Vinyl pressings
by The Jam · 1978
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
POSP 8 A//1 STR STRAWBERRYSide A runout, variant 1
POSP 8 B//1 STR STRAWBERRYSide B runout, variant 1
POSP 8 A//1 STR 1 2 15 12 STRAWBERRYSide A runout, variant 2
POSP 8 B//1 STR 12 6 STRAWBERRYSide B runout, variant 2
POSP 8 A//1 STRSide A, Stamped variant 1
POSP 8 B//1 STRSide B, Stamped variant 1
STRAWBERRYSides A & B, Etched variant 1
POSP 8 A//1 STR 1 2 8 STRAWBERRYRunout side A, stamped, except [STRAWBERRY] etched variant 2
POSP 8 A//1 STRA side[Stamped]
POSP 8 B//1 STR-B side[Stamped]
STRAWBERRYA side[Etched]
STRAWBERRYB side[Etched]
POSP 8 A//1 STR 11 30 STRAWBERRYA side stamped, etched variant 1
POSP 8 B//1 STR- 1 1 9 STRAWBERRYB side stamped, etched variant 1
POSP 8 A//1 STR 1 4 2A side[Stamped] variant 1
POSP 8 B//1 STR 1 4 2 2B side[Stamped] variant 1
POSP 8 A//1 STR 1 1 1 2A side[Stamped] variant 2
POSP 8 B//1 STR 1 4 1 3B side[Stamped] variant 2
POSP 8 A//1 STR 11 30 STRAWBERRYA side runout, variant 1
POSP 8 B//1 STR- 1 1 9 STRAWBERRYB side runout, variant 1
POSP 8 A//1 STR 11 1 STRAWBERRY.A side runout, variant 2
POSP 8 B//1 STR 1 1 3 STRAWBERRY.B side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 2059 068First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Ireland | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 068First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 068First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059068First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059068First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 068First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 068First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 068First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Polydor POSP 8 / Polydor 2059 0687", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
17 vinyl pressings of Down In The Tube Station At Midnight are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1978 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, Germany, Ireland. One of them is Polydor POSP 8, released October 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POSP 8, 2059 068) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POSP 8 A//1 STR STRAWBERRY and POSP 8 B//1 STR STRAWBERRY. 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.
