Vinyl pressings
by The Psychedelic Furs · 1982
Forever Now was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 12 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.
CBS·85909 A1 AL38261Etched, Side A Variant 1
CBS·85909 B1 BL38261Etched, Side B Variant 1
STERLING ⋀ 0Stamped, Side A Variant 1
STERLING ⋀ 4Stamped, Side B Variant 1
AL 38261-1F B2 G1Side A, etched, var. 1
BL 38261-1E G1Side B, etched, var. 1
AL 38261-1F B2 G1Side A, etched, var. 2
BL 38261-1E B2 G1Side B, etched, var. 2
AL-38261-1B STERLING PRunout, side A, variant 1
BL 38261-1B STERLING PRunout, side B, variant 1
AL⋅38261-1A STERLING P o ARunout, side A, variant 2
BL A̶L̶-38261-1B STERLING o P BRunout, side B, variant 2
IT AL 38261-1D STERLINGRunout Side A, Etched with STERLING stamp, variant 1
TI BL 38261-1C STERLINGRunout Side B, Etched with STERLING stamp, variant 1
o IT AL38261-1D 3 B STERLINGRunout Side A, Etched with o B STERLING stamped, variant 2
TI BL·38261-1C 3 A o STERLINGRunout Side B, Etched with A o STERLING stamped, variant 2
AL 38261-1C A9 STERLING T1Side A, runout, variant 1
BL 38261-1F B2 STERLING G1Side B, runout, variant 1
AL 38261-1E A4 STERLING G1Side A, runout, variant 2
BL 38261-1C B2 STERLING T1Side B, runout, variant 2
G MX 201808 SBP 237824-1Side 1 Runout - Stamped
A MX 201809 SBP 237824-2Side 2 Runout - Stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | CBS SBP 237824First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Columbia FC 38261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS CBS 85909First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | CBS CBS 85909First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1982 | Ireland | CBS CBS 85909First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | Epic 25•3P-415First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Japan | Epic 25•3P-415First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Netherlands | CBS CBS 85909First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237824First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237824First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Portugal | CBS 85909First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS S 85909First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Taiwan | Best Fortune Records JKA-8109LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1982 | UK | CBS CBS 85909LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1982 | US | Columbia ARC 38261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Sony Music VIN180LP036 / Vinyl 180 VIN180LP036LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | UK | Vinyl 180 VIN180LP093LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Columbia 88985459991LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia WFC 38261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | CBS CBS 32777LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32777LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 38261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 38261 / Columbia ARC 38261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 38261 / Columbia 38261LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 38261LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Forever Now are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1982 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is CBS CBS 85909, released September 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CBS 85909, ARC 38261, SBP 237824, FC 38261) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CBS·85909 A1 AL38261 and CBS·85909 B1 BL38261. 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.
