Vinyl pressings
by Sting · 1985
The Dream Of The Blue Turtles was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
78 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 29 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.
DREAM 1B // 4 ▽ 420 H A1Runout Side A
DREAM 1A // 5 ▽ 420 H 1C ARunout Side B
BilBo Tape OneRunout Side B, etched
DREAM 1B // 4 ▽ 420 H 1Runout Side A (Variant 1, stamped)
DREAM+P+1+A ORLAKERunout A
DREAM+P+1+B ORLAKE ΨtopiaRunout B
3969081+A ORLAKERunout A
3969081+B ORLAKE ΨtopiaRunout B
DREAM 1 A // 3 ▽ 420 U 1 1 ΨtopiaRunout side A variant 1
DREAM 1 B // 3 ▽ 420 U 1 1 Ψtopia MSARunout side B variant 1
DREAM 1 A // 3 ▽ 420 U 1 5 ΨtopiaRunout side A variant 2
DREAM 1 B // 3 ▽ 420 U 1 1 MSA ΨtopiaRunout side B variant 2
DREAM 1 A // 5 ▽ 420 H 1Runout Side A
DREAM 1 B // 5 BILBO TAPEONERunout Side B
DREAM + P + 1 + A ORLAKESide 1 Etched
DREAM + P + 1 + B ORLAKE ΨtopiaSide 2 Etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Argentina | A&M Records 20.641 / A&M Records SP 3750First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Argentina | A&M Records 20.641First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Australia | A&M Records RML 53134 / A&M Records RML-53134First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1985 | Australia | Not On Label 53134First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1985 | Brazil | A&M Records 170094 / A&M Records 170.094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Brazil | A&M Records 170.094 / A&M Records 170094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750 / A&M Records SPC-3750LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750 / A&M Records SPC-3750LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3750First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Colombia | A&M Records 106-0057First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | A&M Records 393 750-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 116LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 116LP, Album, Remastered, White Label | LP, Album, Remastered, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK & Europe | A&M Records 0082839375016LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | A&M Records 0082839375016 / A&M Records DREAM 1LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 2016 | USA & Europe | A&M Records 0082839375016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA & Europe | A&M Records 0082839375016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | Echoes AS 125LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | Echoes AS 125LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | A&M Records A&M SP-3750LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Venezuela | A&M Records A&M 7.107LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
105 vinyl pressings of The Dream Of The Blue Turtles are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1985 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, France, Ireland and more. One of them is A&M Records DREAM 1, released June 17, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DREAM 1, DREMP1, SP-3750, 393 750-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DREAM 1B // 4 ▽ 420 H A1 and DREAM 1A // 5 ▽ 420 H 1C A. 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.
