Vinyl pressings
by The Cure · 1985
The Head On The Door was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
36 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 19 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.
FIXH 11 A//3▽420 R 11 11 50 TIMES A NIGHTRunout side A, variant 1
FIXH 11 B//3▽420 R 11 1 THEY DO ITRunout side B, variant 1
FIXH 11 A//4▽420 R 11 11 50 TIMES A NIGHTRunout side A, variant 2
FIXH 11 B//4▽420 R 11 1 THEY DO ITRunout side B, variant 2
FIXH 11 A//3▽420 RStamped A side
FIXH 11 B//4▽420 R 11Stamped B side
50 TIMES A NIGHTHand-etched A side
THEY DO ITHand-etched B side
ST E60435A-1 1-1 SM1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side A, runout, variant 1
ST E60435B-1 1-1 SM1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side B, runout, variant 1
ST E 60435A-1 1-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side A, runout, variant 2
ST E 60435B-1 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. [SRC logo]Side B, runout, variant 2
ST E 60435A-1 1-4 SPAR ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SRC O- B-21840-A1 △10554A side runout
ST E 60435B-1 1-3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SPAR SRC O- B-21841-B1 △10554-XA side runout
ST-E-60435-1-AA label printed
ST-E-60435-1-BB label printed
ST-E-60435-1-AA-side label
ST-E-60435-1-BB-side label
ST-E-60435A-1 ATLANTIC STUDIO DK SRCMatrix code side 1
ST-E-60435B-1 ATLANTIC STUDIO DK SRCMatrix code side 2
ST-E-60435A-1 1-1 SM 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIO DK SRCSide A runout (variant 2)
ST-E-60435B-1 1-2 ATLANTIC STUDIO DK SRCSide B runout (variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia | WEA 27231-1 / Fiction Records 27231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Brazil | Polydor 827 231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Elektra 96 04351First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Elektra E1-60435LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Europe | Fiction Records 06444First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | France | Polydor 827 231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Polydor 827 231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Fiction Records 827 231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Polydor 827 231-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1985 | Germany | Fiction Records 827 231-1ME / Fiction Records LP 827 231-1MEFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Greece | Polydor 827231-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Israel | Polydor 827 231-1 (FIXH 11)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Italy | Fiction Records 827 231-1First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1985 | Italy | Fiction Records 827 231-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | Vap 35151-27First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo · Promo, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | Polydor 827 231-1 / Fiction Records 827 231-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1992 | Spain | Polydor 827 231-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1993 | Russia | Not On Label (The Cure) BL 1073LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Czech Republic | Fiction Records R1 60435LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2008 | Europe | Fiction Records 0042282723116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Fiction Records 0042282723116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | Europe | Fiction Records R1 60435 / Rhino Vinyl R1 60435LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | US | Fiction Records R1 60435 / Rhino Vinyl R1 60435LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Fiction Records 0042282723116LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2025 | Europe | Fiction Records 752 344-7 / Polydor 752 344 7LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2025 | US | Fiction Records 603497818389 / Elektra 603497818389LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2026 | Argentina | Universal Music 004228272311 / Fiction Records 004228272311LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Polydor 827231-1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light ST. 126LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | Polydor 827 231-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Fiction Records R1 60435 / Rhino Records 081227944056LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
59 vinyl pressings of The Head On The Door are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1985 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Ireland, Philippines and more. One of them is Fiction Records FIXH 11, released August 30, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FIXH 11, 60435-1, 9 60435-1, 827 231-1ME) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FIXH 11 A//3▽420 R 11 11 50 TIMES A NIGHT and FIXH 11 B//3▽420 R 11 1 THEY DO IT. 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.
