Vinyl pressings
by The Smiths · 1987
Strangeways, Here We Come 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.
32 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 16 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.
ROUGH 106 A-1U-1-2 GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUSSide A runout, variant 1
ROUGH 106 B-2U-1-1 TY1Side B runout, variant 1
ROUGH 106 A-2U-1-4 Ω1 TY1 GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUSSide A runout, variant 2
ROUGH 106 B-2U-1-4Side B runout, variant 2
ROUGH 106 A-1U-1-2- GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUSRunout side A
ROUGH 106 B-2U-1- TY1Runout side B
ROUGH 106 A-2U-1-1- GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUSRunout side A
ROUGH 106 B-2U-1- TY1Runout side B
ROUGH 106 A2✕ GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUS A61 M̶P̶O̶Side A runout
ROUGH 106 B2✕ TY1 M̶P̶O̶ 9.87 ΛSide B runout, 'TY1' stamped
ROUGH 106 A2 GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUS MPOSide A runout etched
ROUGH 106 B2X TY1 MPOSide B runout etched
ROUGH 106 A-2U-1-1 T2 GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUSSide A runout:
ROUGH 106 B-2U-1-1 T TY1Side B runout:
1-25649-A-SR2 1-1 SRCVariant 1, Runout Groove Side A
1-25649-B-SR2 1-1 SRCVariant 1, Runout Groove Side B
1-25649-A-SR3 1-2 SRCVariant 2, Runout Groove Side A
1-25649-B-SR1 1-1 SRCVariant 2, Runout Groove Side B
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 | Canada | Sire 92 56491 / Rough Trade 92 56491First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire W1 25649 / Rough Trade W1 25649LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Canada | Sire 92 56491 / Rough Trade 92 56491First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 70 561 / Rough Trade 70561First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Virgin 70 561 / Rough Trade 70561First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 60First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 60First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 60First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 60First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1987 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 60First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Greece | Rough Trade VG-50300 / Virgin VG 50300First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Rough Trade VG-50300 / Virgin VG 50300First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ireland | Rough Trade ROUGH 106First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Israel | Rough Trade ROUGH 106-1 / CBS ROUGH 106-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Italy | Rough Trade RGH 20697First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Yugoslavia | Rough Trade ROUGH 106 / ETT Records ROUGH 106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Europe | WEA SMITHS 6 / WEA 4509-91899-110", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 10", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 1993 | Europe | WEA SMITHS 610", Album, Reissue, White Label | 10", Album, Reissue, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | UK | Rough Trade Rough 106-PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2009 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records ROURH 106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | US | Rhino Records R1 520966 / Rhino Vinyl R1 520966LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records 2564665879LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records 2564665879LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Chile | Rough Trade ROURH 106 / Rough Trade 2564-68855-9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | Argentina | Rough Trade ROURH 106LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Rhino Records ROUGH 106LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Philippines | BackbeatLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
49 vinyl pressings of Strangeways, Here We Come are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1987 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Rough Trade ROUGH 106, released September 28, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ROUGH 106, 1-25649, 460230 1, 92 56491) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ROUGH 106 A-1U-1-2 GUY FAWKES WAS A GENIUS and ROUGH 106 B-2U-1-1 TY1. 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.
