Vinyl pressings
by Love And Rockets · 1986
Express 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.
14 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 10 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.
BEGA-74-A2 MT. SOUND CLINIC DAMONT KSide A runout, variant 1
BEGA-74-B1 1 MT. JONZ Turn To The West DAMONT ESide B runout, variant 1
BEGA-74-A2 MT. SOUND CLINIC DAMONT OSide A runout, variant 2
BEGA-74-B1 1 MT. JONZ Turn To The West DAMONT PSide B runout, variant 2
6011-1-BA 1 1 ISide A runout, stamped
6011-1-BB 1 1 ISide B runout, stamped
BT 7070 A APSide A etched
BT 7070 BSide B etched
830-458-1A-3 SnB 230 EL DM-10Side A hand-etched (“10” in DM-10 is stamped) variant 1
830-458-1B SnB 230 EL DM-3Side B hand-etched (“3” in DM-3 is stamped) variant 1
830-458-1A-3 SnB 230 EL DM-5Side A hand-etched (“5” in DM-5 is stamped) variant 2
830-458-1B SnB 230 EL DM-4Side B hand-etched (“4” in DM-4 is stamped) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia | Big Time BT 7070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Vertigo 830 458-1 / Beggars Banquet 830 458-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | France | Attitude ATT 12First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Germany | Bellaphon 260·07·089First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Greece | Beggars Banquet 58029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | Beggars Banquet 58029First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1986 | Japan | Beggars Banquet YX-7414-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Netherlands | Torso Torso 33019 / Torso 33019First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Spain | DRO 4D-211First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 74First yearLP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| 1986 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 74First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1986 | US | Big Time 6011-1-BFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 74First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Beggars Banquet YX-7414-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Argentina | DG Discos DG 217LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP60LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP60LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP60LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK | Beggars Banquet BBQ 2250 LP2LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2023 | Unknown | Beggars Banquet BBQ 2250 LP2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Big Time 6011-1-BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
22 vinyl pressings of Express are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1986 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Beggars Banquet BEGA 74, released September 15, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BEGA 74, 6011-1-B, BT 7070, 830 458-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BEGA-74-A2 MT. SOUND CLINIC DAMONT K and BEGA-74-B1 1 MT. JONZ Turn To The West DAMONT E. 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.
