Vinyl pressings
by Ultravox · 1981
The Voice 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.
22 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 10 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.
CHS 2559 A//6▽ETH TOWNHOUSESide A Runout, Stamped - Variant 1
JH.Side A & B Runout, Etched - Variant 1
CHS2559 B//1▽E TH TOWNHOUSESide B Runout, Stamped - Variant 1
CHS 2559 A//7▽ETH TOWNHOUSE 12 3 JHSide A runout - Variant 2
CHS 122559 A//2 ▽ETH TOWN HOUSE 11 12 J.H.Variant 1 A side - stamped and etched
CHS 122559 B//1 ▽ETH TOWN HOUSE 11 1 J.H.Variant 1 B side - stamped and etched
CHS 122559 A//2 ▽ETH TOWN HOUSE 11 16 J.H.Variant 2 A side - stamped and etched
CHS 122559 B//1 ▽ETH TOWN HOUSE 11 5 J.H.Variant 2 B side - stamped and etched
CHS 2559 A4 DAMONT toneA side - etched
CHS 2559 B-4 J.H DAMONT BB side - etched
TOWN HOUSEB side - stamped
CHS 2559 A//6 ▽ETH TOWN HOUSE J.H.Side A runout, variant 1
CHS 2559 B// ▽E TH TOWN HOUSE J.H.Side B runout, variant 1
CHS 2559 A // 7 ▽ E TH TOWN HOUSE 1 1 3 J.H.Side A runout, variant 2
CHS 2559 B // 1 E TH 1 1 9 J.H. TOWN HOUSESide B runout, variant 2
634 CHS 2559 A POLYGRAM TOWN HOUSE / JHSide A
634 CHS 2559 B POLYGRAM TOWN HOUSE / JHSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Festival Records X 13077 / Chrysalis CHS 12 2559First year12", Limited Edition, 45 RPM · Limited | 12", Limited Edition, 45 RPM · Limited |
| 1981 | Germany | Chrysalis 103 702 / Chrysalis 103 702-100First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Germany | Chrysalis 600 474 / Chrysalis 600 474-213First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Chrysalis chs 2559First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Italy | Chrysalis CHS 320First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Italy | Chrysalis CHS 320First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-172097", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 103 702 / Chrysalis 103.702First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Chrysalis K 8566First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Festival Records X 13077First year12", Limited Edition, 45 RPM · Limited | 12", Limited Edition, 45 RPM · Limited |
| 1981 | Spain | Chrysalis CHS-2559First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Chrysalis CHS-35-PDJFirst year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Chrysalis K-8566 / Chrysalis CHS 2559First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-17209First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-17209First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
25 vinyl pressings of The Voice are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1981 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Australia, Japan and more. One of them is Chrysalis CHS 2559, released October 30, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHS 2559, CHS 12 2559, CHS-35-PDJ, K-8566) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHS 2559 A//6▽ETH TOWNHOUSE and JH.. 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.
