Vinyl pressings
by King Diamond · 1986
Fatal Portrait was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. 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 1986, the album's first year, in 6 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.
RR 9721-A Holland Cutting BSide A runout variant 1
RR 9721-B HCB 10Side B runout variant 1
RR 9721-A Holland Cutting BSide A runout variant 2
RR 9721-B HCBSide B runout variant 2
RR 9721-A Holland Cutting BSide A, hand-etched
RR 9721-B HCBSide B, hand-etched
S - 15753 1-1 GWD-90529-AS G-1 MERCYFUL FATE IS DEAD''' 1⌢ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A Runout, variant 1
S - 15754 1- GWD-90529-BS '''LONG LIVE KING DIAMOND! MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B Runout, variant 1
GWD-90529-AS G-1 MERCYFUL FATE IS DEAD''' MASTERED BY CAPITOL C____ S-15753 1-1Side A Runout, Variant 2
GWD-90529-BS S-15754 1- ''' LONG LIVE KING DIAMOND! MASTERED BY CAPITOL C____Side B Runout, Variant 2
S-15753 1-1 GWD-90529-AS MERCYFUL FATE IS DEAD ''' MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout
GWD-90529-BS S-15754 1- ''' LONG LIVE KING DIAMOND! MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout
3062-A SSide A, etched
3062-B SSide B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Brazil | Estúdio Eldorado 3.062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Attic RRR-220 / Attic RRR 220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Attic RRR-220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9721LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | Japan | Far East Metal Syndicate SP25-5282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | Far East Metal Syndicate SP25-5282First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | South Korea | Roadracer Records GWD90529First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | US | Roadracer Records GWD90529First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | US | Roadracer Records GWD90529First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Roadrunner Records RR 9721 / Roadracer Records RR-90529First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | USA & Canada | Roadrunner Records GWD90529LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1986 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Brazil | Estúdio Eldorado 3.062LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9721LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Unknown | Not On Label (King Diamond)LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited, Picture disc |
| 2001 | Switzerland | Not On Label (King Diamond)LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-15318-1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-15318-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | USA & Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-25055-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2019 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9721LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Roadrunner Records RR 9721LP, Album, Repress, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25147-1 / Metal Blade Records 039842514765LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25147-1 / Metal Blade Records 039842514789LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25147-1 / Metal Blade Records 039842514710LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2026 | UK | Metal Blade Records 3984-15675-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Greenworld Records GWD90529 / Roadracer Records RR-90529LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Denmark | Roadracer Records GWD90529LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
38 vinyl pressings of Fatal Portrait are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1986 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in Europe, US, Brazil, Canada and more. One of them is Roadrunner Records RR 9721, released February 17, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RR 9721, GWD90529, 3.062, RRR-220) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RR 9721-A Holland Cutting B and RR 9721-B HCB 10. 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.
