Vinyl pressings
by Tenpole Tudor · 1981
The Swords Of A Thousand Men was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 12 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.
BUY 109. A - 1 ARUNSide A runout etched variant 1
BUY 109. B - 1Side B runout etched variant 1
BUY 109. A-1 41 ARUN ⋀Side A runout etched / stamped variant 2
BUY 109. A-1 40Side B runout etched / stamped variant 2
BUY-109-A-1 A ARUNSide A runout
BUY-109-B-1 ASide B runout
BUY 109-BSide B label
JA TAPE ONE BUY 109 A-2 2Hand Etched Runout, Side A
JA TAPE ONE BUY 109 B-2 1 RHand Etched Runout, Side B
JA TAPE ONE BUY 109. A-2A Side Runout
JA TAPE ONE BUY 109. B-2B Side Runout
BUY-109-A-1 24 B ARUNA side etched - variant 1
BUY-109-B-1 13 BB side etched - variant 1
BUY-109-A-1 5 B ARUNA side etched - variant 2
BUY-109-B-1 28 BB side etched - variant 2
BUY-109-A-1 ARUNSide A runout, etched
:) 4 DSide A runout, stamped
BUY-109-B-1Side B runout, etched
:) 4 ⋀Side B runout, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Stiff Records K 8332 / Stiff Records K-8332First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1981 | Australia | Stiff Records K-8332 / Stiff Records BUY-109First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Belgium | Stiff Records BUY 109First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Stiff Canada RIPE 701First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Finland | Stiff Records SSEEZ 42First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Finland | Stiff Records SSEEZ 427", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.13 138 / Stiff Records 6.13138 ACFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.13138 / Stiff Records 6.13138First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Stiff Records BUY 109First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Mexico | Stiff Records MI 30797First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Stiff Records BUY 109First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Stiff Records BUY 109First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | Stiff Records STF 35First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Stiff Records MO 2057First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Spain | Stiff Records MO 2057First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Stiff Records BUY109 / Razor & Tie BUY1097", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2014 | UK | Salvo SALVOSV007 / Stiff Records PBUY2907", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
30 vinyl pressings of The Swords Of A Thousand Men are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1981 and 2014.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada and more. One of them is Stiff Records BUY 109, released March 27, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BUY 109, BUY DJ109, BUY DJ 109, K 8332) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BUY 109. A - 1 ARUN and BUY 109. 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.
