Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1980
QE2 was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. 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 1980, 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 2181 A1 RAYSRunout Side A etched variant 1
V 2181 B3 RAYSRunout Side B etched variant 1
V2181 A3Runout Side A etched variant 2
V 2181 B1 RAYSRunout Side B etched variant 2
V 2181 A - 5U - 1 - 1 < 1Runout Side A, stamped
V 2181 B - 4U - 1 - 1 - 3Runout Side B, stamped
GRAEMEEtched Side A
T1 PAL-37358-IDA runout
COLUMBIA NY P BL37358-1D TB runout
AL 37358Side A
BL37358Side B
௦ P AL 37358-1F [SI] COLUMBIA NY [A4]Runout A, stamped / [etched], variant 1
BL-37358-1G [SI] COLUMBIA NY [A5]Runout B, stamped / [etched], variant 1
p PAL-37358-1B ^A runout, variant 1
p P BL 37358-1B COLUMBIA NY DB runout, variant 1
p PAL-37358-1B ɅA runout, variant 2
p P BL 37358-1B COLUMBIA NY DB runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Virgin L 37457First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Virgin VL-2216First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Virgin 202967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 202 967 / Virgin 202 967-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 32 378 2LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 202 967-320 / Virgin 202 967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 202 967-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Virgin 202 967 / Virgin 202 967-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Iceland | Virgin V 2181 / Steinar V 2181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | Virgin V2181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Virgin 202 967 / Virgin 202 967-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Virgin V2181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | Virgin V2181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | South Africa | Virgin VIR (L) 3022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Mercury 370 791-3 / Universal UMC 370 791-3LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2012 | Europe | Mercury 370 883-4 / Universal UMC 370 883-4LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Virgin 202 967-320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | Virgin V2181LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED 235LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Virgin 202 967 / Virgin 202 967-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Scandinavia | Virgin V2181LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 235LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
55 vinyl pressings of QE2 are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1980 and 2012.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Finland, Greece and more. One of them is Virgin V2181, released October 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2181, FE 37358, V 2181, 2473807) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2181 A1 RAYS and V 2181 B3 RAYS. 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.
