Vinyl pressings
by Manowar · 1984
Sign Of The Hammer was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1984, 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.
DIX 10 A - 2U - 1 - 1 ⇀ ARUNSide A runout stamped, "ARUN" etched var 1
DIX 10 B - 4U - 1 - 1 ⇁ 5 ARUNSide B runout stamped, "ARUN" etched var 1
DIX 10 A - 2U - 1 - 1 ⇀ 3 ARUNSide A runout stamped, "ARUN" etched var 2
DIX 10 B - 4U - 1 - 1 ⇁ ARUNSide B runout stamped, "ARUN" etched var 2
VL2311 A-2 SNB 230Side A
VL2311 B-2 SNB 230Side B
DM 206639 A-1 / 84 S III IISide A, stamped
DM 206639 B-1 / 84 S III IISide B, stamped
DM 206639 A-1 / 84 S IIISide A Variant 2
DM 206639 B-1 / 84 S IIISide B Variant 2
M6 34750 5 2 70284 ASide A runout
M6 34750 6 2 70284 BSide B runout
VG 50082 ASide A, stamped
VG 50082 B ⋆Side B, stamped
DIX 1 0 A - 1U - 1 - ARUN.Side A runout stamped / etched
DIX 10 B - 3U - 1 - ARUNSide B runout stamped / etched
DIX 10-ASide A label
DIX 10-BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada | 10 Records VL 2311First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | 10 Records 206 639 / 10 Records 206 639-620First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | 10 Records 206 639 / 10 Records 206 639-620First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1984 | France | 10 Records 70284 / Virgin 70284First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | 10 Records VG 50082 / 10 Records 062-VG 50082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | 10 Records DIX 10First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | 10 Records DIX 10First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | 10 Records 28VB-1003 / 10 Records CXID21First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Mexico | Virgin LAE-613First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | New Zealand | 10 Records DIX 10First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | 10 Records XID 21LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1984 | Zimbabwe | Virgin VNC 5062 / Virgin DIX 10First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | 10 Records DIX 10First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | 10 Records 28VB-1003 / Virgin DIX 10First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1985 | South Africa | Virgin VNC 5062LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | US | Grand Slamm Records SLAM14LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0082-1 311LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0082-1 311LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0082-1 311LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0082-1 311LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | UK | 10 Records XID 21LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | UK | Back On Black BOBV203LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2009 | UK | Back On Black BOBV203LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | UK | Back On Black BOBV203LPLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | 10 Records 206 639 - 620LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | 10 Records 206639-270 / 10 Records DIX 10LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | 10 Records DIX 10 / 10 Records 206639-270LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | 10 Records XID 21 / 10 Records 0777-786747-1-9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label #LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | 10 Records E 206 639 / Virgin E 206 639LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
34 vinyl pressings of Sign Of The Hammer are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1984 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Canada, Europe, France and more. One of them is 10 Records DIX 10, released October 15, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DIX 10, VL 2311, 206 639, 70284) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DIX 10 A - 2U - 1 - 1 ⇀ ARUN and DIX 10 B - 4U - 1 - 1 ⇁ 5 ARUN. 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.
