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The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle by Sex Pistols, album cover

Vinyl pressings

The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle

by Sex Pistols · 1979

101 pressings22 countriesSoundtrackPunkRockStage & Screen

The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle 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.

How to spot a first pressing of The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle

34 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.

UK

February 26, 1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD 2510
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Aston Clinton Pressing
Runout / matrix

VD2510 A5 toneRunout A, variant 1

VD2510 B3 tone-jimRunout B, variant 1

VD2510 C4 toneRunout C, variant 1

VD2510 D10 toneRunout D variant 1

Full details of this pressing

UK

February 26, 1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD 2510
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

VD2510 A-1Stamped matrix (etched matrix VD2501 A1 error scrubbed out) (Variant 1)

VD2510 B-1Stamped matrix (etched matrix VD2501 B1 error scrubbed out) (Variant 1)

VD2510 C-1Stamped matrix (etched matrix VD2501 C1 error scrubbed out) (Variant 1)

VD2510 D-2Stamped matrix (Variant 1)

Full details of this pressing

UK

February 26, 1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD 2510
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

VD-2510-A5 toneRun Out Etching Side A

VD-2510-B4 toneRun Out Etching Side B

VD-2510-C12 toneRun Out Etching Side C

VD-2510-D10 tone (VD-2500-D10 strikethrough)Run Out Etching Side D

Full details of this pressing

UK

February 26, 1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD 2510Virgin VD2510
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

VD-2510-A-5 toneVariant 1: Side A (etched)

VD-2510-B-11 toneVariant 1: Side B (etched)

VD 2510 C-2U-1Variant 1: Side C (stamped)

VD 2510-D-2U-1Variant 1: Side D (stamped)

Full details of this pressing

UK

1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD 2510
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

08_VR_21090_1A_2 toneVariant 1 Side A

08_VR_21090_1B_1 toneVariant 1 Side B

08_VR_21091_1A_1 toneVariant 1 Side C

08_VR_21091_1B_1 toneVariant 1 Side D

Full details of this pressing

UK

1979
Label and catalog number
Virgin VD2510Virgin VD 2510
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

VD - 2510 A IISide A runout

VD - 2510 BSide B runout

VD - 2510 CSide C runout

VD - 2510 D IISide D runout

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 101 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s37 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1979AustraliaWizard Records ZL 237First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979AustraliaWizard Records ZL 237First yearLP, Album · Colored vinylLP, Album · Colored vinyl
1979AustriaVirgin 300 279-406First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceBarclay 930101/02First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceBarclay 930101/02LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1979FranceVirgin 300-279-202First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-420LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406 / Virgin 300 277First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-420 / Virgin 300 279-406LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406 / Virgin 300 277First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyVirgin 300 279-406 / Virgin 300 277First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 37 pressings from the 1970s
1980s50 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980AustraliaVirgin V 2168LP, Compilation, Promo · PromoLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo
1980AustraliaVirgin VD 2510LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980EuropeVirgin 202 521 / Virgin 202 521-320LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980FranceVirgin 300 279 / Virgin 300 277LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980GermanyVirgin 202 521 / Virgin 202 521-320LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980GermanyVirgin 202 521 / Virgin 202 521-320LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980IsraelVirgin V 2168LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980ItalyVirgin VIL 12168LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980ItalyVirgin VIL 12168LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980MexicoVirgin LA-259 / Virgin LA-259 82.555LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980MexicoVirgin LA-259 / Virgin LA-259 82.555LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980New ZealandVirgin V 2168 / RTC V 2168LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980PortugalVirgin VV-33.047 YLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980ScandinaviaVirgin V-2168 / Virgin V2168LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980South AfricaVirgin VIR (L) 3016 / Virgin VIR(L) 3016LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
All 50 pressings from the 1980s
1990s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1990UKVirgin OVED 234LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
2010s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2010EuropeVirgin VDR2510LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2010USVirgin VD2510LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · LimitedLP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited
Year unknown11 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?AustralasiaVirgin V 2168LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?AustraliaVirgin V 2168LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
?AustraliaVirgin VD 2510LP, AlbumLP, Album
?Australia & New ZealandVirgin VC 2168LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?BrazilVirgin 122 8003 / Virgin 122.8003LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?EuropeVirgin 300 279-406 / Virgin 300 277LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?GermanyVirgin 202 521 / Virgin 202 521-320LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
?GermanyVirgin 202 521-270 / Virgin 202 521-320LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
?GreeceVirgin VG 50022/23 / Virgin 062-VG 50022LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?UKVirgin VD 2510LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?UKVirgin VD 2510LP, AlbumLP, Album

Tracklist

  1. A1God Save The Queen (Orchestral)4:00
  2. A2Johnny B. Goode6:20
  3. A3Road Runner
  4. A4Black Arabs4:45
  5. A5Anarchy In The UK4:00
  6. B1Substitute3:25
  7. B2Don't Give Me No Lip Child3:30
  8. B3(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone3:05
  9. B4L'Anarchie Pour Le U.K.3:25
  10. B5Einmal Belsen War Vortrefflich2:10
  11. B6Einmal Belsen War Wirklich Vortrefflich2:10
  12. C1Silly Thing3:20
  13. C2My Way4:05
  14. C3I Wanna Be Me3:03
  15. C4Something Else3:25
  16. C5Rock Around The Clock2:20
  17. C6Lonely Boy3:30
  18. C7No One Is Innocent3:00
  19. D1C'mon Everybody2:10
  20. D2E.M.I. (Orch)3:45
  21. D3The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle4:30
  22. D4Friggin' In The Riggin'3:40
  23. D5You Need Hands2:50
  24. D6Who Killed Bambi3:00

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle are there?

101 vinyl pressings of The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1979 and 2010.

When was The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, France, New Zealand and more. One of them is Virgin VD 2510, released February 26, 1979.

How do I tell if my copy of The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VD 2510, VD2510, 930101/02, YB-7004~5-AX) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VD2510 A5 tone and VD2510 B3 tone-jim. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle on vinyl worth?

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.

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