Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1979
Exposed was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.
VD-2511-A1 [Utopia logo] 21 ΛSide A runout, variant 1
VD-2511-B2 [Utopia logo] 2 ESide B runout, variant 1
VD-2511-C2 [Utopia logo] 4 DSide C runout, variant 1
VD-2511-D1 [Utopia logo] 10 DSide D runout, variant 1
VD 2511 ASide A
VD 2511 A [stamped]Side A
VD 2511 BSide B
VD 2511 B [stamped]Side B
VIG 139 2401 730 1 380 POLYGRAM Λ 4runout side A, stamped
VIG 139 2401 730 2 380 POLYGRAM Λ 3runout side B, stamped
VIG 139 2401 731 1 380 POLYGRAM Λ 2runout side C, stamped
VIG 139 2401 731 2 380 POLYGRAM Λ 1runout side D, stamped
VIG 139 2401 730 1 380 P̷O̷L̷Y̷G̷R̷A̷M̷ 300576 AA-side runout
VIG 139 2401 730 2 380 P̷O̷L̷Y̷G̷R̷A̷M̷ 300576 B AGIB-side runout
3005776C AGI VIG 139 2401 731 1 380 P̷O̷L̷Y̷G̷R̷A̷M̷C-side runout
VIG 139 2401 731 2 380 P̷O̷L̷Y̷G̷R̷A̷M̷ 300577 B AGID-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | Virgin 70004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Argentina | Virgin TLP2-70004First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2676 719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 300578First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2676 719First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 300 578 / Virgin 300578First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 30 239 8 / Virgin 30 240 6LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2676719 / Virgin 2676729First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2676729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2676729 / Virgin 2401730 / 2401731LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Israel | Virgin VD 2511First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1979 | Italy | Virgin AVIL 212511First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Virgin AVIL 212511First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Virgin VIP-9909-10First yearLP, Album, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | Virgin 300578-XDLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | Virgin 60009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Portugal | Virgin 620905LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | France | Virgin 60010LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1987 | Spain | Virgin 300578XDLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | Virgin 300578-XHLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Virgin 570 580-0 / Mercury 570 580-0LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Virgin 300 578-420LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 300 578-420 / Virgin 300 576LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | Virgin 300578-XDLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Virgin VD2511LP, Album, Limited Edition, Quadraphonic · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Quadraphonic · Limited |
40 vinyl pressings of Exposed are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1979 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, Australia, Argentina, France and more. One of them is Virgin VD2511.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VD2511, L 70127/8, 70004, 2676 719) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VD-2511-A1 [Utopia logo] 21 Λ and VD-2511-B2 [Utopia logo] 2 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.
