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Meat Is Murder by The Smiths, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Meat Is Murder

by The Smiths · 1985

87 pressings22 countriesAlternative RockIndie RockRock

Meat Is Murder was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Meat Is Murder

39 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 18 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.

UK

February 11, 1985
Label and catalog number
Rough Trade ROUGH 81
Format
LP, Album · CBS
Runout / matrix

ROUGH 81 A1 ILLNESS AS ARTSide A runout, Variant 1

ROUGH 81 B1 DOING THE WYTHENSHAWE WALTZSide B runout, Variant 1

ROUGH 81 A2 ILLNESS AS ARTSide A runout, Variant 2

ROUGH 81 B1 DOING THE WYTHENSHAWE WALTZSide B runout, Variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1985
Label and catalog number
Rough Trade ROUGH 81
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · MPO Pressing
Runout / matrix

ROUGH 81 A2x Illness As Art MPOSide A runout, variant 1

ROUGH 81 B2x Doing The WythenshaweWaltz MPOSide B runout, variant 1

ROUGH 81 A2 Illness As Art MPOSide A runout, variant 2

ROUGH 81 B2x Doing The WythenshaweWaltz MPOSide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1985
Label and catalog number
Rough Trade ROUGH 81
Format
LP, Album, Promo, White Label
Runout / matrix

ROUGH 81 A1 ILLNESS AS ARTSide A, Etched

ROUGH 81 B1 DOING THE WYTHENSHAWE WALTZSide B, Etched

MPO ROUGH 81 A1 ILLNESS AS ARTVariant B Side A

MPO ROUGH 81 B1 DOING THE WYTHENSHAWE WALTZVariant B Side B

Full details of this pressing

US

February 11, 1985
Label and catalog number
Sire 1-25269Sire 9 25269-1
Format
LP, Album · Allied Pressing
Runout / matrix

25269 RE1 [SRC logo] SPAR B-20665-SR2 △8793 0- -2 1Side A runout

25269 B RE1 SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20666-Re1-SH2 SLM △8793-X 1-2 1Side B runout

Full details of this pressing

US

February 11, 1985
Label and catalog number
Sire 1-25269Sire 9 25269-1
Format
LP, Album · SRC Pressing
Runout / matrix

1 25269 A RE1 SR3 SRCVariant 1 A side etch, except SRC[logo] stamp

1 25269 B RE1 SR2 SRCVariant 1 B side etch, except SRC[logo] stamp

1 25269 A RE1 SR3 SRCVariant 2 A side etch, except SRC[logo] stamp

1 25269 B RE1 SR3 SRC 1-1 SM 1•1Variant 2 B side etch, except SRC[logo] stamp

Full details of this pressing

US

February 11, 1985
Label and catalog number
Sire 1-25269Sire 9 25269-1
Format
LP, Album · Specialty Press
Runout / matrix

1 25269 A RE1 SR3 SRC 1-1A side etch exc SRC[logo] stamp (var 1)

1 25269 B RE1 SR2 SRC 1-6B side etch exc SRC[logo] stamp (var 1)

1 25269 A RE1 SR2 SRC 1-15M1-1A side etch exc SRC[logo] stamp (var 2)

1 25269 B RE1 SR3 SRC 1-4B side etch exc SRC[logo] stamp (var 2)

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 87 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1980s50 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1985AustraliaRough Trade RTRANZ 010First yearLP, Album, Promo · PromoLP, Album, Promo · Promo
1985AustraliaRough Trade ROUGH81 / Warner Bros. Music Ltd. ROUGH81LP, Album, Partially Unofficial, Repress, Special EditionLP, Album, Partially Unofficial, Repress, Special Edition
1985AustraliaRough Trade RTRANZ 010First yearLPLP
1985CanadaSire 92 52691 / Rough Trade 92 52691First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985CanadaSire W1 25269 / Rough Trade W1 25269LP, Album, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition
1985CanadaSire 92 52691 / Rough Trade 92 52691First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985CanadaSire 92 52691 / Rough Trade 92 52691First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985FranceVirgin 70314 / Rough Trade 70314First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985FranceRough Trade 70314 / Virgin 70314LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1985FranceVirgin 70 314 / Rough Trade 70 314First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985GermanyRough Trade RTD 28First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985GermanyRough Trade RTD 28First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985GreeceRough Trade 062-VG 50108 / Rough Trade VG 50108First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1985IsraelRough Trade ROUGH 81First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1985ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81 / Virgin ROUGH 81First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 50 pressings from the 1980s
1990s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1990FranceVirgin 70 314 / Rough Trade 70 314LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1990UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1993EuropeWEA SMITHS 310", Album, White Label10", Album, White Label
1993EuropeWEA SMITHS 3 / WEA 4509-91894-1LP, 10", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, NumberedLP, 10", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered
2000s15 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2007PortugalRough Trade TM/RT 81 / Transmedia TM/RT 81LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl
2007PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2007PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
2007PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2007PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2007UKRough Trade ROUGH 81-PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture discLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc
2009ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009ItalyRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009UKRhino Records ROURH 81LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2009UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Unofficial Release, Album · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Unofficial Release, Album · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2009UKRhino Records ROURH 81LP, Album, Reissue, White LabelLP, Album, Reissue, White Label
2009USRhino Records R1 520965LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2010s7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2011UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2012UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2012UK & EuropeRhino Records 2564665878LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2014UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
2014UKRough Trade Rough 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
2014UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2017UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
Year unknown11 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownRough Trade ROUGH81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UnknownRough Trade 81LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?UnknownRough Trade ROUGH81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UnknownRough Trade ROUGH81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UnknownRough Trade ROUGH81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?FranceVirgin 70 314 / Rough Trade 70 314LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
?GermanyRough Trade R/D 28/EFA 12-3028LP, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?PortugalTransmedia TM/RT 81 / Rough Trade TM/RT 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UKRough Trade ROUGH 81LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl

Tracklist

  1. A1The Headmaster Ritual4:52
  2. A2Rusholme Ruffians4:19
  3. A3I Want The One I Can't Have3:13
  4. A4What She Said2:40
  5. A5That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore4:57
  6. B1Nowhere Fast2:35
  7. B2Well I Wonder4:00
  8. B3Barbarism Begins At Home7:00
  9. B4Meat Is Murder6:05

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Meat Is Murder are there?

87 vinyl pressings of Meat Is Murder are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1985 and 2017.

When was Meat Is Murder first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Ireland, Sweden and more. One of them is Rough Trade ROUGH 81, released February 11, 1985.

How do I tell if my copy of Meat Is Murder is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ROUGH 81, 1-25269, RTRANZ 010, 25RTL-3001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ROUGH 81 A1 ILLNESS AS ART and ROUGH 81 B1 DOING THE WYTHENSHAWE WALTZ. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Meat Is Murder on vinyl worth?

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.

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