Vinyl pressings
by Van Halen · 1981
Fair Warning 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.
41 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 28 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.
HS-1-3540 JW-1 #1 0Side A runout, variant 1
HS-2-3540 JW-1 #1 0Side B runout, variant 1
HS-1-3540 JW-2 0Side A runout, variant 2
HS-2-3540 JW-4 [illegible scratch] 2 0Side B runout, variant 2
HS-1-3540-RE1-LW5 1 ✲Side A runout, variant 1
HS-2-3540 LW-1 RE-1 3 ✲ M+SSide B runout, variant 1
HS-1-3540 LW-3 RE-1 1 ✲ E+VSide A runout, variant 2
HS-2-3540 RE-1 LW-2 3 ✲ M+SSide B runout, variant 2
HS-1-3540 WW-2 #4 -------◁Side A, Variant 1
HS-2-3540 WW-2 #2 -------◁Side B, Variant 1
HS-1-3540 WW-2 #2 -------◁Side A, Variant 2
HS-2-3540 WW-1 #5 -------◁Side B, Variant 2
HS-1-3540 RE-1 S-1 △641 [Allied 'a' logo] B-15633-RE1++ RT SLMRunout side A, variant 1
HS-2-3540 S-1 RE-1 △641-X [Allied 'a' logo] B-15634-RE1++ RT+ SLMRunout side B, variant 1
HS-1-3540 RE-1 S-1 + SLM+ △641 B-15633-RE1+ RT.Runout side A, variant 2
HS-2-3540 S-1 RE-1 + SLM+ △641-X B-15634-RE1Runout side B, variant 2
HS 1-3540-1ESide A
HS 2-3540-1ESide B
HS-1-3540 E-1 SP 0-2SM1-2 CL [EDP logo] M1SF1 SM2Side A runout Variant 1
HS-2-3540 E-1 SP 0-2SM1-1 [EDP logo] M1SF1 SM1Side B runout Variant 1
HS-1-3540 E-1 SP 0-2SM1-2 CL [EDP logo] M1SF1 SM2Side A runout Variant 2
HS-2-3540 E-1 SP 0-2SM1-1 CL [EDP logo] M1SF1 SM1Side B runout Variant 2
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 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 208967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3540First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3540First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records LP-80043 / Warner Bros. Records HS-3540First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 / Warner Bros. Records WE 321First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 (HS 3540) / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 / Warner Bros. Records 32249 5LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56899First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56899LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Guatemala | Warner Bros. Records HS-3540First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Ireland | Warner Bros. Records K 56899First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records BAN 56899First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56899First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Warner Bros. Records RR1 3540LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records 081227954987 / Warner Bros. Records RR1 3540LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Worldwide | Warner Records RR1 3540 / Warner Records 81227954987LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | US | Warner Records R1 670895 / Warner Records 081227880682LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 2022 | US | Warner Records R1 670895 / Warner Records 081227880682LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Warner Records RR1 3540 / Warner Records 81227954987LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2024 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-035LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2025 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-03512", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records HS 3540LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3540LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 899LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 899LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 899 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 899LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56899LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 56899LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records WB 56899 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 899LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records HS 3540LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records HS 3540LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Records R1 670895 / Warner Records 081227880682LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records HS 3540LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
82 vinyl pressings of Fair Warning are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1981 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Japan, Colombia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records HS 3540, released April 29, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use HS 3540, K56899, P-10978W, WB 56 899) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS-1-3540 JW-1 #1 0 and HS-2-3540 JW-1 #1 0. 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.
