Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1987
In The Dark was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1987, 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.
AL-8452-SA1 DMM 2-3 SPHRM MASTERDISKVariant 1, runout, side A, etched
A-1= AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-1SM1 SPHRMVariant 1, runout, side B, etched
AL-8452-SA1 DMM 2-4 SP HRM MASTERDISK IMP#5Variant 2, runout, side A, etched
AL-8452-SB1 DMM 2-4 SP H.R.M IMPORT-1Variant 2, runout, side B, etched
SP-AR △16997 MASTERDISK B-B-27913-1-DMM AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-8Runout side A variant 1
B-27914-1-DMM AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-7 SPAR △16997-X -⬭Runout side B variant 1
AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-6 0- △16997 MASTERDISK B-27913 DMMRunout side A variant 2
AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-5 0- △16997-X B-27914-1DMM SP-ARRunout side B variant 2
1= AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-1SM2- SP-HRM MASTERDISK ᐉRunout side A, etched [ᐉ, stamped] (Variant 1
A-1= AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-1SM1- SP-HRM ᐉRunout side B, etched [ᐉ, stamped] (Variant 1
1- AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-1SM2- SP-HRM MASTERDISKRunout side A, etched (Variant 2
A-1 2 AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-1SM1- SP-HRMRunout side B, etched (Variant 2
AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKSide A etched
AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-1Side B etched
AL-8452-SALabel side A
AL-8452-SBLabel side B
AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-4 MASTERDISKRunout Side A, etched
AL-8452-SB1 DMM 2-6 ̶S̶P̶A̶R̶Runout Side B, etched
AL-8452-SALabel side A
AL-8452-SBLabel side B
AL-8452-SA1 DMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKRunout Side A, etched
AL-8452-SB DMM SP1-1Runout Side B, etched
AL-8452-SALabel side A
AL-8452-SBLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Brazil | Arista 130.7002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8452First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Greece | Arista VG 60070First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Italy | Arista 208 564First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Italy | Arista 208 564First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Mexico | Arista LAE•734First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Peru | Iempsa ELD 31.43.800026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | South Korea | Seoul Records SAPR-058 / Arista AL-8452First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Spain | Arista 5F 208564 / Arista 208 564First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452 / BMG AL-8452, 163214LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452, R 163214LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | US | Arista AL-8452First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-369LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Grateful Dead Productions RCV1 695009 / Rhino Records RCV1 695009LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Grateful Dead Productions R1 516266 / Rhino Records R1 516266LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | UK & Europe | Grateful Dead Productions R1 516266 / Rhino Records R1 516266LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Grateful Dead Productions R1 516266 / Rhino Records R1 516266LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Grateful Dead Productions R1 516266 / Rhino Records R1 516266LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Arista A27L-10LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | Arista A27L-10LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | Taiwan | 雅音 AR-5222LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
35 vinyl pressings of In The Dark are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1987 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Arista AL-8452, released October 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL-8452, VPL1 7579, 211 145, 208 564) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-8452-SA1 DMM 2-3 SPHRM MASTERDISK and A-1= AL-8452-SB1 DMM SP1-1SM1 SPHRM. 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.
