Vinyl pressings
by The Cure · 1981
Faith 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.
21 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.
FIX6 A // 4 ▽E MRunout side A, variant 1
FIX6 B // 4 ▽E MRunout side B, variant 1
FIX 6 A // 4 ▽ E M ↾ 1 2 6Runout side A, variant 2
FIX 6 A // 4 ▽ E M ↾ 1 2 5Runout side B, variant 2
FIX 6 A // 4 ▽ E M 1↾ 14A side run-out, stamped variant 1
FIX 6 B // 3 ▽ E M ↾1 19B side run-out, stamped variant 1
FIX 6 A // 4 ▽ E M 1↾ 9A side run-out, stamped variant 2
FIX 6 B // 4 ▽ E M ↾1 6B side run-out, stamped variant 2
MLF 443 ASide A [Stamped]
MLF 443 BSide B [Stamped]
mlf 443 aSide A [Label]
mlf 443 bSide B [Label]
2383 605 A 520 220581Runout side A, stamped
2383 605 B 520Runout side B, stamped
2383 605 1Y 1 11 △ 06Side A runout, stamped
2383 605 2Y 1 11 2 06Side 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 | RCA MLF 443First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP 79801First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP 79801First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-79801First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Fiction Records 2383 605First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Fiction Records 2383 605First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Polydor 2383 605 / Fiction Records fix 6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Ireland | Fiction Records FIX 6 / Fiction Records fix 6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Fiction Records 2383 605 / Fiction Records fix6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Stunn STUNN 012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Fiction Records fix 6 / Fiction Records fix6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | Polydor 23 83 605LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Fiction Records fix6 / Polydor 2383 605First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Fiction Records fix 6 / Fiction Records 2383.605LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | UK | Fiction Records FIX 6LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | Fiction Records 827 687-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | Spain | Fiction Records 827 687-1 / Fiction Records 23 83 605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Spain | Fiction Records 827 687-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 900228LP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2008 | Russia | Vinyl Lovers 990229LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Fiction Records 0600753381168 / Fiction Records fix 6LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | UK | Fiction Records fix 6LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | Europe | Fiction Records 0602547875440 / Fiction Records fix 6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Europe | Fiction Records 0602547875440 / Fiction Records fix 6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | US | Fiction Records R1 60783 / Rhino Vinyl R1 60783LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | Fiction Records R1 60783 / 081227981631LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2021 | Europe | Fiction Records 350 805-4 / Fiction Records 0060243508054(3)LP, Album, Record Store Day, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc |
| 2021 | US | Elektra RPD1 60783 / Fiction Records RPD1 60783LP, Album, Record Store Day, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-79801LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Fiction Records 0602547875440 / Fiction Records fix 6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| ? | France | Polydor 2383 605LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Polydor 2383 605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Fiction Records 2383 605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Fiction Records 0060.395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 2383 605LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 2383605LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| ? | Russia | Vinyl Lovers 990229LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Fiction Records fixd 6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Fiction Records fixd 6 / Fiction Records 2383 605LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Elektra R1 60783 / Rhino Records R1 60783LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
63 vinyl pressings of Faith are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Italy, Netherlands and more. One of them is Fiction Records fixd 6, released April 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use fixd 6, fix 6, fix6, MLF 443) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FIX6 A // 4 ▽E M and FIX6 B // 4 ▽E M. 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.
