Vinyl pressings
by Phil Collins · 1981
In The Air Tonight was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
54 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 20 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.
VS 102 A-8 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1
VS 102 B-9 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, variant 1
VS 102 A3 TOWNHOUSE CRunout side A, variant 2
VS-102-B7 TOWNHOUSE FRunout side B, variant 2
VS 102 A-7 TOWNHOUSE L 1Runout Side A
VS 102 B-8 TOWNHOUSE K 1Runout Side B
VS 102 A-7 TOWNHOUSERunout Side A [Variant 2]
VS 102 B-8 TOWNHOUSERunout Side B [Variant 2]
VSK 102-A1 TOWNHOUSERunout side A
VSK 102-B2 TOWNHOUSERunout side B
VS 102 A-8 DAMONTSide A Runout, Etched
VS 102 B-9 DAMONTSide B Runout, Etched
TOWNHOUSESides A & B Runout, Stamped
VS 102 A4 W-4Runout side A, etched
VS 102 B-15 W-5Runout side B, etched - (The 1 of B-15 is scratched out)
VS 102 A4 W-13Runout side A, etched , Variant 2- (The TOWNHOUSE stamping overlaps the W-13)
VS 102 B-15 W-30Runout side B, etched, Variant 2 - (The 1 of B-15 is scratched out)
ST-A-39287-SPSide B labe;
1^1 ST-A-39947-5-DJ SP.@GPSide A runout, variant 1
1^2 ST-A-39287-2 @GP [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 1
SP ST-A-39947-6 DJ @GPSide A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | WEA 200115First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Argentina | WEA 200115First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Atlantic 45 3790First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Australia | Atlantic 45 3790First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic AT 3824First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic AT 3824First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic AT 3824First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Atlantic AT 3824First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Europe | Atlantic WEA 79 198 / Atlantic ATL 79 198First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1981 | Europe | Atlantic WEA 79 198 / Atlantic ATL 79 198First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1981 | France | Atlantic 79 198First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | France | Atlantic 79 198First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Atlantic 79 198 / Atlantic 79198First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Atlantic 79 198 / Atlantic 79198First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | WEA WEA 79 200First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | US | Atlantic DMD 241812", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1997 | US | Atlantic 0-8541712", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | US | Atlantic DMD 241812", 33 ⅓ RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Germany | Not On Label (Phil Collins) PC 112", 45 RPM, White Label, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 45 RPM, White Label, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | USA, Canada & Europe | Atlantic 0812279523897", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue |
| 2019 | Germany | Rolling Stone / Atlantic7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Atlantic U 791987", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Atlantic 38247", Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
77 vinyl pressings of In The Air Tonight are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1981 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Ireland, Austria and more. One of them is Virgin VS 102, released January 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VS 102, VSK 102, 3824, WEA 79 198) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VS 102 A-8 TOWNHOUSE and VS 102 B-9 TOWNHOUSE. 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.
