Vinyl pressings
by Public Image Limited · 1981
The Flowers Of Romance 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.
25 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
V2189-A1 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0Side A runout, etched / stamped, variant 1
V2189-B3 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0Side B runout, etched / stamped, variant 1
V2189-A2 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0Side A runout, etched / stamped, variant 2
V2189-B3 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0Side B runout, etched / stamped, variant 2
BSK-1-3536 LW1· ·· ✲Side A, variant 1
BSK-2-3536 LW3· ·· ✲Side B, variant 1
BSK-1-3536 LW1· ·· ✲Side A, variant 2
BSK-2-3536 LW1· ·· ✲Side B, variant 2
BSK-1-3536 WW1· ─◁A-side runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3536 WW1 · ─◁B-side runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3536 WW1 #3 · ─◁A-side runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3536 WW1 #2 · ─◁B-side runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3536 JW1· ·· 0Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3536 JW1· ·· 0Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3536 JW1 #1 0Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3536 JW1 #3 0Side B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3536 WW1 # 4SP 1-1 · ─◁A-Side runout
BSK-2-3536 WW1 # 2SP 1-1 · ─◁B-Side runout
˄ MX194636 V2189-1Side A Runout Groove Stamped
˄MX194637 V2189-2Side B Runout Groove Stamped
MX194636Side A Label
MX194637Side B Label
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 | Virgin V 2189First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Virgin V 2189First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3536First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3536First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 410 / Virgin 203 410-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 410-270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 203410First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 410 / Virgin 203 410-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 410 / Virgin 203 410-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 410 / Virgin 203 410-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin V 2189 / PolyGram 2473 818First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin V 2189 / PolyGram 2473 818First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12189First yearLP | LP |
| 1981 | Japan | Columbia YX-7291-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Columbia YX-7291-AXFirst yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M518LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M518LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Virgin OVED51 / Virgin OVED 51LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3536LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3536LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Virgin 203 410 / Virgin 203 410-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | Virgin VG 50034LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 51LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
40 vinyl pressings of The Flowers Of Romance are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1981 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Virgin V 2189, released April 10, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2189, BSK 3536, XBS 3536, 203 410) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V2189-A1 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0 and V2189-B3 TOWNHOUSE ⋀ 0. 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.
