Vinyl pressings
by The Smiths · 1986
The Queen Is Dead was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 19 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 96 A-1U-1-1- FEAR OF MANCHESTERStamped runout side A, variant 1
ROUGH 96 B-1U-1-1- THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYSStamped runout side B, variant 1
ROUGH 96 A-1U-1-1- x1 FEAR OF MANCHESTERStamped runout side A, variant 2
ROUGH 96 B-2U-1- 1-x1 THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYSStamped runout side B, variant 2
ROUGH 96 A1X FEAR OF MANCHESTER MPOSide A, variant 1
ROUGH 96 B1 THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYS MPOSide B, variant 1
ROUGH 96 A1 FEAR OF MANCHESTER MPOSide A, variant 2
ROUGH 96 B1 THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYS MPOSide B, variant 2
ROUGH 96 A-1U-1-Side A, stamped
FEAR OF MANCHESTERSide A, hand-etching
ROUGH 96 B-1U-1-Side B, stamped
THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYSSide B, hand-etching
FEAR OF MANCHESTERSide A Run Out Etching
THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYSSide B Run Out Etching
ROUGH 96Run Out Both Sides
1 25426 A SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-23803-SH2 ∆12791 1-1Runout side A, etched
1 25426B SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-23804-SH2 ∆12791-X 1-1Runout side B, etched
1 25426 A SR2 [SRC logo] 1-1Side A runout, variant 1
1 25426 B SR1 [SRC logo] 1 1Side B runout, variant 1
1 25426 A SR1 [SRC logo] / 1Side A runout, variant 2
1 25426 B SR1 [SRC logo] 1-2Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Argentina | ERAHORA Records 10005-0First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | Rough Trade RTRANZ 013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Benelux | Megadisc MD 7961 / Rough Trade MD 7961First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Brazil | Rough Trade 610.7082 / Rough Trade 39.003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | Sire 92 54261 / Rough Trade 92 54261First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | Canada | Rough Trade W1 25426 / Sire W1 25426LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1986 | Canada | Sire 92 54261 / Rough Trade 92 54261First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | France | Virgin 70 444 / Rough Trade 70444First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Germany | Rough Trade RTD 36First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | Virgin VG 50187 / Rough Trade VG 50187First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | Virgin VG 50187 / Rough Trade VG 50187First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Ireland | Rough Trade ROUGH 96First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Israel | Rough Trade ROUG 96 / Rough Trade ROUGH 96First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Italy | Rough Trade RGH 20508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Italy | Rough Trade ROULP 96First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | France | Virgin 70 444 / Rough Trade 70444LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1990 | UK | Rough Trade ROUGH 96LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | UK & Europe | WEA SMITHS 4LP, 10", Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, 10", Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1993 | Europe | WEA SMITHS 4 / WEA 4509-91896-1LP, 10", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, 10", Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2007 | UK | Rough Trade ROUGH 96-PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2007 | UK | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2007 | UK | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2009 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records ROURH 96LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records ROURH 96LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | US | Rhino Records R1 520967LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Portugal | Transmedia ROUGH 96 / Rough Trade ROUGH 96LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | UK | Rhino Records ROURH 96LP, 10", Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, 10", Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | Europe | WEA 2564665887LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2012 | Europe | Rhino Records 2564665887LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | Europe | Rough Trade ROUGH 96LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2014 | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Rhino Records R1 520967 / Rhino Records ROURH 96LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | UK, Europe & US | Warner Bros. Records 0190295785628 / Warner Bros. Records QIDLP 2017Box Set, Deluxe Edition, LP, Album, Remastered, LP, Compilation, LP, Album | Box Set, Deluxe Edition, LP, Album, Remastered, LP, Compilation, LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Unknown | Rough Trade RTD 36LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2023 | Argentina | Plaza Independencia Música 2564-66588-7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | WEA 2564665887LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | WEA 2564665887LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Rough Trade 610.7082 / Rough Trade 39.003LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Rough Trade 610.7082 / Rough Trade 39.003LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Chile | Warner Music Chile 2564-66588-7LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Rough Trade ROUGH 96LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Greece | Virgin VG 50187 / Rough Trade VG 50187LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Virgin VG 50187 / Rough Trade VG 50187LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SXT153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 153LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress SX-T153LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Portugal | Transmedia ROUGH 96 / Rough Trade ROUGH 96LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Portugal | Rough Trade ROUGH 96 / Transmedia ROUGH96CLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
86 vinyl pressings of The Queen Is Dead are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1986 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Germany, Australia and more. One of them is Rough Trade ROUGH 96, released June 16, 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ROUGH 96, 1-25426, 9 25426-1, RTD 36) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ROUGH 96 A-1U-1-1- FEAR OF MANCHESTER and ROUGH 96 B-1U-1-1- THEM WAS ROTTEN DAYS. 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.
