Vinyl pressings
by Van Morrison · 1988
Irish Heartbeat was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 9 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.
834 496 1 1Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 11 14Side A runout, variant 1
834 496 1 2Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 1119Side B runout, variant 1
834 496 1 1Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 126Side A runout, variant 2
834 496 1 2Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 1120Side B runout, variant 2
MERH 124 A-2U-1-2 TY1Side A runout
MERH 124 B-2U-1- 2 TY1Side B runout
MERH 124 A-1U-1-1 TY1Side A runout
MERH 124 B2U-1-1 TY1Side B runout
MERH 124 A - 1 U - 1 - 1 TY1Side A runout machine stamped
MERH 124 B - 1 U - 1 - 1 TY1Side B runout machine stamped
422-834-496-1-AS-SP 1-1Side 1
422-834-496-1-BS-SP 1-1Side 2
422-834-496-1-AS-SP 1-1 MASTERDISK·BK SRCSide A runout
422-834-496-1-BS-SP 1-1 MASTERDISK·BK SRCSide B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australasia | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | Mercury 834 496-1 / Phonogram 834 496-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Greece | Mercury 834 496-1 / Mercury 834496-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Portugal | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | Mercury MERH 124First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | UK | Mercury 834-496-1First yearLP | LP |
| 1988 | US | Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | Mercury 422 834 496-1 / Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Mercury 834 496-1 / Mercury 422 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | Mercury 834 496-1 / Mercury 422 834 496-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 220523 / Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | Mercury MERH 124 / Mercury 834 496-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
15 vinyl pressings of Irish Heartbeat are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in Europe, UK, US, Australasia and more. One of them is Mercury 834 496-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 834 496-1, MERH 124, 834-496-1, 422 834 496-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 834 496 1 1Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 11 14 and 834 496 1 2Y 1 ℗ 1988 670 07 1119. 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.
