Vinyl pressings
by Trouble · 1985
The Skull 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.
5 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 4 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.
MX-8021-A G-1 C- A-3 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side A, variant 1
MX-8021-B G-1 C- A-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side B, variant 1
MX-8021-A G-1 C- A-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side A, variant 2
MX-8021-B G-1 C- A-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side B, variant 2
MX-8021-A G-1 C- A-3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL
MX-8021-B G-1 C- A-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL
BRC-1931A A2 THIS SIDE SNB 230 EL (CR)Runout Side A
BRC-1931 B ( THAT SIDE SNB 230 EL (CR)Runout Side B
RR 9791-A//56979-1A-side runout etchings
RR 9791-B//56980-1B-side runout etchings
SH 0027 A mastered by SNBRunout Side A
SH 0027 B SNBRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Canada | Banzai Records BRC 1931First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9791First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | Steamhammer SH 0027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Combat MX-8021 / Metal Blade Records MBR 1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | Combat MX-8021LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | US | Metal Blade Records MBR 1041 / Combat MX-8021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | FRW Music EMUS367LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | Germany | Cyclone Empire CYC 059-1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | Germany | Cyclone Empire CYC 059-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | US | FRW Music FDDL0013LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR2020-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR2020-28LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2020 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Netherlands | Hammerheart Records HHR 2020-28LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
18 vinyl pressings of The Skull are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1985 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, Canada, Europe, Germany. One of them is Combat MX-8021.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MX-8021, MBR 1041, BRC 1931, RR 9791) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MX-8021-A G-1 C- A-3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL and MX-8021-B G-1 C- A-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL. 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.
