Vinyl pressings
by Talking Heads · 1985
Little Creatures 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.
45 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 25 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.
SPO-1 SLM △ 9715 1-2 SH-SP B-21284-SH2 1-25 305-A SH2Side A runout, var. 1
SLM △ 9715-X 1-7 B-21285-SH1 SH-SP1- 25305-B SH1 SP STERLING 0-4Side B runout, var. 1
SLM △ 9715 1-8 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-21284-SH1 SH-SP 1-253 05-A SH1 STERLINGSide A runout, var. 2
SLM △ 9715-X 1-8 [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-21285-SH1 SH-SP 1-25305-B SH1 STERLING SP 0-3SM1-1Side B runout, var. 2
SLM △ 9715 1-5 ɑ B-21284-SH1 1-25305-A SH1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
1-1 SLM △9715-X B-21285-SH5 ɑ 1-25305-B SH5 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
SLM △ 9715 1-4 ɑ B-21284-SH1 1-25305-A SH1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
SLM △ 9715-X 1-4 ɑ B-21285-SH1 1-4 25305-B SH1 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-2-x1A-Side run-out, stamped [Variant 1]
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-3-x1B-Side run-out, stamped [Variant 1]
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-5A-Side run-out, stamped [Variant 2]
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-6B-Side run-out, stamped [Variant 2]
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-2Penthouse-12Side A runout variant 1, stamped
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-3-15 PenthouseSide B runout variant 1, stamped
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-1-x1 PenthouseSide A runout variant 2, stamped
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-1-1 PenthouseSide B runout variant 2, stamped
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-1⇀ PenthouseSide A runout, variant 1
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-1⇀1 PenthouseSide B runout, variant 1
EJ 2403521 A-1-1-1 PenthouseSide A runout, variant 2
EJ 2403521 B-1-1-3 PenthouseSide B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Argentina | EMI 56319First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMC.240352 / EMI EMC-240352First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMC-240352 / EMI EMC.240352First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMC-240352 / EMI EMC.240352First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia & New Zealand | EMI EMC 257 / EMI 1C 064 24 0352 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia & New Zealand | EMI EMC 257 / EMI 1C 064 24 0352 1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 240352First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | Sire 92 53051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C 064 24 0352 1 / EMI 064 24 0352 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C 064-24 0352 1 / EMI 064-24 0352 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 038-7 46158 1 / EMI 1C 064-24 0352 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 42 702 1 / EMI CLUB EDITIONFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C 064 24 0352 1 / EMI 064 24 0352 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C 064-24 0352 1 / EMI 064-24 0352 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C 064-24 0352 1 / EMI 064-24 0352 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | EMI SVLP 152 / Simply Vinyl SVLP 152LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 152LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | USA & Canada | Sire R1 25305 / Sire 603497830855LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2023 | Europe | Sire R1 25305 / Sire RCV1 25305LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Europe | Sire R1 25305 / Sire 603497830855LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | US | Sire R1 25305 / Sire 603497830855LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | USA & Canada | Sire R1 25305 / Sire 603497830855LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | EMI 240352LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Italy | EMI 64 2403521LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Sire 25305-1LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
61 vinyl pressings of Little Creatures are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1985 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, UK, Greece, Japan and more. One of them is Sire 9 25305-1, released June 10, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 25305-1, TAH 2, EJ 2403521, 062-2403521) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SPO-1 SLM △ 9715 1-2 SH-SP B-21284-SH2 1-25 305-A SH2 and SLM △ 9715-X 1-7 B-21285-SH1 SH-SP1- 25305-B SH1 SP STERLING 0-4. 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.
