Vinyl pressings
by Serge Gainsbourg · 1979
Aux Armes Et Cætera was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 7 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.
PHI 9101 218 1 DU1 380 POLYGRAM C33Runout side A, variant 1
PHI 001 9101 218 2 380 POLYGRAM C 14Runout side B, variant 1
PHI 9101 218 1 DU1 380 POLYGRAM G10Runout side A, variant 2
PHI 001 9101 218 2 380 POLYGRAM A 00Runout side B, variant 2
ILPS 9581 A-1U JONZ
ILPS 9581 B-1U SOUND CLINIC
9120-384 A-1Y 9120-384Runout, Side A (Etched
9120-384A-1YRunout, Side A (Stamped
9120-384 B-1Y 9120-384Runout, Side B (Etched
9120-384B-1YRunout, Side B (Stamped
10 AA9120384 1Y 320Runout side A, variant 1
10 AA9120384 2Y 320Runout side B, variant 1
10 AA9120384 1Y 320 A 1Runout side A, variant 2
10 AA9120384 2Y 320 A 1Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Canada | Philips 9120 384First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1979 | Canada | Philips 9120-384First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1979 | France | Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1979 | Germany | Philips 9120 384First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Philips 9120 384First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Philips 28PP-44First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Spain | Philips 91 20 384First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9581First yearLP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1979 | France | Philips 9101 218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | France | Philips 838 495-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | France | Mercury 548 433-1LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2001 | France | Mercury 548433 1LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 2003 | France | Mercury 077 259-1 / Philips 077 259-1LP, Album, Mixed | LP, Album, Mixed |
| 2003 | France | Mercury 077 260-1 / Philips 077 260-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2003 | France | Mercury 077 262-1 / Philips 077 262-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 2008 | France | Mercury 077 259-1 / Philips 077 259-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | France | Mercury 530 854-2 / Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 2008 | France | Mercury 077 260-1 / Universal Music France 077 260-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | France | Mercury 9101 218 / Mercury 530 854-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | France | Universal 0772591LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2009 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M171LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | France | Philips 077 262-1 / Mercury 077 262-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2012 | Europe | Mercury 278 967 2 / Universal Music 278 967 2LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| 2012 | France | Universal Music France Lion-uni-6724LP, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Picture Disc, Reissue, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| 2016 | Europe | Mercury 530 854-2 / Universal 530 854-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | France | Mercury 537 185-5LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | France | Mercury 537 185-5LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Philips 9120 384LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 9101 218LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Mercury 537 185-5 / Universal Music France 537 185-5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6359 0 75LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
35 vinyl pressings of Aux Armes Et Cætera are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1979 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in France, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Philips 9101 218, released March 13, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9101 218, ILPS 9581, 9120 384, 9120-384) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PHI 9101 218 1 DU1 380 POLYGRAM C33 and PHI 001 9101 218 2 380 POLYGRAM C 14. 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.
