Vinyl pressings
by Talking Heads · 1983
Speaking In Tongues was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
50 pressings came out in 1983, 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.
1 23883 A WW5 #3 · ─◁STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
1 23883 B WW7 #5 · ─◁ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
1 23883 A WW5 #2 · ─◁ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
1 23883 B WW5 #2 · ─◁ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
1 2 3883 A JW 7 #1 STERLING 0Runout side A, variant 1
1 2 3883 B JW 5 #2 STERLING 0Runout side B, variant 1
1 238883 A WW 5 #3 ━̶̷◁̶̷ STERLING 0Runout side A, variant 2
1 23883 B JW 6 #1 STERLING 0Runout side B, variant 2
1-23883-A-SH1 1̶̶̶-̶̶̶z̶-̶̶̶2̶̶̶3̶̶̶7̶̶̶7̶̶̶1̶̶̶-̶̶̶A̶̶̶-̶̶̶S̶̶̶H̶̶̶1̶̶̶ [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-17863-SH1 SLM △ 3951 1-1 STERLINGRunout A, variant 1
1-23883-B-SH2 1̶-̶z̶-̶2̶3̶7̶7̶1̶-̶B̶-̶S̶H̶2̶ [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-17864-SH2 SLM △ 3951-X 1-1 STERLINGRunout B, variant 1
1-23883-A-SH2 1̶̶̶-̶̶̶z̶-̶̶̶2̶̶̶3̶̶̶7̶̶̶7̶̶̶1̶̶̶-̶̶̶A̶̶̶-̶̶̶S̶̶̶H̶̶̶2̶ [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-17863-SH2 SLM △ 3951 1-1 STERLINGRunout A, variant 2
1-23883-BSH1 1̶-̶z̶-̶2̶3̶7̶7̶1̶-̶B̶-̶S̶H̶1̶̶̶ [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-17864-SH1 SLM △ 3951-X 1-1 STERLINGRunout B, variant 2
STERLING 1-2 3883 A SR1 [SRC logo]A-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
STERLING [SRC logo] 1-2 3883 B SR2B-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
STERLING 1-2 3883 A SR1 [SRC logo] 1-1 SM-1A-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
STERLING 1-2 3883 B SR1 [SRC logo] 1-2B-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
STERLING 1-2 3883 A SR1 [SRC logo] 1-1Side A runout, var. 1
STERLING [SRC logo] 1-2 3883 B SR2 1-3Side B runout, var. 1
STERLING 1-2 3883 A SR2 [SRC logo] 1-1Side A runout, var. 2
STERLING [SRC logo] 1-2 3883 B SR1 1-1 SM 1-1Side B runout, var. 2
1 2 3883 A WW5 #4 -------◁ STERLINGA Side Runout variant 1
1-23883-BSIII 1̶-̶2̶3̶8̶8̶3̶-̶B̶S̶I̶I̶I̶ ̶1̶-̶2̶-̶2̶3̶7̶7̶1̶-̶B̶ ̶S̶H̶1̶ ̶ ɑ B-1̶7̶8̶6̶4̶-SH1 -------◁ SLM △ 3591-X 1-2 STERLINGB Side Runout variant 1
123883 A WW5 #3 ─◁ STERLINGA Side Runout variant 2
12388B B SH3 SLM △4430-X ─◁ 1-1 STERLINGB Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Argentina | Sire 23883 / Sire 80611First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Australia | Sire 23883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Austria | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Brazil | Sire 28.075 / Warner Bros. Records 28.075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire 92 38831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire W1 23883LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire 92 38831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3771-1First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | France | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Sire 92-3883-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Sire 8122796665 / Rhino Records 8122796665LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | US | Rhino Vinyl R1-23883 / Sire R1-23883LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | US | Rhino Records R1-23883LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA & Europe | Rhino Records RCV1-23883 / Sire 603497845330LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Argentina | Sire 081227966652 / Plaza Independencia Música 081227966652LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Argentina | Sire 081227966652 / Plaza Independencia Música 081227966652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Chile | Sire 081227966652 / Plaza Independencia Música 081227966652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2024 | US | Sire R1-23883 / Rhino Vinyl R1-23883LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Sire 23883-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Sire 9 23883-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Sire 92-3883-1 / Sire 9 23883-1LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Ireland | Sire 923883-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBX 32LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Sire 92 3883 - 1 / Sire LB 923883-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK & Europe | Sire 92-3883-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
73 vinyl pressings of Speaking In Tongues are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1983 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, Europe, Philippines, UK & Europe and more. One of them is Sire 1-23883, released June 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1-23883, 1-23771, 92-3883-1, P-11324) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1 23883 A WW5 #3 · ─◁STERLING and 1 23883 B WW7 #5 · ─◁ STERLING. 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.
