Vinyl pressings
by Mike & The Mechanics · 1988
Living Years was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1988, 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.
ST-A-887201-F ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side A runout, variant 1
ST-A-887202-F ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 1
ST-A-887201-F 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SRCSide A runout, variant 2
ST-A-887202-F 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SRCSide B runout, variant 2
ST-A-887201-F /—3 SP-AR ∆23041 0– B-33433-F SRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side A runout
ST-A-887202-F /-/SM2-1 SP-AR B-33433-F ∆23041-X 0– SRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side B runout
ST-A-887201-ARSide A label
ST-A-887202-ARSide B label
ST-A-887201-F 1-3 SP-AR ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. ∆23041 0- SRC B-33433-FSide A runout
ST-A-887202-F 1-1 SM2-1 SPAR B-33433-F ∆23041-X ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. 0- SRCSide B runout
R/S Alsdorf 256004-1-A2Runout side A, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 256004-1-B2Runout side B, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 256004-1-A2 5 BNRunout side A, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 256004-1-B2 1 BNRunout side B, variant 2
MX301751 256004-1 1Runout Side A Etched
MX301752 256004-1 2Runout Side B Etched
MX301751Label Side A
MX301752Label Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Argentina | WEA 80781 / Atlantic 56004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia | WEA 256004-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | Atlantic 78 19231First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | WEA 256 004-1 / WEA 2 56004-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | WEA 256 004-1 / WEA WX 203First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | WEA 256 004-1First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Germany | WEA 256 004-1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | Greece | WEA 256 004-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | WEA 256 004-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | Israel | WEA BAN 256 004-1 / Hed-Arzi BAN 256 004-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Portugal | WEA 2560041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Africa | WEA WIC 5108First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | WEA 256 004-1 / WEA WX 203First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Atlantic 81923-1 / Atlantic 7 81923-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Atlantic 7 81923-1 / Atlantic 81923-1LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 310LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT297DLPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Deluxe Edition |
| 2018 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT297DLPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Craft Recordings 0088872829660LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Atlantic 81923LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
29 vinyl pressings of Living Years are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1988 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, Europe, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Atlantic 81923-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 81923-1, 256 004-1, 80781, 256004-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-A-887201-F ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo] and ST-A-887202-F ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]. 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.
