Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1979
Platinum 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 15 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 2141 A 2 Ʊ [lyre logo] ∙: MACK ONE 6Runout Side A etched, variant 1
V 2141 B 1 Ʊ [lyre logo] 6Runout Side B etched, variant 1
V 2141 A 1 Ʊ [lyre logo] VRunout Side A etched, variant 2
V 2141 B 2 V Ʊ [lyre logo ] VRunout Side B etched, variant 2
V-2141-A-2 15 G MACK ONE [Utopia lyre symbol]Runout side A, variant 1
V-2141-B-4 10 A [Utopia lyre symbol]Runout side B, variant 1
V-2141 A2 [Utopia lyre symbol] MACK ONERunout side A, variant 2
V-2141-B3 [Utopia lyre symbol]Runout side B, variant 2
V-2141-A-3 Ʊ [Lyre symbol] 1 8 BRunout side A
V-2141-B-3 F Ʊ [Lyre symbol]Runout side B
SMX55547Side A and on label
SMX55548Side B and on label
MX194571 V2141-1Runout side A, stamped
MX194571 V2141-2Runout side B, stamped
Made in Germany (crossed out) 012 201206 A-1/79SRunout A, stamped
Made in Germany (crossed out) 012 201206 B-1 /79 SRunout B, stamped
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 | Australia | Virgin L 37150 / Virgin V 2141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Virgin V 2141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Virgin 201 206First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Finland | Virgin V 2141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 201206First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2473 793First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2473 793First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2473 793First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Israel | Virgin V2141 / Virgin BAN V 2141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Virgin V 2141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Philippines | Virgin V-4601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Virgin V 2141LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Finland | Virgin V 2141LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6948LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1980 | Spain | Virgin I-201206 / Virgin I-201 206LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6948LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 32 064 8LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | Virgin I·201206LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSVIRG 73110 / Virgin V 2141LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Australia | Virgin V 2141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | Virgin OVED 233LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Mercury 370 791-4 / Universal UMC 370 791-4LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2012 | Europe | Mercury 370 883-6 / Universal UMC 370 883-6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Virgin 201 206 / Virgin 201 206-610LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Iceland | Steinar Hf. V 2141LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED233LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Virgin VIL 12141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Virgin V 2141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
66 vinyl pressings of Platinum are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1979 and 2012.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, Australia, Austria, Finland and more. One of them is Virgin V 2141, released November 23, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2141, L 37150, 201 206, 201206) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2141 A 2 Ʊ [lyre logo] ∙: MACK ONE 6 and V 2141 B 1 Ʊ [lyre logo] 6. 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.
