Vinyl pressings
by The Durutti Column · 1984
Without Mercy 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.
5 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 3 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.
FACT 84 A1 DW OH WHAT CAN AIL THEE KNIGHT AT ARMS! MEL/ctsRunout side A, variant 1
FACT 84 B1 DW FOR THE CHILD! MEL/ctsRunout side B, variant 1
FACT 84 A2 MEL/cts OH WHAT CAN AIL THE KNIGHT AT ARMS! DWRunout side A, variant 2
FACT 84 B2 MEL/cts FOR THE CHILD! DWRunout side B, variant 2
FACT 84 A2 DW OH WHAT CAN ALE THEE KNIGHT AT ARMS! MEL/ctsSide A runout, etched
FACT 84 B2 DW FOR THE CHILD! MEL/ctsSide B runout, etched
YX-7349-A-1 〄 A2 ⒷRunout: side A
YX-7349-B-2 A3Runout: side B
FACT-84-A MGRunout side A
FACT-84-BRunout side B
(Label Side 1) YX-7349-A1
(Label Side 2) YX-7349-B1
(Side 1) YX-7349-A-1 A 2
(Side 2) YX-7349-B-2 A1
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 | Italy | Base Record fact 84 / Base Record Fact 84First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Japan | Factory YX-7349-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1984 | UK | Factory FACT 84First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1984 | UK | Factory fact 84First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Factory YX-7349-AXFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Belgium | Factory fact 84 / Factory FACTORY 84LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | France | Factory 70336 / Factory fact 84LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Factory Fact 84 / Nuevos Medios 33 122LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Airea 830 443-1 / Factory 830 443-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | Factory 3031 / Factory fact 84LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | UK | Factory Benelux fbn 84LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
11 vinyl pressings of Without Mercy are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1984 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Japan, Italy. One of them is Factory fact 84, released December 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use fact 84, FACT 84, YX-7349-AX) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FACT 84 A1 DW OH WHAT CAN AIL THEE KNIGHT AT ARMS! MEL/cts and FACT 84 B1 DW FOR THE CHILD! MEL/cts. 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.
