Vinyl pressings
by Van Morrison · 1984
A Sense Of Wonder 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.
16 pressings came out in 1984, 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.
MERH 54 A//1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 3 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, stamped [TOWNHOUSE etched], Variant 1
MERH 54 B//2 ∇ 420 H 11 4 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, stamped [TOWNHOUSE etched], Variant 1
MERH 54 A//1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 TOWNHOUSE 5Runout side A, stamped [TOWNHOUSE etched], Variant 2
MERH 54 B//2 ∇ 420 H 11 3 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, stamped [TOWNHOUSE etched], Variant 2
TOWNHOUSE MERH54A//1 ▽ 420HSide A runout
TOWNHOUSE MERH54B//1 ▽ 420HSide B runout
422-822 895-1-AS-PRC-R1-2-1-15 CO6-0-21-5 STERLING CGSide A runout, variant 1
422-822 895-1-BS-PRC-R1-2-6-5 CO6-0-21-5 STERLING CGSide B runout, variant 1
422-822 895-1-AS-PRC-R1-1-2 2 032-513 STERLING ⒽSide A runout, variant 2
422·822·895-1-BS-PRC-R1-2-2 1 032-513 STERLING ⒽSide B runout, variant 2
422-822-895-1-AS-ALD1 ɑ B-2047̶51 SLM △8537 1-1 STERLING ⒽRunout A etched; ɑ, STERLING stamped
422-84̷22 895-1-.REV-BS ALD ɑ B20452-REV-ALD 1-1 SLM △8537-X STERLINGRunout B etched; ɑ, STERLING stamped
SRM.1-4095A ➁ SNB 230 EL CRRunout side A, variant 1
SRM.1-4095B SNB 230 EL CRRunout side B, variant 1
SRM.1-4095A SNB 230 EL CRRunout side A, variant 2
SRM.1-4095B SNB 230 EL CRRunout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australasia | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-4098First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | Mercury 822 895-1 QFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Greece | Mercury 822895-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Ireland | Mercury MERH 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Italy | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Mercury 25PP-152First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Mercury 25PP-152First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Portugal | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Spain | Mercury 822 895-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury MERH54First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury MERH 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Mercury 822 895-1 M-1 / Mercury 422-822 895-1 M-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | Polydor 843 116-1LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1990 | UK | Polydor 843 116-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
20 vinyl pressings of A Sense Of Wonder are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1984 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Australasia, Canada and more. One of them is Mercury MERH 54, released December 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MERH 54, MERH54, 822 895-1 M-1, 822 895-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MERH 54 A//1 ∇ 420 H 1 1 3 TOWNHOUSE and MERH 54 B//2 ∇ 420 H 11 4 TOWNHOUSE. 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.
