Vinyl pressings
by The Damned · 1980
The Black Album was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 10 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.
CWK 30151 A-1U 2 10Runout variant 1 side A
CWK 30151 B-2U 1 4Runout variant 1 side B
CWK 30152 A-1U 1 4 FREE BOOTLEGRunout variant 1 side C
CWK 30152 B-2U 1 12Runout variant 1 side D
CWK 30151 A-1U 2 1Side A runout
LPFB 2 355Side B runout
CWK 30151 B-2U G 1Side C runout
LPFB 2 2 89Side D runout
DAM-1-A LYN-8759 MAXSide A Runout Etched
DAM-1-B LYN-8760 MAXSide B Runout Etched
AM SP 070012-A-P6••Runout side A, variant 1
AM SP 070012-B P2•Runout side B, variant 1
AM SP 070012-A-P5*Runout side A, variant 2
AM SP 070012-B P2•Runout side B, variant 2
T 1 AM SP 070012-A T 𝟹̶ 7 ARunout side A
T 1 AM SP 070012-B T1• C TRunout side B
SP-070012-ALabel side A
SP-070012-BLabel side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Chiswick Records 2C 168-64124/5 / Chiswick Sonopresse 2C 168-64124/5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Chiswick Records 0067.073First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Chiswick Records 40.006 / Chiswick Records 0067.073First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | Chiswick Records CWK3015 / Chiswick Records OC 062 64 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Chiswick Records ACWKL 23015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Chiswick Records P-5597~8ZFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Chiswick Records P-5597~8ZFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Spain | Chiswick Records 17.2480First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Chiswick Records CWK 3015First yearLP, Single Sided, Album | LP, Single Sided, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Chiswick Records DAM-1First yearLP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1980 | US | I.R.S. Records SP 70012 / I.R.S. Records SP-70012First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | I.R.S. Records SP 70012 / I.R.S. Records SP-70012First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | Chiswick Records 17.2480/8First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | Chiswick Records CWK 3015 / Chiswick Records OC 062 64 119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | Chiswick Records WIKM2 91LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2008 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619LP, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered | LP, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered |
| 2008 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, 7", Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, 7", Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619RLP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2011 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619RLP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered |
| 2011 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619RLP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | UK | Devils Jukebox Records DJB66619RLP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV178LPLP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Compilation, Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP-55LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP55LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV178LPLP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP-55LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | UK | Ace WIK2 334LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | UK | Ace WIK2 334LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Chiswick Records WIK2 334LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited |
| 2021 | UK | Ace WIK2 334LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | UK | Ace WIK2 334LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | UK | Ace WIK2 334LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
45 vinyl pressings of The Black Album are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1980 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Canada, France and more. One of them is Chiswick Records CWK 3015, released November 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CWK 3015, DAM-1, SP 70012, 2C 168-64124/5) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CWK 30151 A-1U 2 10 and CWK 30151 B-2U 1 4. 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.
