Vinyl pressings
by The Jesus And Mary Chain · 1987
Happy When It Rains 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.
13 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 5 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.
NEG-25 TE-A1 MT. TOWNHOUSE AdrenalinSide A runout, variant 1
NEG-25 TE-B1 MT. TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
NEG-25 TE-A1. MT. TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2
NEG-25 TE-B1. MT. TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2
* NEG-25.B-A.1 * MT. DAMONTSide A runout, variant 1
* NEG-25B-B-1 * MT. DAMONTSide B runout, variant 1
✳ NEG-25·B-A·1 ✳ MT. DAMONT H̶ GSide A runout, variant 2
✳ NEG-25B-B-1 ✳ MT. DAMONT HSide B runout, variant 2
NEG 25 A//1 ▽420H 11 5 PATCH, WE LOVE YOU TOWNHOUSESide A runout
NEG 25 B//1 ▽420H 11 6 TOWNHOUSE LYNN HAYSide B runout
NEG 25 T A // 1∇420 H 1 1 2 TOWNHOUSE BISOU AGATHE XXXVariant 1 runout, side A
NEG 25 T B // 1∇420 H 11 2 TOWN HOUSE I'LL HAVE A PIZZA BABY XXXVariant 1 runout, side B
NEG 25 T A // 1∇420 H 1 1 4 TOWNHOUSE BISOU AGATHE XXXVariant 2 runout, side A
NEG 25 T B // 1∇420 H 11 1 TOWN HOUSE I'LL HAVE A PIZZA BABY XXXVariant 2 runout, side B
NEG 25 A//1▽420H 11 12Side A, stamped
NEG 25 B//1▽420H 11 11Side B, stamped
TOWNHOUSE PATCH, WE LOVE YOUSide A, hand-etched runout
TOWNHOUSE LYNN HAYSide B, hand-etched runout
NEG 25 A//1▽420H 11 TOWNHOUSE PATCH, WE LOVE YOUSide A runout, stamped / etched
NEG 25 B//1▽420H 11 TOWNHOUSE LYNN HAYSide B runout, stamped / etched
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 | Germany | Blanco Y Negro 248 259-0First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | Germany | WEA 248 270-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Ireland | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25 / Blanco Y Negro 248270-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Spain | Blanco Y Negro 869First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25 / Blanco Y Negro 248270-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25First year7", Advance | 7", Advance |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25TFirst year12", White Label | 12", White Label |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25T12", Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25 / Blanco Y Negro 248270-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25T7", Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | 7", Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records PRO-A-2857 / Blanco Y Negro PRO-A-2857First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25TE / Blanco Y Negro 248240-0First year10", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 10", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG25B / Blanco Y Negro 248213-7First yearBox Set, Limited Edition, Special Edition, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Limited | Box Set, Limited Edition, Special Edition, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Limited |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25 / Blanco Y Negro 248270-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Blanco Y Negro NEG 25T / Blanco Y Negro 248259-0First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Happy When It Rains are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Germany, Ireland and more. One of them is Blanco Y Negro NEG 25TE, released August 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NEG 25TE, NEG25B, NEG 25, NEG 25T) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NEG-25 TE-A1 MT. TOWNHOUSE Adrenalin and NEG-25 TE-B1 MT. TOWNHOUSE. 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.
