Vinyl pressings
by U2 · 1983
War was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. 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 1983, the album's first year, in 20 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.
ILPS 9733 A-1U-1-11-C TOWN HOUSESide A runout, stamped variant 1
ILPS 9733 B-1U-1-1-1 TOWN HOUSESide B runout, stamped variant 1
ILPS 9733 A-1U-1-5 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, stamped variant 2
ILPS 9733 B-1U-1-3-19 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, stamped variant 2
DMC-4263 A-3Side A runout, etched
DMC-4263 B-3Side B runout, etched
ILPS 9733-ALabel side A
ILPS 9733-BLabel side B
ILPS 9733 A-1U-1 TOWN HOUSESide A runout, stamped variant 1
ILPS 9733 B-1U-1-2 TOWN HOUSESide B runout, stamped variant 1
ILPS 9733-ALabel side A
ILPS 9733-BLabel side B
PILPS 9733 A - 1U1 - 1 TOWNHOUSESide A Run-Out Groove Etching
PILPS 9733 B - 1U1 - 1 TOWNHOUSESide B Run-Out Groove Etching
PILPS 9733 A - 1U - 1 - TOWN HOUSESide A Run-Out Groove Etching VER 2
PILPS 9733 B - 1U - 1 - TOWN HOUSESide B Run-Out Groove Etching VER 2
ILPS 9733 A-1U-1- TOWN HOUSEmachine stamped
ILPS 9733 B-1U-1- TOWN HOUSEmachine stamped
205 209 A-1/83 SIIIRunout Side A
205 209 B-1/83 SIIIRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia | Island Records L 37981 / Island Records L-37981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Australia | Island Records L 37981 / Island Records L-37981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Australia | Island Records L 37981 / Island Records L-37981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records 79 00671First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | Island Records ISL 67First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Colombia | Island Records 18(0831)00229First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Argentina | Island Records 811.148-1 / Island Records 27515LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Mexico | Island Records LPR 25029 / Island Records 811 148 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Mexico | Island Records LPR 25029 / Island Records 811 148 1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | South Korea | Island Records ILPS 9733 / Sung Eum SEL-RI 1471LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | South Korea | Island Records ILPS 9733 / Sung Eum SEL-RI 1471LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1992 | Europe | Island Records 212 051LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | Not On Label (U2) BL-1031LP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Netherlands | Island Records 5303037LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2007 | Netherlands | Not On Label (U2) 530363-7LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, White Label, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, White Label, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 2008 | UK | Mercury 1761674 / Island Records 1761674LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2008 | UK | Mercury 1761674 / Island Records 1761674LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | US | Island Records B0010832-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2008 | US | Island Records B0010832-01 / Interscope Records B0010832-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Greece | Island Records MT10767LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2017 | Europe | Island Records 1761674 / Interscope Records 1761674LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Island Records PILPS 9733LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 610.7049 / Island Records 33.503LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 610.7049 / Island Records 33.503LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 67LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 212 051LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Island Records 71412LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Island Records VG 71412 / Island Records 062-VG 71412LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | Island Records VG 71412 / Island Records 062 - VG 71412LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9733 / Island Records 205 259LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Island Records 90067-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Island Records A1-90067 / Island Records A1 90067LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Island Records 90067-1 / Island Records 7 90067-1LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
123 vinyl pressings of War are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1983 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Ireland, Portugal and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9733, released February 28, 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9733, PILPS 9733, 205 259-320, 90067-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9733 A-1U-1-11-C TOWN HOUSE and ILPS 9733 B-1U-1-1-1 TOWN HOUSE. 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.
