Vinyl pressings
by The Boomtown Rats · 1978
A Tonic For The Troops was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 14 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.
ENVY 3 1Y//1▽420 04 1 3 1 DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JARunout side A var 1
ENVY 3 2Y//1▽420 04 12 7 WESSEX WIZARDS RC-JARunout side B var 1
ENVY 3 1Y//1▽420 04 1 4 2 DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JARunout side A var 2
ENVY 3 2Y//1▽420 04 11 2 4 WESSEX WIZARDS RC-JARunout side B var 2
[ENVY 3 1Y//1▽420 04 1 3 1] DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JASide A runout, [Stamped], etched, variant 1
[ENVY 3 2Y//1▽420 04 12 7] WESSEX WIZARDS RC-JASide B runout, [Stamped], etched, variant 1
[ENVY 3 1Y//2▽420 04 11 9] DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JASide A runout, [Stamped], etched, variant 2
[ENVY 3 2Y//1▽420 04 12 7] WESSEX WIZARDS RC-JASide B runout, [Stamped], etched, variant 2
MER 9102802 1 380 CIDIS Λ1Runout side A, stamped
MER 9102802 2 380 CIDIS Λ2Runout side B, stamped
LUN 026-A DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JAa side, etched
LUN 026-B WESSEX WIZARDS RC-JAb side, etched
AA 6310 954 1Y 1 ℗ 1978 670 111 06Runout side A, variant 1
AA 6310 954 2Y 1 ℗ 1978 670 112 06Runout side B, variant 1
AA 6310 954 1Y 1 ℗ 1978 670 113Runout side A, variant 2
AA 6310 954 2Y 1 ℗ 1978 670 112Runout side B, variant 2
6310 954 A 6 P 78 FE 710Side 1
6310 954 B 6 P 78 FE 710Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3751 / Ensign SRM-1-3751First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3751 / Ensign SRM-1-3751First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Mercury 6310 954LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Ireland | WEA IR 58281First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Israel | Mercury 6310954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7518First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Mercury 6310 954 / Ensign 6310 954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Portugal | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Portugal | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Scandinavia | Mercury 6310 954First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Spain | Mercury 63 10 954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UK | Phonogram 9102802LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | Mercury PRICE 58LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Mercury 9102 802LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6310 954LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6310 954LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Ensign ENVY 3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia JC 35750LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35750 / Columbia 35750LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35750LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
38 vinyl pressings of A Tonic For The Troops are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1978 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, France, Ireland, Netherlands and more. One of them is Ensign ENVY 3, released July 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ENVY 3, 9102 802, LUN 026, 6310 954) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ENVY 3 1Y//1▽420 04 1 3 1 DUN LAOGHAIRE RC-JA and ENVY 3 2Y//1▽420 04 12 7 WESSEX WIZARDS RC-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.
