Vinyl pressings
by The Pogues · 1987
Fairytale Of New York 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.
18 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 4 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.
NY 12 A - 10 - 1 - | -- TOWNHOUSESide A runout, stamped, etched - variant 1
NY 12 B - 10 - 1 - | -- TOWNHOUSESide B runout, stamped, etched - variant 1
NY 12 A-2 U-1-1-1 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, stamped, etched - variant 2
NY 12 B-2 U-1-1- TOWNHOUSESide B runout, stamped, etched - variant 2
NY 7 A - 1U - 1 -Side A runout, stamped
NY 7 B - 1U -1-Side A runout, stamped
TOWNHOUSESide A & B runout, etched
DAMONTSide A & B runout, etched
NY 7 A-1U-1-1- 4 TOWNHOUSERun-out side A variant 1, stamped / etched
NY 7 B-1U-1-1-10- TOWNHOUSERun-out side B variant 1, stamped / etched
NY 7 A-1U-1-3⇁9↽ TOWNHOUSERun-out side A variant 2, stamped / etched
NY 7 B-1U-1-3⇀7↽ TOWNHOUSERun-out side B variant 2, stamped / etched
NY 7 A-1U-1-Q5- 3 TOWNHOUSESide A, stamped/etched
NY 7 B-1U-1-Q2- 2 TOWNHOUSESide B, stamped/etched
NY 7 A-1U-1-Q2-X1 TOWNHOUSEside A, stamped/etched, variant 2
NY 7 B-1U-1-Q2-X1 TOWNHOUSEside B, stamped/etched, variant 2
NY 7 A-1U-1-3- 7 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 1
NY 7 B-1U-1-I↽11↽ TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
NY 7 A-1U-1-1- 9 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2
NY 7 B-1U-1-4↽2 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2
NY 7 A-1U-1-Q5-1R TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 1
NY 7 B-1U-1-Q2-3 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
NY 7 A-1U-1-Q5-1C TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2
NY 7 B-1U-1-Q2-311 TOWNHOUSESide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | Stiff Records K-463 / Stiff Records (NY 7)First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1987 | France | Pogue Mahone Records OTT 20005 / Off The Track Records OTT 20005First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | France | Stiff Records NY 7 / Off The Track Records OTT 20005First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Off The Track Records OTT 20005First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Ireland | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7 / Stiff Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NYG 7 / Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7 / Stiff Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7 / Stiff Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Pogue Mahone Records NY 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Off The Track Records OTT 30005First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | WEA Records Ltd. YZ628TG12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1991 | UK | WEA YZ628 / Pogue Mahone Records 9031-76099-77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WEA4007", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records 53105553677", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK | Warner Records 53105553677", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2025 | Europe | Pogue Mahone Records 502173246515312", Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | 12", Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
28 vinyl pressings of Fairytale Of New York are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1987 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, France, Ireland, Australia. One of them is Pogue Mahone Records NY 12, released November 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NY 12, NY 7, NYG 7, OTT 30005) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NY 12 A - 10 - 1 - | -- TOWNHOUSE and NY 12 B - 10 - 1 - | -- 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.
