UK
September 18, 1981- Label and catalog number
- Liberty LBG 30313Liberty OC 062-83 084
- Format
- LP, Album, White Label · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
LBG 30313 A-2U G RAYSRunout side A, stamped / etched
LBG 30313 B-1U G RAYSRunout side B, stamped / etched
Vinyl pressings
The Gospel According To The Meninblack
by The Stranglers · 1981
28 pressings16 countriesNew WaveRock
The Gospel According To The Meninblack was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. 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 The Gospel According To The Meninblack
19 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 15 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
1981- Label and catalog number
- Liberty LBG 30313Liberty OC 062-83 084
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
LBG 30313 A-3U RAYSVariant 1 runout, side A
LBG 30313 B-1U RAYSVariant 1 runout, side B
LBG 30313 A-3U 02 RAYS 1Variant 2 runout, side A
LBG 30313 B-1U 7 RAYSVariant 2 runout, side B
US
April 1981- Label and catalog number
- Stiff America USE 10
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
USE-10A-1B "YOUR CRAFT WILL COME" SJR (circled) CBS, NYCSide 1 runout, etched. Variant 1
USE-10B-1B "FOREVER AND EVER" SJR (circled) CBS, NYCSide 2 runout, etched. Variant 1
USE-10A-1B "YOUR CRAFT WILL COME" SJR (circled) CBS, NYC V RSide 1 runout, etched ("V R" stamped). Variant 2
USE-10B-1B "FOREVER AND EVER" SJR (circled) CBS, NYC V PSide 2 runout, etched ("V P" stamped). Variant 2
Netherlands
February 7, 1981- Label and catalog number
- Liberty 1A 062-83084
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
062-83084-A // 46989-1-Y 1 1Runout side A, variant 1
062-83084-B // 46990-1-Y 3 1Runout side B, variant 1
062-83084-A // 46989-1-Y 2 4 1Runout side A, variant 2
062-83084-B // 46990-1-Y 9 2 1Runout side B, variant 2
Australia
May 1981- Label and catalog number
- Liberty UAC-5088
- Format
- LP, Album · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
LBG 30313 A-2Runout Side A [Etched]
LBG 30313 BRunout Side B [Etched]
Canada
1981- Label and catalog number
- Stiff Canada RIP 2004
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
RIP 2004 A 1A-2GZK DM 1Variant 1 Side A runout, etched (“1” in DM 1 is stamped)
RIP-2004 B 1A-2GZ DM 4Variant 1 Side B runout, etched (“4” in DM 4 is stamped)
RIP 2004 A 1A-2GZK DM 4Variant 2 Side A runout, etched ("4" stamped)
RIP 2004 B 1A-2GZ DM 2Variant 2 Side B runout, etched ("2" stamped)
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 28 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s24 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | Stiff Canada RIP 2004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Liberty 2C070-83084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Liberty 2C070-83084 / Liberty 2C 070 83084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Liberty 1C 064-83 084 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-83 084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Liberty 1C 064-83 084LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Greece | Liberty 14C 062-83084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Liberty 14C 062-83084LP, Advance, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Advance, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Ireland | Liberty LBG 30313First yearLP | LP |
| 1981 | Italy | Liberty 3C 064-83084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Liberty K28P-142 / Liberty LBG-30313First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Liberty K28P-142 / Liberty LBG-30313First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Liberty UAL 4015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Liberty LUK 11CO7683084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Liberty LUK 11CO7683084First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Liberty 7C 062-83084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
2010s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | UK | Not On Label (The Stranglers Self-released) CGLP6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Not On LabelLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| ? | UK | Liberty LBG 30313 / Liberty OC 062-83 084LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Liberty LBG 30313 / Liberty OC 062-83 084LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
Tracklist
- A1Waltzinblack3:37
- A2Just Like Nothing On Earth3:54
- A3Second Coming4:23
- A4Waiting For The Meninblack3:44
- A5Turn The Centuries, Turn4:34
- B1Two Sunspots2:32
- B2Four Horsemen3:40
- B3Thrown Away3:30
- B4Manna Machine3:17
- B5Hallow To Our Men7:26
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Gospel According To The Meninblack are there?
28 vinyl pressings of The Gospel According To The Meninblack are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2018.
When was The Gospel According To The Meninblack first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is Liberty LBG 30313, released September 18, 1981.
How do I tell if my copy of The Gospel According To The Meninblack is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LBG 30313, USE 10, 1A 062-83084, UAC-5088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, LBG 30313 A-2U G RAYS and LBG 30313 B-1U G RAYS. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Gospel According To The Meninblack 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.
