Vinyl pressings
by Tangerine Dream · 1979
Force Majeure was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 18 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.
V-2111·A·1Side A Runout, Hand Etched - Variant 1
V-2111·B·1Side B Runout, Hand Etched - Variant 1
V-2111·A·1 CSide A Runout, Hand Etched - Variant 2
V-2111·B·1 CSide B Runout, Hand Etched - Variant 2
V 2111 A-3U-1-1-2Side A runout
V-2111- B2Side B runout
V 2111-ASide A label
V 2111-BSide B label
V.2111.A.1Side A runout
V.2111.B.1Side B runout
V 2111-ASide A label
V 2111-BSide B label
V-2111·A·1Side A Runout, Hand Etched
V-2111·B·1Side B Runout, Hand Etched
V 2111-ASide A Label
V 2111-BSide B Label
VI-2111-1A @tGP- DONNA [16 mm long etched line] GAIL HUB2Runout Side A, etched, Variant 1
ST-A-2111-1B @tGP HUBRunout Side B, etched, Variant 1
VI-2111-1A @tGPRunout Side A, etched, Variant 2
VI-2111-1B @tGP- DONNA [16 mm long etched line] GAIL HUB2Runout Side B, etched, Variant 2
VI-2111-1A AT/GP- Donna ____ Gail HUB2Side A Runout, Hand Etched
ST-A-2111-1B AT/GP HUBSide B Runout, Hand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Virgin L 36641First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Virgin V2111 / Virgin V 2111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Virgin VG.L36641LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Australia | Virgin V2111First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Austria | Virgin 200 347-320 / Virgin 200 347First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Benelux | Virgin 200347 / Virgin V2111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Benelux | Virgin 200347 / Virgin 200.347First yearLP, Album, Mispress, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo |
| 1979 | Finland | Virgin V 2111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2473 764First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Virgin 2473 764First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 200 347-320 / Virgin 200 347First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Virgin 200 347-320 / Virgin 200 347First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2473 764 / Polygram 2473 764First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Virgin 2473 764 / Polygram 2473 764LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Israel | Virgin V2111 / Virgin BAN V2111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Virgin 200347-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 200347LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Virgin International VI 2111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | Virgin 70003LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Italy | Virgin OVED 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Germany | Virgin 200 347-270 / Virgin 200 347LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Canada | Virgin V 2111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | Virgin E-200 347 / Virgin E 200 347LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | Virgin E-200 347 / Virgin E 200 347LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | Virgin 7567-91012-1 / Virgin 91012-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | Virgin 7 91012-1 / Virgin 91012-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Virgin 200 347-270 / Virgin 200 347LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
47 vinyl pressings of Force Majeure are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1979 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Virgin V2111, released January 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2111, VI 2111, L 36641, 200 347-320) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V-2111·A·1 and V-2111·B·1. 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.
