Vinyl pressings
by Wham! · 1983
Fantastic was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 21 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.
IVL.25328-A3Etchings, side A - variant 1
25328 IVL. B5 ⋀Etchings, side B - variant 1
IVL 2532̶22̶8-B4Etchings, side A - variant 2
IVL 25328 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶-A5)Etchings, side B - variant 2
IVL.25328-A3 ARUN ESide A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
IVL-25328-B2 timtom-cbs ESide B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
IVL 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ A1 ARUN 25328 V 2 3Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
IVL-25328-B2 TimTom-cbs 1 7 CSide B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
IVL 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ A1 25328 ARUN FSide A runout, etched ('25328' & 'F' stamped), variant 1
IVL 25328 B4 7 ARUN ESide B runout, etched ('7' & 'E' stamped), variant 1
IVL 25328-A3 ARUN CSide A runout, etched ('C' stamped), variant 2
25328 IVL 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ B5 CSide B runout, etched ('25328' & 'C' stamped), variant 2
IVL 25328 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ A5Etchings (25328 stamped), side A
IVL 25328 B ̶7̶ 8Etchings (8 stamped), side B
IVL 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ A1 25328 ARUN FSide A runout, etched ('25328' & 'F' stamped)
IVL 25328 B4 7 ARUN ESide B runout, etched ('7' & 'E' stamped)
IVL 2̶5̶2̶3̶8̶ A1 25328 ARUNRunout side A, etched, variant 1
IVL-25328-B2 TimTom-CBSRunout side B, etched, variant 1
IVL. 25328 - A3 ARUN 2 O CRunout side A, variant 2
IVL 253 ⃫.⃫ 2 ⃫.⃫ 8 B4 12 ARUN ⌈ ⌉Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Argentina | Columbia 20.698 / CBS 20.698First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Argentina | Columbia 20.698 / CBS 20.698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Columbia VPCC 90688 / Innervision Records VPCC 90688First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPC 25328 / Innervision Records 25328First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPC 25328 / Epic 25328First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Greece | Epic EPC 25328 / Innervision Records 25328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony AAP 96First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | India | Innervision Records IVL 25328First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Ireland | Innervision Records IVL 25328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Israel | Epic 01-025328-2 / CBS CBS 25328LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1983 | Israel | CBS CBS 25328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Italy | Epic EPC 25328 / Innervision Records EPC 25328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-458 / Innervision Records 25·3P-458First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-458 / Innervision Records 25·3P-458First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Kenya | CBS BFC 38911First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | South Korea | CBS CPL-1128 / CBS CK-38911LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Epic 19658815021 / Sony Music 19658815021LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | Sony Music 19658815011 / Epic 19658815011LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | US | Columbia 19658815011 / Legacy 19658815011LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 450090 1 / Innervision Records EPC 450090 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic 25328 / Epic EPC 25328LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 450090 1 / Innervision Records EPC 450090 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Epic 25·3P-458 / Innervision Records 25·3P-458LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Epic 25328 / Epic EPC 25328LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Epic EPC 25328 / Innervision Records EPC 25328LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Best Fortune Records JKA-8195 / 佳佳興業股份有限公司 JKA-8195LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Columbia FC 38911 / Innervision Records FC 38911LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia FC 38911 / Innervision Records FC 38911LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
63 vinyl pressings of Fantastic are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1983 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Innervision Records IVL 25328, released June 27, 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use IVL 25328, 25328, BFC 38911, FC 38911) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, IVL.25328-A3 and 25328 IVL. B5 ⋀. 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.
