Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1978
Incantations was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 16 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.
VDT 101 A2Etchings Side A, Variation 1
VDT 101 B1Etchings Side B, Variation 1
VDT 101 C1Etchings Side C, Variation 1
VDT 101 D3Etchings Side D, Variation 1
VDT 101 A7 lyre MADE IN FRANCEEtchings Side A
VDT 101 B8 lyre MADE IN FRANCEEtchings Side B
VDT 101 C7 lyre MADE IN FRANCEEtchings Side C
VDT 101 D8 lyre MADE IN FRANCEEtchings Side D
300191 A-1/78S II Made in GermanyVariant 1 Side A runout
300191 B-1/78S Made in GermanyVariant 1 Side B runout
300192 A-1/78S II Made in GermanyVariant 1 Side C runout
300192 B-2/78S II Made in GermanyVariant 1 Side D runout
6 SMX53319 ·2ARunout, Record 1, Side A
11 SMX53320 ·2ARunout, Record 1, Side B
4 SMX53321 ·2ARunout, Record 2, Side A
4 SMX53322 ·2ARunout, Record 2, Side B
VDT 101 A2Etchings Side A, Variation 1
VDT 101 B1Etchings Side B, Variation 1
VDT 101 C1Etchings Side C, Variation 1
VDT 101 D3Etchings Side D, Variation 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Virgin L 70111/2 / Virgin L-70,111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Finland | Virgin VDT 101 / Virgin VDT101First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | France | Virgin 2676 716First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Greece | Virgin 2676716First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Ireland | Virgin VDT 101 / Virgin VDT101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Israel | Virgin VDT 101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Virgin AVIL 21101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Virgin VIP-9905~06First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Virgin VIP-9905~06First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Virgin 300 193-420First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Virgin 300 193-420First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Virgin VDT 101 / Virgin VS 238First yearLP, Album, 7", EP, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 7", EP, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Virgin VDT 101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Norway | Virgin VDT 101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Portugal | Virgin VV-33002-3-DN / VDC VV33002/3DNFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Spain | Virgin 300193-XDLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Italy | Virgin AVIL 21101LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | Virgin 60005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | Virgin VDT 101 / Virgin VDT101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Portugal | Virgin 615305LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Mercury 0600753346334 / Universal UMC 0600753346334LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2011 | UK & Europe | Mercury 0600753346334 / Universal UMC 533 463LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | Mercury 00602435362892 / UMC 00602435362892LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Virgin 300 193-420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 300 193-420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Virgin 300193 / Virgin 300191LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Virgin VDT 101 / Virgin VKPL–0010~11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Virgin 300193-XHLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Virgin 300193-XDLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Virgin 300193-XDLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
39 vinyl pressings of Incantations are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1978 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, Germany, Australia, Finland and more. One of them is Virgin VDT 101, released November 24, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VDT 101, 300 193-420, L 70111/2, 2676 716) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VDT 101 A2 and VDT 101 B1. 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.
