Vinyl pressings
by Queen · 1986
A Kind Of Magic 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.
50 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 32 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.
EU 3509 A-4U-1-2-Variant 1, runout, A-side, stamped
EU 3509 B-4U-1-5-Variant 1, runout, B-side, stamped
EU 3509 A - 2U - 1 - 1 -Variant 2, runout, A-side, stamped
EU 3509 B - 2U - 1 - 2 - X1Variant 2, runout, B-side, stamped
EU 3509 A-2U-1-1-X1 D TOWNHOUSE DMMVariant 1 Runout, A-side
EU 3509 B-2U-1-1-X1 D TOWNHOUSE DMMVariant 1 Runout, B-side
EU 3509 A-2U-1-4 -X1 D TOWNHOUSE DMMVariant 2 Runout, A-side
EU 3509 B-4U-1-1-7Variant 2 Runout, B-side
EU 3509 A-4U-1-1Side A runout
EU 3509 B-3U-1-1-1Side B runout
SMAS SJ-1-12476 B-24113-F2 WallySide A
SMAS SJ-2-12476 B-24114-F2 WallySide B
SMAS-1- (scratched out) -12476 F-1 (allied A) B-24113-F1 Δ13077-X 1-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide A Alt
SMAS (scratched out) -212476 F-1 (allied A) B-24114-F1 Δ13077-X 1-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide B Alt
AL -SPSMAS S̶J̶ -2-12476 F-2 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-24114-F2 △13077 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide A runout, variant 1
AL -SP SMAS S̶J̶ -2-12476 F-2 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-24114-F2 △13077-X MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide B runout, variant 1
AL -SPSMAS S̶J̶ -1-12476 F-2 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-24113-F2 △13077 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally SP ⊳⊲ 0-1SM1-1Side A runout, variant 2
AL -SP SMAS S̶J̶ -2-12476 F-2 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-24114-F2 △13077-X MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally SPO-1 1̶-̶1̶Side 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 | Argentina | EMI 81 2405311 58427First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Argentina | EMI 81 2405311 58427First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | EMI EMC 240531First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | EMI EMC.240531 / EMI EMC 240531First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 240531First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Canada | Capitol Records SMAS-12476First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1986 | Colombia | EMI 111051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 062 24 0531 1 / EMI 1A 062-24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 064-24 0531 1 / EMI 062 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 062-24 0531 1 / EMI 062 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 064 24 0531 1 / EMI EU 3509First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 062 24 0531 1 / EMI 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | France | EMI 062-24 0531 1 / EMI 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | France | EMI 24 0531 1 / EMI 062 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | France | EMI 24 0531 1 / EMI 062 24 0531 1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30734LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Hollywood Records D000436601LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | Europe | Parlophone QUEENLP 12LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202796LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | Poland | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Japan | Virgin EMI Records / DeAGOSTINI Japan 6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Spain | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Germany | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2020 | UK | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2021 | Europe | EMI 74 62672 9LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2022 | Argentina | EMI 0602547202796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2022 | Chile | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | US | Hollywood Records D004064601LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | Argentina | EMI 062 24 0531 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2023 | Italy | EMI 0602547202796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Italy | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (Queen) JD 180LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Rock Records & Tapes RE-2057LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | EMI PDP 74 62672 9LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
81 vinyl pressings of A Kind Of Magic are listed here, from 38 countries, released between 1986 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Colombia, Japan and more. One of them is EMI EU 3509.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EU 3509, SMAS-12476, 111-051, EMS-91168) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EU 3509 A-4U-1-2- and EU 3509 B-4U-1-5-. 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.
