Vinyl pressings
by U2 · 1984
The Unforgettable Fire was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
58 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 23 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.
U 25 A-4-U-1-C-Side A runout, stamped, variant 1
U 25 B-8-U-1-2 1 GRAEMESide B runout, stamped, [GRAEME] etched, variant 1
U 25 A-4U-1-5-37Side A runout, stamped, variant 2
U 25 B-8U-1-2-X1 GRAEMESide B runout, stamped, [GRAEME] etched, variant 2
U 25 A-6U-1-1-14Runout, side A, variant 1
U 25 B-7U-1-2-Runout, side B, variant 1
U 25 A-7U-1-2-12Runout, side A, variant 2
U 25 B-7U-1-2-Runout, side B, variant 2
U25 A-7U-1- 11Side A
U25 B//9▼420 H 11Side B
STIL 845555-C 1-1 [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout A, variant 1
STIL 845556-A [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout B, variant 1
STIL 845555-B [SRC logo] 1-2 STERLING ⓍRunout A, variant 2
STIL 845556-A 5 1-5 [SRC logo] STERLING ⓍRunout B, variant 2
[STERLING] B-20155-B STIL-845555-B [SRC] 1-3 SPAR ∆8055 0-SMI-2Side A, Etched, Variant 1
0-SMI-1 ∆8055-X B-20156-B [STERLING SRC] STIL-845556-B 1-3 SPARSide B, Etched, Variant 1
[STERLING] Ⓗ B-20155-B STIL-845555-B [SRC] 1-3 SPAR ∆8055 0-SMI-1Side A, Etched, Variant 2
[STERLING] ⓧ [SRC] STIL 845556-B 1-3 SPAR 0- ∆8055-X B-20156-BSide B, Etched, Variant 2
STIL 845555-A 1-4 STERLING ⓍSide A, Hand-etched
STIL 845556-A 1-3 STERLING ⓍSide B, Hand-etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | Island Records TLP-60137 / Island Records TLP 60137First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Australia | Island Records RML 53132 / Island Records 53132First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1984 | Australia | Island Records RML 53132 / Island Records U2 5First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Island Records RML 52048 / Island Records U2 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Island Records RML 52048 / Island Records U2 5First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1984 | Canada | Island Records ISL-1011First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Island Records ISL-1011LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | Island Records ISL-1011First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Island Records ISL-1011 / Island Records U25First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Island Records 822 898-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | Island Records 41 946 5 / Island Records 86 405LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Greece | Island Records 062-2402561 / Island Records 062 2402561First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Greece | Island Records 062-VG 71408 / Island Records VG-71408First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Israel | Island Records BAN U2 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | Island Records U2 5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Brazil | Island Records 822 898-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Brazil | Island Records 822 898-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | Mexico | Island Records 822 898-1 / Island Records LPE 25034LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | US | Island Records 422 822 898-1 / Island Records 7 90231-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | Europe | Island Records 206 530LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1995 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-207 / Island Records MFSL 1-207LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 1996 | UK | Island Records ILPM 2087 / Island Records 822 898-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Netherlands | Island Records 530303-6LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2009 | US | Island Records B0013201-01LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2009 | Europe | Mercury Music Group 1792416 / Island Records 1792416LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Worldwide | Mercury 1792416 / Island Records 1792416LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 610.7042 / Island Records 33.502LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 206 530 / Island Records 97 630LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 206 530-620 / Island Records 206 530LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Island Records 822 898-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Island Records ISLAND 71408LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Portugal | Island Records U25 / Island Records 10.206530.50LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Island Records U25 / Island Records U2 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Worldwide | Mercury 1792416 / Island Records 1792416LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
110 vinyl pressings of The Unforgettable Fire are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1984 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, France, Ireland and more. One of them is Island Records U25, released October 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use U25, U2 5, 7 90231-1, 822 898-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, U 25 A-4-U-1-C- and U 25 B-8-U-1-2 1 GRAEME. 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.
