Vinyl pressings
by Motörhead · 1979
Bomber 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.
12 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 9 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.
BRON 523 A - 2U 2 MG STRAWBERRYSide A runout, stamped, variant 1
BRON 523 B - 2U 2 RR STRAWBERRYSide B runout, stamped, variant 1
BRON 523 A-2U 3 RO STRAWBERRYSide A runout, stamped, variant 2
BRON 523 B-2U 1 RO STRAWBERRYSide B runout, stamped, variant 2
BRON 523 A-2U STRAWBERRYSide A runout, variant 1
BRON 523 B-2U STRAWBERRYSide B runout, variant 1
BRON 523 A-2U 0 3 STRAWBERRYSide A runout, variant 2
BRON 523 B-2U 0 1 STRAWBERRYSide B runout, variant 2
WEA BRO 2033 A MPORunout side A
WEA BRO 2033 B MPORunout side B
BRO 2033 ALabel side A
BRO 2033 BLabel side B
201013 A-1/79S Made in GermanyA-side, stamped
201013 B-1/79S Made in GermanyB-side, stamped
S 201.013 AA-side, center label
S 201.013 BB-side, center label
BRON-523-A TαRunout side A
BRON-523-B TαRunout side B
BRON-523 ALabel side A
Bron-523 BLabel side B
SMX . 55239 . W2ASide A runout, etched
SMX . 55240 . W2ASide B runout, etched
SMX55239Side A label
BRON-523-ASide A label
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 | Bronze L 37098 / Bronze BRON 523First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Bronze BROL 34523First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Bronze 201.013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Bronze 201 013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Bronze 201.013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Bronze L37098First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1979 | Portugal | Bronze 5000 523First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Bronze BRON 523First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | France | Bronze BRO 2033 / Bronze BRON 523First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Bronze 201.013 / Bronze 201 013-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Bronze BRO 2033LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1979 | UK | Bronze BRON 523First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Bronze BRON 523First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Bronze BRON 2505LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Argentina | Bronze BRON 2505LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Brazil | Bronze 104.8136LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Bronze 14C 062-63719 / Bronze BRON 523LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Bronze I-201013LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1980 | Spain | Bronze I-201013LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRON 523 / Bronze 2406 207LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | Bronze WBS-81289LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Bronze WBS-81289LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | France | Bronze BRO 2033LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Bronze VIP-4135LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Bronze I-201013 / Bronze I-201.013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Canada | Mercury MIP-1-9469LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Bronze BRON 523 / Bronze 2406 207LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 227LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | Russia | Castle Classics CLALP 227 / SNC RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | UK | Castle Music ESMLP311 / Essential! Records ESMLP311LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2000 | UK | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2000 | UK | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2003 | Italy | Earmark 41016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2003 | Italy | Earmark 41016 PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2003 | Italy | Earmark 41016 PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2004 | Italy | Earmark 41016LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2005 | Italy | Earmark 41016LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2008 | UK | Back On Black BOBV113LPLP, Album, LP, All Media, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, LP, All Media, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2008 | UK | Back On Black BOBV113LPLP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2008 | UK | Back On Black BOBV113LPLP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Bronze BRON 523 / Bronze BRONZE 523LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2013 | US | Bronze BRONZE 523 / Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | UK & Europe | Back On Black BOBV113LPLTDLP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | Europe | Sanctuary BMGRM021LP / BMG BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | Sanctuary BMGRM021LP / BMG BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Bronze BMG15014VLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT378TLPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Remastered, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Remastered, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK & US | BMG BMGRM021LP / Sanctuary BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Sanctuary BMGRM021LP / BMG BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Sanctuary BMGRM021LP / BMG BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Sanctuary BMGRM021LP / BMG BMGRM021LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | BMG 964126951LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | France | Bronze 89 3033 / Bronze 893.033LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | Bronze BRO 2033 / Bronze 89 3033LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 201 013-320 / Bronze 201 013LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 201.013 / Bronze 201 013-270LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 201.013 / Bronze 201 013-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Italy | Earmark 41016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Bronze 5B 201013 / Bronze I-201.013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Bronze BRON 523LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | Bronze BRON523LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
74 vinyl pressings of Bomber are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, France, Germany, Scandinavia and more. One of them is Bronze BRON 523, released October 27, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BRON 523, BRO 2033, 201.013, L 37098) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BRON 523 A - 2U 2 MG STRAWBERRY and BRON 523 B - 2U 2 RR STRAWBERRY. 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.
