Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1987
Islands was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. 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 1987, 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.
V 2466 A-2U-1-X1 DMMRunout Side A, Variant 1
V 2466 B-1U-1- 1- X1Runout Side B, Variant 1
V 2466 A-2U-1-1 T DMM D DRunout Side A, Variant 2
V 2466 B-1U-1J - 1- 2 T3Runout Side B, Variant 2
ST-VR-876545-A SRC S̶̷T̶̷-̶̷V̶̷R̶̷-̶̷8̶̷7̶̷6̶̷5̶̷7̶̷5̶̷-̶̷A̶̷ (Artisan logo) 1-1Side A runout etched, SRC/Artisan logos stamped
ST-VR-876546-A SRC S̶̷T̶̷-̶̷V̶̷R̶̷-̶̷8̶̷7̶̷6̶̷5̶̷7̶̷6̶̷-̶̷A̶̷ (Artisan logo) 1-1Side B runout etched, SRC/Artisan logos stamped
ST-VR-876545Side A label
ST-VR-876546Side B label
ST-VR-876545-A [Artisan logo] 1-3 SP-AR △18244 0- B-29165-A [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 1
ST-VR-8̶7̶6̶5̶7̶6̶-̶A̶ [Artisan logo] 1-2 STVR-876546-A △18244-X B- 29166-A SP-AR [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 1
ST-VR-876545-A △18244 O- B 29165-A [SRC logo] S̶T̶-̶V̶R̶-̶8̶7̶6̶5̶7̶5̶-̶A̶ [Artisan logo] 1-3 SP-ARRunout side A, variant 2
ST-VR-876546-A △18244-X B- 29166-A SP-AR [SRC logo] ST-VR-̶8̶7̶6̶5̶7̶6̶-̶A̶ [Artisan logo] 1-2Runout side B, variant 2
V 2466A CDRunout (Etched) Side 1
V2466 B - 2Runout (Etched) Side 2
V2466ALabel Side 1
V2466BLabel Side 2
VL 2466-ASide 1 Etched
VL-2466-BSide 2 Etched
DM 208650 A - 1/8 - 87Runout side A, variant 1
DM 208650 B - 2/9 - 87Runout side B, variant 1
DM 208650 A - 1/8 - 87 IIRunout side A, variant 2
DM 208650 B - 2/9 - 87 IIRunout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | Virgin V2466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Virgin VL 2466 / Virgin VL2466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Europe | Virgin 208 650-630 / Virgin 208 650First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 124661First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 124661First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 124661LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1987 | Germany | Virgin 36 218-6 / Sonocord 36 218-6LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Germany | VirginLP, Album, Test Pressing, Promo · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Promo · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1987 | Greece | Virgin VG 50306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Hungary | Gong SLPXL 37222First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Israel | Virgin V 2466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Virgin V 2466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Japan | Virgin VJL-28006First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Japan | Virgin VJL-28006First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Mexico | Virgin LAE-791First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Virgin VG 50306LP, Album | LP, Album |
30 vinyl pressings of Islands are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1987 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Virgin V 2466, released October 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2466, 7 90645-1, V2466, VL 2466) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2466 A-2U-1-X1 DMM and V 2466 B-1U-1- 1- X1. 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.
