Vinyl pressings
by The Church · 1988
Starfish was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 15 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.
A-1 ᐉ AL8521-SA TML-MSide-A, variant 1 etched; ᐉ TML-M stamped
B-2 ᐉ AL8521-SB TML-XSide-B, variant 1 etched; ᐉ TML-X stamped
A-1 ᐉ AL8521-SA TML-MSide-A, variant 2 etched; ᐉ TML-M stamped
B-2 ᐉ AL8521-SB TML-MSide-B, variant 2 etched; ᐉ TML-M stamped
AL 8521-SA TML-X B-1 ►Side A runout, variant 1
AL 8521-SB TML-X B-3 ►Side B runout, variant 1
AL 8521-SA A-1 > TML-MSide A runout, variant 2
AL 8521 SB A-1 > TML-MSide B runout, variant 2
Side A/ A-1 AL 8521-SA-1 TML-XSide A Runout Variant 1
Side B / A-1 AL8521-SB-2 TML-XSide B Runout Variant 1
AL 8521-SA TML-M EmwRunout A, etched, exc. TML-M, stamped
AL 8521··SB TML-X EmwRunout B, etched, exc. TML-X, stamped
AL 8521-SA -1 TML-X [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29871-1 △19041 1̴-̴2̴ ̴2̴ ̴ SPO-1 AL-SPSide A runout, variant 1
AL 8521-SB -2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29872-2 △19041-X 1̴-̴1̴ SPo-1 AL-SPSide B runout, variant 1
AL8521-SA-1 TML-X [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29871-1 △19041 1̶-̶2̶ ̶2̶ SPO-1 AL-SPSide A runout, variant 2
AL 8521 SB-2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29872-2 △19041-X TML-X 1̶-̶2̶ SPO-1 AL-SPSide B runout, variant 2
AL 8521-SA -1 TML-X [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29871-1 △19041 1-1Side A runout
AL 8521 SB -2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-29872-2 △19041-X TML-X 1-1Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Argentina | Arista TLP-90128 / Arista AL-8521First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Australia | Mushroom RML 53266First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | Brazil | Arista 140.8026First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | Arista AL 8521LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Greece | Arista 74025First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1988 | Italy | Arista 208 895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Italy | Arista 208 895First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Japan | Arista A27L-45First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Mexico | Arista LAE-795First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Africa | Arista ASTC 204First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Spain | Arista 5C 208895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Arista 208 895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Arista 303.295 / Arista 208 895First yearLP, Album, 12", EP, 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, 12", EP, 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered |
| 1988 | US | Arista AL-8521First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | Arista AL-8521First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP901 / Arista MOVLP901LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Plain Recordings plain206LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Australia | Universal Music Australia 6775364LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | Australia | Universal Music Australia 6775364LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Australia | Universal Music Australia 7705977LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | US | Intervention Records IR-027LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2019 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP901LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Intervention Records IR-027 / Arista IR-027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Philippines | Arista ARTLP-16113LP | LP |
35 vinyl pressings of Starfish are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1988 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Portugal and more. One of them is Arista AL-8521.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL-8521, RML 53266, 208895A, SAPR-066) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A-1 ᐉ AL8521-SA TML-M and B-2 ᐉ AL8521-SB TML-X. 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.
