Vinyl pressings
by Trevor Jones · 1982
The Dark Crystal was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 5 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.
+ SLM △-2648 O B-17223-SH3 1-23749A-SH3 SP 0-1Side A run out, etched
+ SLM △2648-X B-17224-SH3 SP 1-23749B-SH3 0-1 SM1-1Side B run out, etched
1-23749A-JW 4#1Side A runout etching
1-23749B-JW 5#1Side B runout etching
0Stamped in both runouts
1-23749 A-WW4 ─◁Side A runout
1-23749B-WW1 ─◁Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records SBP237905First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 37491First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS CBS 70233 / CBS 70233First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | CBS CBS 70233First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-23749 / Warner Bros. Records 9 23749-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-23749LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1982 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 23749-1 / Henson Universal Music 9 23749-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-23749 / Henson Universal Music 1-23749First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Spain | CBS S 70233LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | USA & Canada | Enjoy the Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | USA & Canada | Enjoy the Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | USA & Canada | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2017 | USA & Europe | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | USA & Europe | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered | LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | UK & Europe | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | UK | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT011LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Enjoy The Toons Records ETT015LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
24 vinyl pressings of The Dark Crystal are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1982 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 1-23749.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1-23749, 9 23749-1, CBS 70233, SBP237905) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, + SLM △-2648 O B-17223-SH3 1-23749A-SH3 SP 0-1 and + SLM △2648-X B-17224-SH3 SP 1-23749B-SH3 0-1 SM1-1. 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.
