Vinyl pressings
by Queen · 1984
The Works was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
72 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 35 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.
EMC 2400141 A-1-1-2 STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 B-1-1-3-1 STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 A-1-1-1 STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 2
EMC 2400141 B-2-1-1 STERLINGSide B Runout Stamped Variant 2
EMC 2400141 A-3-1-1- STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 B-2-1-1- STERLINGSide B Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 A-3-1-2 STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 2
EMC 2400141 B-1-1-2 STERLINGSide B Runout Stamped Variant 2
EMC 2400141 A-1-1-2- STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 B-2-1-5- STERLINGSide B Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 A-1-1-2 . .Side A stamped
EMC 2400141 B-2-1-3 . . 5Side B stamped
STERLING SOUNDBoth Sides
STEREO EMC 24 0014 1-ASide A label number
EMC 2400141 A-2-1-2- STERLINGSide A Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 B-3-2-1- STERLINGSide B Runout Stamped Variant 1
EMC 2400141 A-1-1-1-1 STERLINGSide A runout, stamped
EMC 2400141 B-1-1-1-1 STERLINGSide B runout, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | EMI 8205First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australasia | EMI P.240014First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Barbados | EMI EMC 2400141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 240014First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 240014LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-12322First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 512322LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 12322LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Colombia | EMI 11964First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Colombia | EMI 11964First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Europe | EMI 1C 064 2400141 / EMI 2400141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | EMI 064 2400141 / EMI 1A 064 2400141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | EMI 1C 064 2400141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | EMI 1C 064 2400141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | EMI 064 2400141 / EMI 1C 064 2400141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Korea | EMI (Korea) EKPL-0027 / EMI (Korea) EMC-2400141LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30753LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Europe | EMI QUEENLP 11 / Parlophone 50999 684873 1 7LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2011 | Netherlands | EMI Music Publishing -LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 2015 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202789LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label, Stereo |
| 2015 | US | Hollywood Records 2233901LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202789LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | Italy | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Japan | Virgin EMI Records / DeAGOSTINI Japan 14LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | UK | Virgin EMI Records 00602577626302LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Spain | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | Chile | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | Spain | Virgin EMI Records 0602547202789 / EMI 0602547202789LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | Argentina | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | Peru | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | US | Hollywood Records D004076401LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2024 | Italy | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | EMI 0602547202789LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light TT 09LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light D77LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 64LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (Queen) TT09LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | AND HD-5014LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | 震撼 A-2008LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
110 vinyl pressings of The Works are listed here, from 40 countries, released between 1984 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Japan, Australia & New Zealand and more. One of them is EMI EMC 24 0014 1, released February 27, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMC 24 0014 1, WORK 1, EMC 240014 1, EMC 2400141) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EMC 2400141 A-1-1-2 STERLING and EMC 2400141 B-1-1-3-1 STERLING. 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.
