Vinyl pressings
by The Alarm · 1985
Strength 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.
21 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 13 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.
MIRF+P+1004+Aз ORLAKE JASide A runout, etched
MIRF+P+1004+B₂ ORLAKE JASide B runout, etched
MIRFP 1004 ASide A label
MIRFP 1004 BSide B label
MIRF 1004 A // 1 ▽ 420 T BILBO TAPE ONESide A runout, stamped, etched, variant 1
MIRF 1004 B // 1 ▽ 420 T BILBO TAPE ONESide B runout, stamped, etched, variant 1
MIRF 1004 A // 1 ▽ 420 T 13 BILBO TAPE ONE 1Side A runout, stamped, etched, variant 2
MIRF 1004 B // 1 ▽ 420 T BILBO TAPE ONE 12 11Side B runout, stamped, etched, variant 2
IRS 4933 AM6.. ◈ P ◈Side A etched
IRS 4934 AM5. ◈ P ◈Side B etched
IRS 4933 AM2.. 回-G-回 1Side A runout, variant 1
IRS 4934 AM1. 回-G-回 1Side B runout, variant 1
IRS 4933 AM2.. 回-G-回 1Side A runout, variant 2
IRS 4934 AM1. 回-G-回 3Side B runout, variant 2
24-26673-1A-1 ARunout side A, stamped
24-26673-1B-1 ARunout side B, stamped
24-026673-1Label side A
24-026673-2Label side B
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 | Australia | I.R.S. Records ELPS4513 / CBS ELPS 4513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | I.R.S. Records ELPS4513 / CBS ELPS 4513First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Brazil | Epic 144876First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | I.R.S. Records IRS-5666First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | I.R.S. Records IRS-5666LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Europe | I.R.S. Records ILP 26673 / I.R.S. Records 26673First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | I.R.S. Records ILP 26673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Greece | Illegal Records IRS 26673First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | Ireland | I.R.S. Records MIRF 1004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Israel | I.R.S. Records CBS 26673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Israel | I.R.S. Records CBS 26673First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | New Zealand | I.R.S. Records ELPS4513 / Illegal Records ELPS4513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Portugal | I.R.S. Records ILP 26673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Illegal Records ILP 26673 / I.R.S. Records ILP 26673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | I.R.S. Records MIRFP 1004 / I.R.S. Records MIRF 1004First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C105LP / The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C105CDLP, Album, CD, Album, CD, Album, All Media, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, CD, Album, CD, Album, All Media, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited |
| 2019 | UK | The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C105LPLP, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Spain | Illegal Records ILP 26673 / I.R.S. Records ILP 26673LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MIRF 1004 / I.R.S. Records MIRF 1004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
29 vinyl pressings of Strength are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1985 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Europe, Japan and more. One of them is I.R.S. Records MIRFP 1004.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MIRFP 1004, MIRF 1004, IRS 4933, IRS-5666) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MIRF+P+1004+Aз ORLAKE JA and MIRF+P+1004+B₂ ORLAKE JA. 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.
