Vinyl pressings
by UB40 · 1981
Present Arms was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
LPDEP - A - 1 UTOPIA 1̶ ̶/̶ ̶1̶ DAMONTRunout side A variant 1
LPDEP - B - 1 SW UTOPIA 1̶ ̶/̶ ̶2̶ DAMONTRunout side B variant 1
LPDEP 1 / 1 A1 UTOPIA CRUCIAL.Runout side C variant 1
12X DEP - B -1 UTOPIA DRASTIC DAMONT 1̶ ̶/̶ ̶2̶Runout side D variant 1
LP DEP 1/1 - 1 SW UTOPIARunout, A-side, variant 1
LP DEP 1/2 - 1 SW UTOPIARunout, B-side, variant 1
12X DEP 1/1 - 1 UTOPIA CRUCIALRunout, C-side, variant 1
12X DEP 1/2 - 1 UTOPIA DRASTICRunout, D-side, variant 1
LP DEP-1 A3 TOWN HOUSERunout, A-side, etched except TOWN HOUSE stamped
DEP-1-B-1 TOWN HOUSERunout, B-side, etched except TOWN HOUSE stamped
LP DEP-1 C1 TOWN HOUSERunout, C-side, etched except TOWN HOUSE stamped
LP DEP-1 D2 TOWN HOUSERunout, D-side, etched except TOWN HOUSE stamped
UTOPIA LP DEP 1/1 - 1Runout, A-side, etched
UTOPIA LP DEP 1/2 - 1 SWRunout, B-side, etched
12X DEP 1/1 - 1 UTOPIA CRUCIALRunout, C-side, etched
12X DEP 1/2 - 1 UTOPIA DRASTICRunout, D-side, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Unknown | Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Epic ELPS 4239 / DEP International ELPS 4239First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Dep International VM2256 / Virgin VM2256First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 85126 / Epic EPC A1334First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 32685 / Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Epic EPC 85126 / DEP International EPC 85126First yearLP, Album, 7" | LP, Album, 7" |
| 1981 | Greece | Epic 32685First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Epic EPC 85126 / Epic EPCA 1334First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Guatemala | DEP International LPDEP 1 / EMI 33428First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Italy | Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | DEP International LPDEP 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | DEP International LPDEP 1 / DEP International 12X DEP 1First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Spain | Epic EPC 85126First yearLP, Album, 7" | LP, Album, 7" |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Africa | Virgin VNC 5178LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1994 | Colombia | EMI 1001607LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Worldwide | Virgin EMI Records 00602547068040 / UMC 4706804LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | DEP International VM2256 / Virgin VM2256LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | DEP International VM2256 / Virgin VM2256LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 85126 / Epic EPCA 1334LP, Album, Reissue, 7", 45 RPM | LP, Album, Reissue, 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | New Zealand | DEP International LPDEP 1 / DEP International 12X DEP 1LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Reissue | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | UK | DEP International LPDEP 1 / DEP International LP DEP 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | DEP International LPDEP 1 / DEP International LP DEP 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | DEP International LPDEP 1 / DEP International LP DEP 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
37 vinyl pressings of Present Arms are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Israel, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is DEP International LPDEP 1, released May 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPDEP 1, LPDEP1, EPC 85126, 85126) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, LPDEP - A - 1 UTOPIA 1̶ ̶/̶ ̶1̶ DAMONT and LPDEP - B - 1 SW UTOPIA 1̶ ̶/̶ ̶2̶ DAMONT. 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.
