Vinyl pressings
by The Jesus And Mary Chain · 1987
Darklands 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.
20 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 15 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.
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-AXX VERFAILLIERunout side A, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-B >F< WILLIAM RONA AND THE BABY CATS....Runout side B, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-A VERFAILLIERunout side A, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-B 16 WILLIAM RONA AND THE BABY CATS....Runout side B, variant 2
BYN 11 A // 1 ▽ 420 U 1Runout side A
BYN 11 B // 1 ▽ 420 U 1Runout side B
1 25656A SH2 ɑ B-28853-SH2 △17949 1-1Side A runout, etched
1 25656B SH1 ɑ B-28854-SH1 △17949-X 1-1Side B runout, etched
1 25656 A SR1 1-1 [SRC logo]Side A - etched Variant 1
1 25656 B SR1 1-2 [SRC logo]Side B - etched Variant 1
1 25656 A SR2 1-1 [SRC logo]Side A - etched Variant 2
1 25656 B SR2 1-2 [SRC logo]Side B - etched Variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-A (Ire) BYN-11-A VERFAILLIERunout Side A
R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-B (ire) WILLIAM RONA AND THE BABY CATS....Runout 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 | Argentina | WEA 80695First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Australia | Blanco Y Negro 242180-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Brazil | WEA 670.0075 / WEA 000110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Blanco Y Negro 24 21801First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Greece | Blanco Y Negro BYN11 / Blanco Y Negro 14345First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Blanco Y Negro 242180-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Japan | Blanco Y Negro P-13573First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Portugal | Blanco Y Negro 25656-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Portugal | Blanco Y Negro 1592021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Spain | Blanco Y Negro 242180-1 / Blanco Y Negro BYN11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK & Europe | Blanco Y Negro BYN11 / Blanco Y Negro 242 180-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25656-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25656-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25656-1 / Blanco Y Negro 1-25656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSWEA 78050 / Blanco Y Negro 242180-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Plain Recordings plain147 / Rainbo Records S-70903LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | Europe | Demon Records DEMRECDARK1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Plain Recordings plain147LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
23 vinyl pressings of Darklands are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1987 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in Europe, US, Ireland, Uruguay and more. One of them is Blanco Y Negro BYN11, released August 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BYN11, 9 25656-1, 61002-1, P-13573) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-AXX VERFAILLIE and R/S Alsdorf 242180-1-B >F< WILLIAM RONA AND THE BABY CATS..... 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.
