Vinyl pressings
by Prince · 1981
Controversy 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.
29 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 17 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.
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S1 B-16192-RE 1-S1 0-15M3-2 SP + SLM + △Side A, variant 1
BSK-23601-S2 + SP SLM + △ 952-X 0-15M1-3Side B, variant 1
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S1 B-16192-RE-1-SI + SLM + + + + + + △ 952Side A, variant 2
BSK-2-3601-S2 + SLM + + + + + + △ 952-X +Side B, variant 2
B-16192-REI-S2 BSK-1-3601-(RE-I)-S2 + SLM ++ △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952Side A runout, variant 1
B-16193-S2 BSK-2-3601-S2 + SLM + △ 952-XSide B runout, variant 1
B-16192-REI-S2 BSK-1-3601-(RE-I)-S2 + SLM ꔰ :+ △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952Side A runout, variant 2
[Allied 'ɑ' Logo] B-16193-S1 BSK-2-3601-S1 + SLM ·+ △ 952-XSide B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16192-RE-1-S1 0-1 SM1-2 SP. + SLM + △ 952Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3601-S1 + SLM + △ 952-X 0-1 SM1-2 SP. [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16193-S1Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16192-RE-1-S1 0-1 SM1-3 SP. + SLM + △ 952Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3601-S1 + SLM + △ 952-X 0-1 SM1-3 SP. [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16193-S1Side B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-WW1 #2 · ─◁Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3601-(RE-1)-WW1 · ─◁Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-WW1 #2 ─◁Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3601-WW1 ─◁Side B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952 0-1 SM3-1Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3601-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 952-X 0-1 SM2-2Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952 0-1 SM3-1Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3601-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 952-X 0-1SM1-1Side B runout, variant 2
[Allied 'ɑ' Logo] B-16192-REI-S1 + SLM++ △952Variant 1, Runout A
B-16193-S2 BSK-2-3601-S2 + SLM+ △952-XVariant 1, Runout B
[Allied 'ɑ' Logo] B-16192-REI-S1 + SLM+ △952Variant 2, Runout A
B-16193-S2 BSK-2-3601-S2 + SLM+ ++ △952-XVariant 2, Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records WB 56950 / Warner Bros. Records 56950First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56950First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56950 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56950First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11126WFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11126WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records LWB-6115First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Philippines | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1521First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Rhino Records R1 3601 / Warner Bros. Records WB 3601LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | US | Rhino Records R1 3601 / Warner Bros. Records WB 3601LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2011 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 8122-79777-6 / Rhino Records 8122797776LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Warner Records R1 3601 / Warner Records 8122-79777-6LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2022 | US | NPG Records 19439863711 / The Prince Estate 19439863711LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | USA & Canada | Glory Hole Records GH-011LP, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS-3601LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS-3601LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3601LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records K 56950LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56950 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 950 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 950LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
68 vinyl pressings of Controversy are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1981 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3601, released October 14, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3601, K 56950, XBS-3601, XBS 3601) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S1 B-16192-RE 1-S1 0-15M3-2 SP + SLM + △ and BSK-23601-S2 + SP SLM + △ 952-X 0-15M1-3. 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.
