE NICK & STEVERunout side B, variant 2
EG MD 550 A//1▽E TH 1 2 00 TOWNHOUSEStamped runout side A
PADRES PRIDEEtched runout side A
EGMD 550 B//1▽E TH 1 TOWNHOUSEStamped runout side B
NICK & STEVEEtched runout side B
EGM∙111-A STERLINGRunout Side A, etched w/ stamped 'STERLING'
EGM∙111 B HUB STERLINGRunout Side B, etched w/ stamped 'STERLING'
2311082 . A ....Side A, etched
2311082 . B ...Side B, etched
EGHL III-A SNB 230 QVariant 1 Side A Runout, etched
EGHL III-B SNB 230 QVariant 1 Side B Runout, etched
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 | Australasia | Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Malicious Damage EGHL 111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Malicious Damage 2311 082 / Polydor 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | EG 2302 109 / Polydor 2302 109First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Malicious Damage 28MM 0051 / Polydor 28MM 0051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Malicious Damage 28MM 0051 / Polydor 28MM 0051First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Malicious Damage 2302 109First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Norway | Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Malicious Damage EGMD 5.50 / Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | EG EGMD 5.50First yearLP, Advance, Album | LP, Advance, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Malicious Damage EGMD 5.50 / Malicious Damage 2311 082First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1981 | US | Malicious Damage EGM 111 / Editions EG EGM 111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Editions EG EGM 111LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | US | EG EGLP 58LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV015LPLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV015LPLP, Album, Reissue, 12", All Media, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, 12", All Media, Remastered |
| 2008 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV015LPLP, Album, Reissue, 12", All Media, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, 12", All Media, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Caroline International CAROLR057LPLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
22 vinyl pressings of What's This For...! are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1981 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Australasia, Canada and more. One of them is Malicious Damage EGMD 5.50.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EGMD 5.50, EGM 111, 2311 082, EGHL 111) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EG MD 550 A//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSE PADRES PRIDE and EGMD 550 B//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSE NICK & STEVE. 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.
