Vinyl pressings
by The Undertones · 1981
Positive Touch 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.
22 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.
ARD 103 A-1U 8 A PORKY PRIME CUT 2Runout - side A — Variant 1
THE LITTLE BOYS GROW UP. 2 A PORKY PRIME CUT ARD 103 B-1URunout - side B — Variant 1
A PORKY PRIME CUT. 1 ARD 103 A-1U 19(or 91...)Runout - side A — Variant 2
THE LITTLE BOYS GROW UP. A PORKY PRIME CUT. ARD 103 B-1U 92(0r 29...)Runout - side B — Variant 2
(1,) ST-1-12159 F4 KP △25106 MR MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A variant 1
ST-2-12159 F4 KP △25106X MR MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B variant 1
ST-1-12159 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP △25106 △̶2̶1̶5̶1̶0̶6̶ MR (1)Runout A variant 2
ST-2-12159 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP △25106X MR (1)Runout B variant 2
ST-1-12159 F2 KP •-----◁Side A runout, variant 1
ST-2-12159 F4 KP •-----◁Side B runout, variant 1
ST-1-12159 F2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL •-----◁ KPSide A runout, variant 2
ST-2-12159 F2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL •-----◁ KPSide B runout, variant 2
ST-1-12159 F1 KP 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side A, etched
ST-2-12159 F1 KP 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side B, etched
ST-1-12159 F1 #2 KP(etched) 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOL (stamped)Side A, variant 2
ST-2-12159 F1 #2 KP(etched) 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOL(stamped)Side B, variant 2
ST-1-12159 - G5 gene Ⓧ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side A, variant 1 etched / stamped
ST-2-12159 - G5 gene Ⓧ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side B, variant 1 etched / stamped
ST-1-12159- G5. ✲ GENE MASTERED BY CAPITOL ⓍRunout side A, variant 2
ST-2-12159-G5. ✲ GENE MASTERED BY CAPITOL ⓍRunout side B, variant 2
A PORKY PRIME CUT ARD 103 A-1URunout side A
THE LITTLE BOYS GROW UP. A PORKY PRIME CUT ARD 103 B-1U IRL CRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | EMI EMC-2730First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Harvest ST-12159First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Harvest ST 12159First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Ardeck 1C 064-64 367First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Ardeck 1C 064-64 367First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | EMI 14C 062-64367First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Ardeck 3C 064-64 367 / EMI 3C 064-64 367First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Ardeck 1A 062-64367First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Portugal | Ardeck ARD - 11 C 076 - 64367First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Ardeck ARD - 11 C 076 - 64367First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Spain | EMI 10C 066-064.367First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Ardeck ARD 103LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1981 | US | Harvest ST-12159 / Ardeck ST-12159First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Harvest ST-12159 / Ardeck ST-12159First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Harvest ST-12159 / Ardeck ST-12159First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Europe | Dojo DOJO LP 19310", Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | 10", Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | BMG BMGCAT777LPX / Ardeck BMGCAT777LPXLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
25 vinyl pressings of Positive Touch are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Ireland, New Zealand and more. One of them is Ardeck ARD 103, released May 4, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ARD 103, ST-12159, EMC 182, 2C 070-64367) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARD 103 A-1U 8 A PORKY PRIME CUT 2 and THE LITTLE BOYS GROW UP. 2 A PORKY PRIME CUT ARD 103 B-1U. 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.
