Vinyl pressings
by The Cure · 1987
Catch was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. 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 1987, the album's first year, in 9 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.
FICSX 26 A-2-420- WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT EH?WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT EH?Side A runout, stamped / etched, Variant 1
FICSX 26B-2-420- JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B runout, stamped / etched, Variant 1
FICSX 26 A-2-420- 7 11 WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT EH?Side A runout, stamped / etched, Variant 2
FICSX 26B-2-420- 7 11 JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B runout, stamped / etched, Variant 2
FICS 26 A-1-420- 4 1 1 WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT EH ?Side A runout
FICS 26 B-1-420- 1 11 JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B runout
FICS 26 A-2-420- WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT EH ?Side A runout, variant 1
FICS 26 B-1-420- JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B runout, variant 1
FICS 26 A-2-420- 1 1 5 WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT EH ?Side A runout, variant 2
FICS 26 B-1-420- 11 1 JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B runout, variant 2
FICSP+26+A ORLAKEHand etched A side
FICSP+26+B ORLAKEHand etched B side
FICS 26 A//2 ▽420 R 11Stamped A side, variant 1
FICS 26 B//3 ▽420 R 11Stamped B side, variant 1
FICSE 26 A//2▽420 R 11 1Stamped A side, variant 2
FICSE 26 B//3▽420R 1 2Stamped B side, variant 2
FICS 26 A-2-420-Side A, stamped
WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT EH?Side A, hand-etched
FICS 26 B-2-420-Side B, stamped
JUST FOR ONE CHANGESide B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Argentina | Polydor 888 688-1First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Argentina | Polydor 888 688-1First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Australia | Fiction Records 0.10007 / Fiction Records 0-10007First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Brazil | Polydor 2801 209First year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Europe | Polydor 888 688-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | Fiction Records 888 688-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Germany | Fiction Records 888 688-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Italy | Fiction Records 888 688-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Italy | Fiction Records 888 688-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Japan | Polydor 5DM 0197First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Spain | Fiction Records 888 688-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Spain | Fiction Records 888 688-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Fiction Records Fics 26First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Fiction Records FICSP 26First year7", Single, 45 RPM · Colored vinyl | 7", Single, 45 RPM · Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | UK | Fiction Records ficse 26 / Fiction Records FICSe 26First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
23 vinyl pressings of Catch are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, Germany, Australia, Japan and more. One of them is Fiction Records FICSX 26, released June 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FICSX 26, Fics 26, FICSP 26, ficse 26) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FICSX 26 A-2-420- WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT EH?WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT EH? and FICSX 26B-2-420- JUST FOR ONE CHANGE. 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.
