Vinyl pressings
by Simple Minds · 1981
Sons And Fascination was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
V 2207 A-1U-1-1-1 BILBO TAPE OneRunout side A, stamped, etched, variant 1
V 2207 B-2U-1-1- BILBO TAPE OneRunout side B, stamped, etched, variant 1
V 2207 A-1U-1-1-1 BILBO TAPE OneRunout side A, stamped, etched, variant 2
V 2207 B-1U-1-1- BILBO TAPE ONERunout side B, stamped, etched, variant 2
V 2207 A4 COURAGE OF DREAMS BILBO TAPE OneRunout side A, etched, variant 1
V 2207 B 2 B̶R̶U̶T̶H̶A̶N̶Z̶ ̶B̶I̶L̶B̶O̶ ̶T̶A̶P̶E̶Runout side B, etched, variant 1
V 2207 A3 COURAGE OF DREAMS BILBO TAPERunout side A, etched, variant 2
V 2207 B-1 BRUTHANZ21 BILBO TAPERunout side B, etched, variant 2
[AGI logo] 8 1_ 8 V 203959 ASide A runout
[AGI logo] 8 1_ 8 V 203959 BSide B runout
Å MX200342 V2007-1Side A runout, stamped
Å MX200343 V2007-2Side B runout, stamped
VL - 2224A EL DM-Variant 1 side A runout
VL - 2224B EL DM-20Variant 1 side B runout
VL - 2224A EL DM-20Variant 2 side A runout
VL - 2224B EL DM-32Variant 2 side B runout
203959 A-1/81S IISide A - Runout
203959 B-1/81S I IIISide B - Runout
S 203 959 ASide A - On Label
S 203 959 BSide B - On Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Virgin V 2207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Virgin VL 2224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 959-610 / Virgin 203 959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Finland | Virgin V 2207First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-320LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin V 2207 / Virgin 2473 827First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin V 2207 / Virgin 2473827First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12207First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12207First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6981 / Virgin VIRG-6981First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK & Europe | Virgin OVED 292 / Virgin 203 959LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | UK | Virgin OVED 292LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Virgin VL 2224LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 203 959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-610LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin 203 959-610LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Virgin 203 959 / Virgin V2207LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2207LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin V2207LP, Album | LP, Album |
45 vinyl pressings of Sons And Fascination are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, France, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Virgin V 2207, released September 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2207, 203 959, VL 2224, 203 959-610) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2207 A-1U-1-1-1 BILBO TAPE One and V 2207 B-2U-1-1- BILBO TAPE One. 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.
