Vinyl pressings
by The Cure · 1983
Japanese Whispers was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1983, 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.
FIXM 8 A//1▽420 R 11Runout side A, variant 1
FIXM 8 B//1▽420 R 11Runout side B, variant 1
FIXM 8 A//1▽420 R 11Runout side A, variant 2
FIXM 8 B//2▽420 R 11Runout side B, variant 2
FIXM 8 A//2 ▽ 420 R 11 1Side A runout, stamped
FIXM8 B//2 ▽ 420 R 11 2Side B runout, stamped
250761 AVariant 1 Side A, Runout etched
250761 BVariant 1 Side B, Runout etched
1-25076-A-SH1 Q B-18936-SH1 SLM △6006 1-1Variant 2 Side A, Runout etched
1-25076-B-SH2 Q B-18937-SH2 SLM △6006-X 1-1Variant 2 Side B, Runout etched
1-25076-A-SH1 Q B-18936-SH1 SLM 6006Runout side A, variant 1, etched
1-25076-B-SH1 Q B-18937-SH1 SLM 6006-XRunout side B, variant 1, etched
1-25076-A-SH2 Q B-18936-SH2 SLM 6006 1-1Runout side A, variant 2, etched
1-25076-B-SH1 Q B-18937-SH1 SLM 6006-X 1-1Runout side B, variant 2, etched
1-25076-A-SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-18936-SH2 SLM △ 6006 1-1Side A, etched, variant 1
1-25076-B-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-18937-SH1 SLM △ 6006-X 1-1Side B, etched, variant 1
1-25076-A-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-18936-SH1 SLM △ 6006 1-1Side A, etched, variant 2
1-25076-B-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-18937-SH1 SLM △ 6006-X SP 1-1Side B, etched, variant 2
1 25076 A WW2 —◁Side 1
1 25076 B WW2 —◁Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia | Sire 25076-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire 92 50761First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire 92 50761First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Canada | Sire 92 50761First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | France | Polydor 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | France | Polydor 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Fiction Records 817 470-1 / Fiction Records 817470-1 MEFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Fiction Records 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Fiction Records 817 470-1 / Fiction Records 817470-1 MEFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Fiction Records 817 470-1 / Polydor 814 470-1First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Fiction Records 817 470-1 / Fiction Records 817470-1 MEFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Israel | Polydor FIXM8First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Italy | Fiction Records 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Polydor 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Fiction Records 817 470-1 / Polydor 817 470-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | Fiction Records 350 810-5 / UMC 602435081052LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc |
| 2021 | US | Sire RPD1 25076LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Picture disc |
| 2023 | Europe | Fiction Records 0603497830657 / Sire 0603497830657LP, Compilation, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2024 | US | Fiction Records 603497830657 / Rhino Records RCV1 25076LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | Fiction Records 551 973-1 / Universal Music Recordings 551 973-1LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Polydor 817470-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 817 470-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Polydor 817 470-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Polydor 817 470-1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Fiction Records FIXM 8 / Fiction Records FIXM8LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
47 vinyl pressings of Japanese Whispers are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1983 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Greece, Australia and more. One of them is Fiction Records FIXM8, released December 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FIXM8, 9 25076-1, 1-25076, 817470-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FIXM 8 A//1▽420 R 11 and FIXM 8 B//1▽420 R 11. 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.
