Vinyl pressings
by R.E.M. · 1988
Eponymous was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 8 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.
IRS 8256 PL-1-DMM THEY AIRBRUSHED MY FACE Precision DMM 1-2 1 △22026Runout A etched [Var 1]
IRS 8257 PL-1-DMM △22026-X Precision DMM 2-2Runout B etched [Var 1]
IRS 8256 PL-1-DMM THEY AIRBRUSHED MY FACE Precision DMM 1-4 2 △22026Runout A etched [Var 2]
IRS 8257 PL-1-DMM △22026-X Precision DMM 2-2Runout B etched [Var 2]
IRS 8256 PL-1-DMM THEY AIRBRUSHED MY FACE Precision DMM 1-8 △22026Runout A etched
IRS 8257 PL-1-DMM △22026-X Precision DMM 2-9Runout B etched
IRS 8256Side A label matrix
IRS 8257Side B label matrix
<P+TR> IRS-8256-G1A C G1 A3Variant 1 etched Runout A
<P+TR> IRS-8257-G1A D G1 A1Variant 1 etched Runout B
CVariant 1 Stamped Runout A
DVariant 1 Stamped Runout B
MIRG 1038 A-1U-1-1Side A runout, stamped, variant 1
MIRG 1038 B-1U-1-2Side B runout, stamped, variant 1
MIRG 1038 A-1U-1-1Side A runout, stamped, variant 2
MIRG 1038 B-1U-1-1Side B runout, stamped, variant 2
MIRG 1038 A-1U-1-1
MIRG 1038 B-1U-1-2
MX251551 LIB5165 MR 1Side 1 runout etching
MX251552 LIB5165 MR 2Side 2 runout etching
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | Liberation Records LIB 5165 / I.R.S. Records LIB 5165First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Canada | I.R.S. Records IRS-6262First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Canada | I.R.S. Records ITS-6262LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Europe | I.R.S. Records ILP 463147 1 / I.R.S. Records 24-463147-20First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | I.R.S. Records ILP 463147 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Greece | I.R.S. Records ILP 463147First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Hong Kong | Epic EPA 2011-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Spain | I.R.S. Records ILP 463147 1 / Epic ILP 463147 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Spain | I.R.S. Records ILP 463147 1 / Epic ILP 463147 1First yearLP, Compilation, Mispress | LP, Compilation, Mispress |
| 1988 | UK | I.R.S. Records MIRG 1038First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | UK | I.R.S. Records MIRG 1038First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | I.R.S. Records IRS-6262First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | I.R.S. Records IRS-6262First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | I.R.S. Records IRS-6262First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | I.R.S. Records IRS-6262LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | I.R.S. Records ILP 466338 1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | I.R.S. Records 00602547899828 / Universal Music Group International 00602547899828LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | I.R.S. Records B0024996-01 / UMe B0024996-01LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | I.R.S. Records B0024996-01 / UMe B0024996-01LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | I.R.S. Records 466338 1 / I.R.S. Records ILP 466338 1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
20 vinyl pressings of Eponymous are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1988 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is I.R.S. Records IRS-6262.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use IRS-6262, MIRG 1038, LIB 5165, ILP 463147 1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, IRS 8256 PL-1-DMM THEY AIRBRUSHED MY FACE Precision DMM 1-2 1 △22026 and IRS 8257 PL-1-DMM △22026-X Precision DMM 2-2. 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.
