UK
January 23, 1986- Label and catalog number
- EMI EMC 3506
- Format
- LP, Single Sided, Album, White Label, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
EMC 3506 A - 2 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZSide A runout
EMC 3506 B - 1 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZSide B runout

Vinyl pressings
by Talk Talk · 1986
The Colour Of Spring was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 20 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.
EMC 3506 A - 2 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZSide A runout
EMC 3506 B - 1 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZSide B runout
EMC 3506 A-2-1-1-Side A, variant 1
EMC 3506 B-2-1-1-Side B, variant 1
EMC 3506 A - 2 - 1 - 1 - X1Side A, variant 2
EMC 3506 B - 3 - 1 - 1 - X1Side B, variant 2
EMC 3506 A-2-1-3-1Side A runout, variant 1
EMC 3506 B-3-1-1-1-Side B runout, variant 1
EMC 3506 A-1-1-7̶-3-Side A runout, variant 2
EMC 3506 B-2-1-1-Side B runout, variant 2
EMC 3506 A-2-1-2-DSide A runout, stamped, var. 1
EMC 3506 B-2-1-1-DSide B runout, stamped, var. 1
NICKZSide A & B runout, etched
EMC 3506ASide A, label
EMC 3506 A-2-1-1-Side A runout, stamped, var. 1
EMC 3506 B-2-1-1-Side B runout, stamped, var. 1
EMC 3506 A - 2 - 1 - 1 - X1Side A runout, stamped, var. 2
EMC 3506 B - 3 - 1 - 1 - X1Side B runout, stamped, var. 2
EMC 3506 A-3-1-Runout side A, variant 1
EMC 3506 B-3-1-Runout side B, variant 1
EMC 3506 A-1-1-1- x1 D NICKzRunout side A, variant 2
EMC 3506 B-1-1-1- x1 D NICKzRunout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia | EMI EMC 240491 / EMI EMC-240491First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 240491First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | EMI America ST-17179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 062-24 0491 1 / EMI 062 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 43 740 0LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1986 | Europe | VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin F 669 513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 062 24 0491 1 / EMI 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 062-24 0491 1 / EMI 062 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 24 0491 1 / EMI 062 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 062-24 0491 1 / EMI 062 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | Europe | EMI 1A 062-24 0491 1 / EMI 062 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | France | EMI 2404911 / EMI 24 0491 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | France | EMI 240491LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | Germany | EMI 32 371-7LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1986 | Greece | EMI 062-2450491First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | UK | EMI 7243 8 55676 1 2LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 232 / EMI SVLP 232LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2000 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 232 / EMI SVLP 232LP, Album, Promo, Remastered · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Remastered · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Unknown | EMI EMS-81751 / EMI EMS-81751 PDJLP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, All Media, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2012 | UK & Europe | EMI EMCX 3506LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2012 | UK & Europe | EMI EMCX 3506LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | Europe | Parlophone CX 3506 / Parlophone 5099932778519LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Worldwide | Parlophone 5026854610610LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | EMI 038 1 57786 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | India | EMI EMC 3506LP, Album | LP, Album |
55 vinyl pressings of The Colour Of Spring are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1986 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Europe, Ireland and more. One of them is EMI EMC 3506, released January 23, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMC 3506, ST-17179, 1A 062-24 0491 1, EMS-81751) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EMC 3506 A - 2 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZ and EMC 3506 B - 1 - 1 - 1 - X1 D NICKZ. 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.