Vinyl pressings
by Mike Oldfield · 1973
Tubular Bells was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
43 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 13 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 2001 A-2URunout, A-side, stamped, variant 1
V 2001 B-3URunout, B-side, stamped, variant 1
V 2001 A-2U PO 2Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 2
V 2001 B-3U HR 3Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 2
V-2001-ARunout, A-side, etched
V-2001-BRunout, B-side, etched
V 2001 A-2URunout, A-side, stamped
V 2001 B-3URunout, B-side, stamped
V2001-ASide A
V2001-BSide B
V2001-ARunout, A-side, etched
V2001-BRunout, B-side, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Unknown | Virgin V2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Unknown | Virgin V2001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Brazil | Virgin 104 8290LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Canada | Virgin VR 13-105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Virgin VR-13-105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Europe | Virgin V2001 / Virgin 87 541 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Virgin 87 541 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Ireland | Virgin V2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Virgin 87541 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Virgin 87541 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Virgin 87541 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Virgin 87541 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Virgin 87541 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Rhodesia | Virgin V2001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Netherlands | Virgin 87 541 ET / Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Virgin 87 541 ET / Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | South Africa | Virgin VIR(L) 3000LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Virgin 87 541 ILP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSVIRG 70909 / Virgin V 2001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Portugal | Virgin 602205 / Edisom 602205LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Portugal | Virgin 602205LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | Virgin 87541-ILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Virgin PE 34116 / Epic PE 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 34116 / Virgin PE 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Virgin PE 34116 / Epic PE 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 34116 / Virgin PE 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Virgin PE 34116 / Epic PE 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | Virgin 87 541 ET / Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | Virgin 87541-610 / Virgin 87 541 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Korea | EMI/Kemongsa VKPL-0046 / Virgin V 2001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1991 | Poland | Polskie Nagrania Muza SX 2998LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1997 | UK | Virgin 724384280017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Virgin VS 2001 / Classic Records VS 2001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | US | Virgin VS 2001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2009 | Europe | Mercury 0602527035314 / Universal UMC 0602527035314LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2009 | Europe | Mercury 270 353-9Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, LP, Album | Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, LP, Album |
| 2009 | Europe | Mercury 270 353-9Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered, Special Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Compilation, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered, Special Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Compilation, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2009 | Europe | Universal UMC 270 353-9 / Mercury 270 353-9Box Set, Compilation, Deluxe Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Compilation, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | Box Set, Compilation, Deluxe Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Compilation, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Japan | Mercury UIJY-90004LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2012 | Japan | Mercury UIJY-90004LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Virgin 0600753695036 / Universal Music Group International 0600753695036LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | UK & Europe | Mercury 0602527035314 / Universal UMC 0602527035314LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | Mercury V2001 50LP / EMI 00602448629258LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Mercury V2001 50LP / EMI 00602448629258LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Virgin V2001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Argentina | Virgin 60008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Argentina | Virgin 50018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australasia | Virgin V-2001 / Virgin V2001LP, Album, Reissue, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Reissue, Quadraphonic |
| ? | Australia | Virgin V2001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Virgin V2001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Virgin 87 541 XOTLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Virgin 104.8290LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Virgin V2001 / Virgin V 2001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Epic PZ 34116 / Virgin PZ 34116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Virgin V2001 / Virgin V 2001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 87 541 ET / Virgin 87541-610LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 87 541 XOT / Virgin 87541 ITLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
289 vinyl pressings of Tubular Bells are listed here, from 38 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Philippines, Canada and more. One of them is Virgin V2001, released May 25, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2001, VR 13-105, PZ 34116, QD13-105) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2001 A-2U and V 2001 B-3U. 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.
