Vinyl pressings
by The Cure · 1984
The Top was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
32 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 16 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.
FIXS 9 A//1 ∇ 420 R EYE SIDE ONE - ARUNRunout side A, variant 1
FIXS 9 B//1 ∇ 420 R CROSS SIDE TWORunout side B, variant 1
FIXS 9 A//1 ∇ 420 R EYE SIDE ONE - ARUNRunout side A, variant 2
FIXS 9 B//2 ∇ 420 R CROSS SIDE TWORunout side B, variant 2
FIXS 9 A//2▽420 R EYE SIDE ONERunout side A, variant 1
FIXS 9 B//1▽420 R CROSS SIDE TWORunout side B, variant 1
FIXS 9 A//2▽420 R EYE SIDE ONE 11 1Runout side A, variant 2
FIXS 9 B//1▽420 R 11 1 CROSS SIDE TWORunout side B, variant 2
FIXS 9 A//1 ∇ 420 R EYE SIDE ONE - ARUNSide A runout, stamped / etched
FIXS 9 B//1 ∇ 420 R CROSS SIDE TWOSide B runout, stamped / etched
FIXS-9-A-2-1-1 MTSide A runout, etched
FIXS-9-B-2-1-1 MT.1Side B runout, etched
FIXS 9 A//1 ∇ 420 R EYE SIDE ONE - ARUNRunout side A
FIXS 9 B//2 ∇ 420 R CROSS SIDE TWORunout side B
1-25086-A-SH4 B-19286-SH4 SLM △6609 1-1A side runout, etched, variant 1
1-25086-B-SH5 B-19287-SH5 SLM △6609-X 1-1B side runout, etched, variant 1
1-25086-A-SH1 B-19286-SH1 SLM △6609 1-1A side runout, etched, variant 2
1-25086-B-SH5 B-19287-SH5 SLM △6609-X 1-1B side runout, etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia | Fiction Records 25086-1 / Sire 25086-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Sire 92 50861First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 821 136-1 / Fiction Records 821 136-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 821 136-1 / Fiction Records 821 136-1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1984 | Germany | Fiction Records 821 136-1 MEFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Fiction Records 821 136-1 MEFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | Fiction Records fixs9 / Fiction Records 821 136-1 MEFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Fiction Records 821136/1 / Fiction Records 821136First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1984 | Ireland | Fiction Records FIXS 9 / Polydor 821 136-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Israel | Fiction Records 821 136-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | Fiction Records 821 136-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | Fiction Records fixs9 / Fiction Records 821 136-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Sire 250861 / Sire 7599 25086-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Spain | Polydor 821 136-1 / Fiction Records 821 136-1LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | Fiction Records fixs9LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | Polydor 821 136-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Fiction Records 0600753381205 / Fiction Records FIXS 9LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Fiction Records 0602547875549 / Fiction Records 4787554LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | US | Fiction Records R1 25806 / Rhino Vinyl R1 25806LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Universal Music Recordings 0060245855092(4) / Fiction Records 585 509-2LP, 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 |
| 2024 | US | Fiction Records 603497827138 / Elektra 603497827138LP, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Fiction Records 0602547875549 / Fiction Records 4787554LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| ? | Greece | Fiction Records fixs9 / Fiction Records 821136-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | Polydor 821 136-1 / Fiction Records 821 136-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Polydor 821 136-1 / Fiction Records 821 136-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Nova. ZC215LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK & Europe | Fiction Records 821 136-1 ME / Fiction Records fixs9LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Rhino Records R1 25806 / Fiction Records 081227944063LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
51 vinyl pressings of The Top are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1984 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Europe, Greece and more. One of them is Fiction Records fixs9, released April 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use fixs9, FIXS 9, 1-25086, 821136-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FIXS 9 A//1 ∇ 420 R EYE SIDE ONE - ARUN and FIXS 9 B//1 ∇ 420 R CROSS SIDE TWO. 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.
