Vinyl pressings
by The Stranglers · 1984
Aural Sculpture was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 10 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.
01-26220-2A-1 timtom:londonRunout side A, variant 1
01-26220-2B-1 tyRunout side B, variant 1
01-26220-2A-1 timtom:london CRunout side A, variant 2
01-26220-2B-1 TY ARunout side B, variant 2
EPC-26220-A TIMTOM ARunout Variant 1, Side A
EPC-26220 B3 TYRunout Variant 1, Side B
EPC-26220-A-1 TIMTOMRunout Variant 2, Side A
EPC-26220-B-3 TYRunout Variant 2, Side B
EPC-26220-A TIMTOM ARunout side A, variant 1
EPC-26220 B2 TY ARunout side B, variant 1
EPC_26220_A_1 TimTom ARunout side A, variant 2
EPC_26220 B_3 TYRunout side B, variant 2
Δ MX 204971-B ELPS 4457-1Side A runout, etched
Δ MX 204972 ELPS 4457-2Side B runout, etched
MX204971Side A label
MX204972Side B label
HP-GREECE 01-26220-A timtom:londonA-Side Runout Stamp Exc “timtom:london” Etching
HP-GREECE 01-26220-B TYB-Side Runout Stamp Exc “TY” Etching
EPC - 26220 - A1 CP TIMTOMRunout Side A, etched, variant 1
EPC - 26220 B1 CPRunout Side B, etched, variant 1
EPC - 26220 - A1 CP TIMTOMRunout Side A, etched, variant 2
EPC - 26220 B2 CPRunout Side B, etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia | Epic ELPS 4457First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia | Epic ELPS 4457First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Greece | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Israel | Epic 26220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Epic 28.3P-568First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Epic 28.3P-568First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Epic ELPS4457First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Portugal | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Spain | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | Epic EPC 26220First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1984 | Europe | Epic EPC 26220 / Epic 26220First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | Epic FE 39959 / Epic 39959LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Taiwan | CBS CBR-8496 / Epic CBR-8496LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP259LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 2011 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP259LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2019 | Europe | Coursegood Ltd. CGLP9LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 450448 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 450448 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Epic EPC 4504481 / Epic 4504481LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Epic EPC 26220LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | Epic EPC 450448 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Epic EPC 450448 1LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| ? | UK | Epic 450448 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic PE 39959LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
29 vinyl pressings of Aural Sculpture are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1984 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in Europe, UK, Australia, Greece and more. One of them is Epic EPC 26220, released November 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EPC 26220, ELPS 4457, 26220, 28.3P-568) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 01-26220-2A-1 timtom:london and 01-26220-2B-1 ty. 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.
