Vinyl pressings
by Madness · 1980
Absolutely 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.
38 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 19 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.
SEEZ-29-A2 NUTS TO SCRIBESRun-out side A, variant 1
SEEZ-29-B1 RIGHT IS RIGHT BESTS BEEST STERLINGRun-out side B, variant 1
SEEZ-29-A2 NUTS TO SCRIBES STERLINGRun-out side A, variant 2
SEEZ-29-B2 RIGHT IS RIGHT BEST IS BEST STERLINGRun-out side B, variant 2
SEEZ 29 A5 A ARUN NUTS TO SCRIBESA-Side runout
SEEZ 29 B5 A RIGHT IS RIGHTB-Side runout
SEEZ 29 A6 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUN DA-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ 29 B7 A ARUNB-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ 29 A6 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUN DA-Side runout, variant 2
SEEZ 29 B5 D RIGHT IS RIGHTB-Side runout, variant 2
SEEZ 29 A6 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUN DA-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ 29 B5 D RIGHT IS RIGHTB-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ 29 A5 A ARUN NUTS TO SCRIBESA-Side runout, variant 2
SEEZ 29 B5 C RIGHT IS RIGHTB-Side runout, variant 2
SEEZ 29 A6 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUNSide A runout, etched, variant 1
SEEZ 29 B6 RIGHT IS RIGHT BESTSSide B runout, etched, variant 1
SEEZ 29 A6 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUN DSide A runout, etched, variant 2
SEEZ 29 B7 Λ ARUNSide B runout, etched, variant 2
SEEZ 29 A5 NUTS TO SCRIBES ARUNA-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ 29 B5 RIGHT IS RIGHT ∴B-Side runout, variant 1
SEEZ-29-A2 NUTS TO SCRIBES STERLINGA-Side runout, variant 2
SEEZ-29-B2 RIGHT IS RIGHT BEST IS BEST STERLINGB-Side 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 | Australia | Stiff Records L 37479 / Stiff Records L-37479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Belgium | Stiff Records 940.836First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire XSR 6094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Finland | Stiff Records SEEZ 29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 940836 / Stiff Records 940 836First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 940836 / Stiff Records 940 836First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24 511 / Stiff Records 6.24511 AOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records SEEZ 29 / Stiff Records 6.24511 BLFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF 15513 / Polygram 15 513LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF 15.513 / Polygram 15 513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Hong Kong | Stiff Records SEEZ 29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Israel | Stiff Records SEEZ 29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Stiff Records SEEZ 29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6741 / Stiff Records SEEZ-29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6741 / Stiff Records SEEZ 29First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Europe | Size 12 Records SIZE100210", Album, Reissue | 10", Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | Europe | Size 12 Records SIZE100210", Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | 10", Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2013 | US | Yep Roc Records YEP-2359LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV073LPLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV073LPLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2014 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV073LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK | Union Square Music SALVOLP06 / BMG SALVOLP06LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2021 | Europe | BMG SALVOCLP06X / Union Square Music SALVOLP06LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | UK | Union Square Music SALVOCLP06 / BMG SALVOCLP06LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Virgin 207 374 / Virgin 207 374-270LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Zarjazz OVED 134 / Virgin OVED 134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Mexico | Stiff Records EDI - 60622LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Sire SRK 6094LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Sire SRK 6094LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
66 vinyl pressings of Absolutely are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1980 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Stiff Records SEEZ 29, released September 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SEEZ 29, SRK 6094, L 37479, 940.836) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SEEZ-29-A2 NUTS TO SCRIBES and SEEZ-29-B1 RIGHT IS RIGHT BESTS BEEST STERLING. 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.
