Vinyl pressings
by Van Morrison · 1979
Into The Music was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
33 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 17 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-1-3390 WW1 #4 ------◁Side A runout, variant 1
HS-2-3390-WW2 ------◁Side B runout, variant 1
HS-1-3390 WW1 ------◁Side A runout, variant 2
HS-2-3390-H̶S̶3̶5̶3̶9̶ WW2 ------◁Side B runout, variant 2
HS-1-3390 LW3 • • 2 ✲Runout Side A, Variant 1
HS-1-3390 LW4 • 3 ✲Runout Side B, Variant 1
HS-1-3390 LW3 • • 1 ✲Runout Side A, Variant 2
HS-2-3390 LW4 • 3 ✲Runout Side B, Variant 2
HS 1 -3390 JW 1Runout side A, variant 1
HS 2 -3390 JW 1Runout side B, variant 1
SUBAHSB̶S̶K̶ -1-3390 JW1 #2 0Runout side A variant 2
HS B̶S̶K̶ -2-3390 JW1 3 0Runout side B variant 2
HS-3390 A-1A SX P 2SRunout side A, all etched, except backwards P, 2S reversed
HS-3390 B-1A F3 XS S1 PRunout side B, all etched, except backwards P, S1 also upside down
HS-3390 A-1A SXT B8 S2Runout side A, etched
HS-3390 B-1A SXT D6 S1Runout side B, etched
9102852 1▽//2▽ESTR 14 1Runout stamp side A, Variant 1
. STRAWBERRY .Side A runout etched, Variant 1
9102852 2▽//2▽ESTR 11 1Runout stamp side B, Variant 1
9102852 1▽//1▽ESTR 11 1Runout stamp side A, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3390First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3390First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Mercury France 9102 852First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Mercury 6304 508 / Mercury 6304508LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Ireland | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | Mercury 9102 852First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Israel | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Mercury 6304 508First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7630First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | UK | Mercury PRICE 2 / Mercury 910 285-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Europe | Polydor 839 603-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Polydor 839 603-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Polydor 839 603-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6304 508LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
42 vinyl pressings of Into The Music are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1979 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records HS 3390.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use HS 3390, 9102 852, 6304 508, XHS 3390) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS-1-3390 WW1 #4 ------◁ and HS-2-3390-WW2 ------◁. 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.
