Vinyl pressings
by Madness · 1981
It Must Be Love 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.
22 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.
BUY 134 A1 ARUN BA-side runout, variant 1
BUY 134 B1 BB-side runout, variant 1
BUY 134 A2 ARUNA-side runout, variant 2
BUY 134 B2B-side runout, variant 2
BUY 134 A1 A ARUNA-side runout, variant 1
BUY 134 B1 AB-side runout, variant 1
BUY 134 A1 A ARUNA-side runout, variant 2
BUY 134 B2 AB-side runout, variant 2
F-BUY-134-A1Side A, Etched
S-BUY-134-B2Side B, Etched
BUY 134 A3 ARUN MPOHand etched runout, side A
BUY 134 B3 MPOHand etched runout, side B
BUY-134-A4 ASide A runout, variant 1
BUY 134 B1 CSide B runout, variant 1
BUY-134-A4 ASide A runout, variant 2
BUY 134 B2 CSide B runout, variant 2
BUY-134-A1-DJ * . A ARUNA-Side runout
BUY-134-B1-DJ * AB-Side runout
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 | Australia | Stiff Records K-8614 / Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Belgium | Stiff Records BUY 1134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Belgium | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | France | Stiff Records 101590 / Vogue 101590First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.13316 / Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.13316 / Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | Stiff Records BUY 134 / Stiff Records Buy 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Stiff Records BUY IT 134First year12" | 12" |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | Stiff Records STF 41First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Stiff Records VIC-4 / Stiff Records BUY 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Mexico | Musart MI 308667", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | Poland | Art & Muzyka ARM-4855-1Flexi-disc, 33 ⅓ RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc | Flexi-disc, 33 ⅓ RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
40 vinyl pressings of It Must Be Love are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1981 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Belgium, France and more. One of them is Stiff Records BUY 134, released November 20, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BUY 134, S-BUY 134, BUY DJ 134, K-8614) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BUY 134 A1 ARUN B and BUY 134 B1 B. 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.
