Vinyl pressings
by The Police · 1981
Invisible Sun was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
AMS 8164 A10 XRunout Side A - Variant 1
AMS-8164-B3 TOWNHOUSERunout Side B - Variant 1
STERLING AMS 8164 A7Runout Side A - Variant 2
AMS-8164-B2 TOWNHOUSERunout Side B - Variant 2
AMS 8164 A11 STERLING CSide A hand-etched/stamped, variant 1
AMS.8164-B3 TOWNHOUSE ASide B hand-etched/stamped, variant 1
AMS 8164 A7 3 2 A STERLINGSide A hand-etched/stamped, variant 2
AMS.8164-B4 TOWNHOUSE 2 5 ASide B hand-etched/stamped, variant 2
AMS 8164 A9 2 STERLING CRunout side A
AMS-8164-B7 TOWNHOUSE B 6Runout side B
AMS 8164 ALabel side A
AMS 8164 BLabel side B
AMS 8164 A10X STERLING BRunout side A
AMS-8164-B2 X TOWNHOUSE CRunout side B
AMS 8164 ALabel side A
AMS 8164 BLabel side B
AMS 8164 A6 STERLINGSide A hand-etched/stamped
AMS.8164-B3 TOWNHOUSE CSide B hand-etched/stamped
AMS 8164 ALabel Side A
AMS 8164 BLabel Side B
AMS 8164 A5 STERLINGA-side runout, variant 1
AMS-8164-B2 TOWNHOUSEB-side runout, variant 1
AMS 8164 A6 STERLINGA-side runout, variant 2
AMS 8164 B8 TOWNHOUSEB-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records K-8562 / A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | A&M Records K 8562 / A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Misprint, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Misprint, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 8164First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | A&M Records AMS 9203 / A&M Records AMS 81647", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Invisible Sun are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand. One of them is A&M Records AMS 8164.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AMS 8164, K-8562, K 8562) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AMS 8164 A10 X and AMS-8164-B3 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.
