Vinyl pressings
by Siouxsie & The Banshees · 1987
This Wheel's On Fire was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1987, 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.
SHE 11 A // 3▽420 H TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY + CORNETRunout side A, variant 1
SHE 11 B // 1▽420 H 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSERunout side B, variant 1
SB 11 A //1▽420 H TOWNHOUSERunout side C, variant 1
SB 11 B //1▽420 H TOWNHOUSERunout side D, variant 1
SHEX 11 A//2▽420 H 1 1 1 1 TOWNHOUSE KEV RIGHT HERE GOES!Side A runout, stamped
SHEX 11 B//1▽420 H 1 1 9 TOWNHOUSE LEFT EAR GOES!Side B runout, stamped
SHE 11 A//3▽420H 1 1 2 TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY+CORNETSide A runout, variant 1
SHE 11 B// 1▽420 H 1 1 3 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
SHE 11 A//3▽420H 1 1 3 TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY+CORNETSide A runout, variant 2
SHE 11 B// 1▽420 H 1 2 1 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2
SHE 11 A//3▽420H 1 2 1 U TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY+CORNETSide A
SHE 11 B// 1▽420 H 1 1 2 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSESide B
SHE 11 A//3▽420H 1 2 1 U TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY+CORNETSide A
SHE 11 B// 1▽420 H 1 1 2 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSESide B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australasia | Polydor 885 477-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Australasia | Polydor 885 477-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor 885 477-1 / Wonderland 885 477-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Germany | Polydor 885 477-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Netherlands | Polydor 885 477-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Netherlands | Wonderland 885 477-1 / Polydor 885 477-1First year12", 45 RPM, EP | 12", 45 RPM, EP |
| 1987 | Portugal | Wonderland SHE 11First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Spain | Polydor 885 477-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Spain | Wonderland 885 477-7 / Polydor 885 477-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Wonderland SHE 11 / Polydor SHE 11First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Wonderland SHE 11 / Polydor SHE 11First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Wonderland SHEX 11 DJ / Polydor SHEX 11 DJFirst year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | UK | Wonderland SHE 11 / Polydor SHE 11First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox |
| 1987 | US | Geffen Records 0-20609 / Geffen Records 9 20609-0 AFirst year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | US | Geffen Records PRO-A-2648 / Wonderland PRO-A-2648First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
19 vinyl pressings of This Wheel's On Fire are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Australasia, Germany and more. One of them is Wonderland SHEG 11, released January 5, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SHEG 11, SHEX 11, SHE 11, SHEX 11 DJ) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SHE 11 A // 3▽420 H TOWNHOUSE DUMPTY + CORNET and SHE 11 B // 1▽420 H 8 LEGS A-GO-GO TOWNHOUSE. 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.
