Vinyl pressings
by Sting · 1987
...Nothing Like The Sun 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.
46 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 28 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.
✳ AMA - 6402 A - 1 ✳ MT DB TAPE ONE 1 1 0 4Runout, A-side, variant 1
✳ AMA - 6402 B - 1 ✳ MT DB TAPE ONERunout, B-side, variant 1
✳ AMA - 6402 C - 1 ✳ MT DB TAPE ONE 1 1 0 4Runout, C-side, variant 1
✳ AMA - 6402 D - 1 ✳ MT DB TAPE ONE 132Runout, D-side, variant 1
AMA 6402 A // 5 ∨ 420Stamped A
DB.TAPE ONEEtched A
✳ AMA - 6402 B - 1 ✳ MTEtched B
1 2Stamped B
AMA 6402 A-2U-1-1Runout, Side A - stamped
AMA 640 2 B // 5 ▽420 T 1Runout, Side B - stamped
AMA 6402 C // 4 ▽420 T 1 1Runout, Side C - stamped [last 1 - transversally]
AMA 6402 D // 5 ▽420 T 1 1Runout, Side D - stamped [last 1 - transversally]
SPO-6402-A-SH 1 △18024 1-1 MASTERDISK-DMMSide A (Var. 2)
SPO-6402-B-SH 1 △18024-X 1-1Side B (Var. 2)
SPO-6402-A A̶ -C-SH 2-DMM △18025 1-2 MASTERDISK-DMMSide C (Var. 2)
SPO-6402-D-SH 1 △18025-X 1-3 MASTERDISKSide D (Var. 2)
SPO-6402-A-C1 G1 E5 MASTERDISKA side runout, var. 1
SP 6402 B G1 D4 (PXPY)B side runout, var. 1
SPO-6402-0-SH4 DMM Δ18025 MASTERDISK G 1-2 B1D8C side runout, var. 1
SPO-6402-D-C1 G1 C11D side runout, var. 1
SPO-6402-A-ES1 MASTERDISK EMWRunout A, variant 1
SPO-6402-B-ES1 MASTERDISK EMWRunout B, variant 1
SPO-6402-C-ES1 MASTERDISK EMWRunout C, variant 1
SPO-6402-D-SH2-DMM △18025-X 2-3 MASTERDISKRunout D, variant 1
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 | Argentina | A&M Records 396 940-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | A&M Records 396941-1 / A&M Records 396 941-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 6402 / A&M Records SP-6402First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 506402 / A&M Records SP-506402LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1987 | Ecuador | A&M Records LP-88044First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1 / A&M Records 32 644 7LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | A&M Records 393912-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Greece | A&M Records 393912-1 / A&M Records 393 912-4LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | UK, Europe & US | A&M Records 0082839391214LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | USA & Europe | A&M Records AMA 6402 / A&M Records 0082839391214LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
57 vinyl pressings of ...Nothing Like The Sun are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1987 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK & Europe, UK, US, Germany and more. One of them is A&M Records AMA 6402.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AMA 6402, SP 6402, SP-6402, 393912-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ✳ AMA - 6402 A - 1 ✳ MT DB TAPE ONE 1 1 0 4 and ✳ AMA - 6402 B - 1 ✳ MT DB 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.
