Vinyl pressings
by The Waterboys · 1985
This Is The Sea was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 17 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.
ENCL 5 A-1U-1-1- The Stars Are AliveSide A runout, stamped / etched, variant 1
ENCL 5 B-1U-1-1- High Far Soon!Side B runout, stamped / etched, variant 1
ENCL 5 A-1U-1-2- The Stars Are AliveSide A runout, stamped / etched, variant 2
ENCL 5 B-1U-1-2- High Far Soon!Side B runout, stamped / etched, variant 2
ST IL-855755A DMM Europadisk NY SP 0-2 M1 SF1 SM 2Side A etched
ST IL-855756A DMM Europadisk NY SP 0-15W2-1M1 SF1 SM1Side B etched
ST-IL-855755A-DMM Europadisk N.Y. SP 0-2SM1-3 M1 SF1 SM 2Runout A variant, etched
ST-IL-855756-A-DMM Europadisk N.Y. SP 0-1 SM1-1 SPAR M1SF1SM1Runout B variant, etched
DM 207095 A-1/85 S II IIRunout side A, variant 1
DM 207095 B-1/85 S II IIIRunout side B, variant 1
DM 207095 A-1/85 S II IIRunout side A, variant 2
DM 207095 B-1/85 S IIRunout side B, variant 2
SMX65027 P2A JLSide A handwritten runout
SMX 65028 JL 38468BSide B handwritten runout
SMX-65027Side A label
SMX-65028Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia | Island Records L 38468 / Ensign L 38468First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | Island Records RML 53199First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Island Records ISL-1058 / Ensign ISL-1058First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Island Records ISM-1058 / Ensign ISM-1058LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Canada | Island Records ISM-1058First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Ensign 1C 064-3 21543 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Island Records 207 095 / Island Records 207 095-620First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | France | Island Records 826 309-1 / Ensign 826 309-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | Ensign ENCL 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Greece | Ensign ENCL5 / Virgin VG 71423First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Greece | Island Records 71423First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Greece | Virgin VG 71423 / Island Records 062-VG 71423First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Ireland | Ensign ENCL 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Israel | Island Records BAN ENCL 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Italy | Ensign ENCL 5 / Island Records ENCL 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | UK | Ensign 7243 8 21460 1 8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 234LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 234LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Ensign ENCL 5 / Chrysalis ENCL 5LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Chrysalis Catalogue ENCLX 5LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Ensign ENCL 5 / Chrysalis 0825646223800LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Ensign 64 3215431LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of This Is The Sea are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1985 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Europe, Japan and more. One of them is Ensign ENCL 5, released September 16, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ENCL 5, 90457-1, 207 095, R25D-2015) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ENCL 5 A-1U-1-1- The Stars Are Alive and ENCL 5 B-1U-1-1- High Far Soon!. 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.
