UK
June 3, 1985- Label and catalog number
- Mute STUMM 21
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
MPO STUMM 21 A1 TimTom • cbs A MURDER OF CROWSSide A, hand-etched runout
MPO STUMM 21 B1 THE BLUE TESTAMENTSide B, hand-etched runout
Vinyl pressings
The Firstborn Is Dead
by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds · 1985
27 pressings14 countriesBlues RockNew WaveRock
The Firstborn Is Dead was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Firstborn Is Dead
13 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 10 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.
US
1985- Label and catalog number
- Homestead Records HMS 026
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
HMS 026 A1 TIMTOM A MURDER OF CROWS MPOSIDE 1
HMS 026 B1 MPO THE BLUE TESTAMENTSIDE 2
US
1985- Label and catalog number
- Homestead Records HMS 026
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
HMS 026 A HUBRunout Side A
HMS 026 B HUBRunout Side B
Australia & New Zealand
1985- Label and catalog number
- Mute STUMM 21Possum Records STUMM 21
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
Stumm 21A
Stumm 21B
France
1985- Label and catalog number
- Mute 540120Vogue 540120
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
[AGI logo] 85 / 5 54 0120 ASide A runout, stamped
[AGI logo] 85 /5 54 01 20 BSide B runout, stamped
Germany
1985- Label and catalog number
- Mute INT 146.816Mute Stumm 21
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
DM B-2640 A-1/85S IIRunout side A
DM B-2640 B-1/85 S IIRunout side B
B-2640 ALabel Side A
B-2640 BLabel Side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 27 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s18 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia & New Zealand | Mute STUMM 21 / Possum Records STUMM 21First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Mute 540120 / Vogue 540120First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | Mute INT 146.816 / Mute Stumm 21First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Germany | Intercord 146816LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Germany | Mute 146.816 / Mute 146.813LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Germany | Mute INT 146.816 / Mute Stumm 21First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Greece | Virgin VG 50126 / Virgin 062-VG 50126First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Italy | Mute STUMM 21First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Japan | Mute P-13110First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Japan | Mute P-13110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Mute STUMM 21First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Homestead Records HMS 026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Homestead Records HMS 026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Homestead Records HMS-026LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | USA & Europe | Homestead Records HMS 026 / Mute STUMM 21First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
1990s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Australia | Liberation Records L 30442 / Liberation Records L30442LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2010s6 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Germany | Mute INT 146.816 / Mute Stumm 21LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Germany | Mute INT 146.816 / Mute Stumm 21LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2014 | North America (inc Mexico) | Mute LPSEEDS2 / BMG BMG14002VLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | Europe | Mute LPSEEDS2 / BMG LPSEEDS2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | Europe | Mute LPSEEDS2 / BMG LPSEEDS2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | Europe | Mute LPSEEDS2 / BMG LPSEEDS2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Year unknown2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Mute STUMM 21LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Mute LPSEEDS2 / BMG BMG14002VLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1Tupelo
- A2Say Goodbye To The Little Girl Tree
- A3Train Long-Suffering
- A4Black Crow King
- B1Knockin' On Joe
- B2Wanted Man
- B3Blind Lemon Jefferson
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Firstborn Is Dead are there?
27 vinyl pressings of The Firstborn Is Dead are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1985 and 2014.
When was The Firstborn Is Dead first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Australia & New Zealand, France and more. One of them is Mute STUMM 21, released June 3, 1985.
How do I tell if my copy of The Firstborn Is Dead is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STUMM 21, HMS 026, 540120, INT 146.816) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MPO STUMM 21 A1 TimTom • cbs A MURDER OF CROWS and MPO STUMM 21 B1 THE BLUE TESTAMENT. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Firstborn Is Dead on vinyl worth?
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.
