Vinyl pressings
by Peter Gabriel · 1986
So was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
48 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 28 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.
PG 5 A-3U-1-3-4 D TOWNHOUSESide A, runout, variant 1
PG 5 B-3U-1-1- TOWNHOUSE DSide B, runout, variant 1
PG 5 A-5U-1-1-2 D TOWNHOUSESide A, runout, variant 2
PG 5 B-3U-1-9-5 TOWNHOUSE DSide B, runout, variant 2
PG 5 A-4U-1-5- 6 COPPERMAN DVar. 1, side A runout
P ̷ ̷0̷ ̷G5 B-4U-1-2- 10 D COPPERMANVar. 1, side B runout
PG 5 A-4U-1-3-4 COPPERMAN DVar. 2, side A runout
P ̷ ̷0̷ ̷G5 B-4U-1-2- 11 D COPPERMANVar. 2, side B runout
PG 5 A-3U-1-3- DRunout side A
P ̷ ̷0̷ ̷G5 B-4U-1-2- 10 D COPPERMANRunout side B
PG 5 - 1Label matrix, side A
PG 5 - 2Label matrix, side B
PG 5 A-4U-1-2--1 COPPERMAN DVar. 1, side A runout
PG 5 B-3U-1-3-17 TOWNHOUSE DVar. 1, side B runout
PG 5 A-4U-1-5- COPPERMAN DVar. 2, side A runout
PG 5 B-3U-1-3-8- TOWNHOUSE DVar. 2, side B runout
PG 5 ASide 1
PG 5 BSide 2
GHS-24088-A-SR-1 GF [SRC logo] 1-4 [Artisan logo]Side A runout, variant 1
GHS-24088-B-SR-1 [SRC logo] 1-6 [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 1
GHS-24088-A-SR-3 [Artisan logo]GF [SRC logo] 1-3Side A runout, variant 2
GHS-24088-B-SR1 [Artisan logo] [SRC logo] 1-3Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Unknown | Virgin PG 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Argentina | Virgin TLP-90004 / Virgin DXL1-3410First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australasia | Charisma PG 5 / Virgin PG 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | Virgin PG 5 / Charisma PG 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | Virgin PG 5 / Charisma PG 5First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, 12" · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, 12" · Limited |
| 1986 | Australia | Virgin PG 5 / Charisma PG 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | Charisma PG 5 / Virgin PG 5First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1986 | Brazil | Virgin 104 8366 / Virgin 104.8366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Brazil | Virgin 1048366 / Virgin 104.8366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records GHS 24088LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records GHS 24088LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | Virgin 207 587 / Virgin PG5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Europe | Virgin 207 587LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия А60 00427 007LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1991 | USSR | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1991 | USSR | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1992 | Russia | Мелодия A60 00427 007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1997 | UK | Virgin 7243 8 42801 1 6LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | US | Real World Records PGLP07 / Classic Records PGLP07LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2004 | US | Real World Records PGLP07 / Classic Records PGLP07LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records PG 7LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Real World Records PG7-45 / Classic Records PG7-4512", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Classic Records PG7-45 / Real World Records PG7-4512", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Test Pressing, Box Set, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Test Pressing, Box Set, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | Europe | Real World Records PGBOX2 / Real World Records 884108001400CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Stereo, CD, Album, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, NTSC, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 12", Maxi-Single, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited | CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Album, Stereo, CD, Album, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, NTSC, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 12", Maxi-Single, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2012 | Japan | Real World Records PGBOX2 / Real World Records 884108001400CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Album, CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, NTSC, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 12", Maxi-Single, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited | CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Album, CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, NTSC, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 12", Maxi-Single, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2016 | UK | Caroline International PGLPR5X / Real World Records PGLPR5XLP, 45 RPM, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | Europe | Real World Records PGLPR5 / Caroline International 884108004548LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Real World Records PGLPR5 / Real World Records 884108004548LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | US | Real World Records PGLPR5 / Caroline International 884108016985LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Real World Records PGLPR5 / Caroline International 884108016404LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Geffen Records XGHS 24088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Virgin LL 207587LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
103 vinyl pressings of So are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1986 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, France, Ireland and more. One of them is Charisma PG 5, released May 19, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PG 5, GHS 24088, 123 761, 28VB-1088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PG 5 A-3U-1-3-4 D TOWNHOUSE and PG 5 B-3U-1-1- TOWNHOUSE D. 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.
