Vinyl pressings
by Penetration · 1979
Coming Up For Air 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.
8 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 8 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 2131 A-3 TONE ⋀Side A runout, variant 1
V 2131 B-3 ⋀Side B runout, variant 1
V 2131 A4 tONE ⋀Side A runout, variant 2
V 2131 B 4 ⋀Side B runout, variant 2
VI-2131A @tGP HUBRunout Side A, etched
VI-2131B @tGP HUBRunout Side B, etched
200964 A-1 /79S Made in GermanyStamped, Side A
200964 B-1 /79S Made in GermanyStamped, Side B
200964 A-1 /79 SRunout A
200964 B-1 /79 SRunout B
2933 796 A V 2131 B4 BRunout side A
2933 796 B V 2131 A4 tone BRunout side B
2933 796 S 1Label side A
2933 796 S 2Label side B
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-37,118First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Benelux | Virgin 200 964First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 200 964 / Virgin 200 964-270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin V 2131 / Virgin 2933 796First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin V 2131LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Virgin V 2131First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | Virgin VV - 33.025 - VFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Virgin International VI 2131First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Virgin V 2131 / Virgin V2131First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6943 / Virgin VIRG-6045LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6943 / Virgin VIRG-6045LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 203LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
12 vinyl pressings of Coming Up For Air are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Australia, Benelux and more. One of them is Virgin V 2131, released September 21, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2131, VI 2131, L-37,118, 200 964) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2131 A-3 TONE ⋀ and V 2131 B-3 ⋀. 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.
