Vinyl pressings
by Wham! · 1986
The Edge Of Heaven was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
49 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 19 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.
FINT I A1 TOWNHOUSE CRunout side A, variant 1, hand-etched/stamped
FINT · I B6 C ⋀ 1Runout side B, variant 1, hand-etched/stamped
FINT · I A2 ⋀TOWNHOUSE C: 2Runout side A, variant 2, hand-etched/stamped
FINT · I B6 C DRunout side B, variant 2, hand-etched/stamped
FINT 1 A1 TOWNHOUSE DAMONTRunout, side A
FINT · 1 B6 DAMONTRunout, side B
FINT 1 ALabel, side A
FINT 1 BLabel, side B
FIN·1·A1 B⋀ X̶P̶S̶ ̶2̶1̶6̶ ̶A̶D̶J̶3̶ A1Side A runout
FIN·1 B1 CSide B runout
FIN·1 C2 ⋀ TOWNHOUSESide C runout
FIN·1 D2 CSide D runout
WHAM FIN 1 A-8 DAMONTSide A Runout, etched
WHAM FIN 1 B-8 DAMONTSide B Runout, etched
FIN 1 ASide A label
FIN 1 BSide B label
FINT · 1 A2 TOWNHOUSE ∴Runout, side A, etched variant 1
FINT · 1 B6 ∴Runout, side B, etched variant 1
FINT 1 A1 TOWNHOUSE CRunout, side A, etched, 'C' is stamped, variant 2
FINT · 1 B6 DRunout, side B, etched, 'D' is stamped variant 2
11-7183-1-A-1Side A runout
11-7183-1-B-1Side B runout
11-7183-1-C-1Side C runout
11-7183-1-D-1Side D 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia | Epic ES 1144First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1986 | Australia | Epic SAMP110First year12", 45 RPM, EP, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Canada | Columbia 38-06182First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Costa Rica | CBS 7013123First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1986 | Europe | Epic A12.7183 / Epic EPCA 12.7183First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Epic FIN1 / Epic FIN 1First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Epic EPCA 7183 / Epic A 7183First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Greece | Epic EPCA 12.7183 / Epic FINT 1First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1986 | Ireland | Epic FIN1First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1986 | Israel | Epic FINT 1First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1986 | Italy | Epic EPCA 7183 / Epic A 7183First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1986 | Japan | Epic QY・5P-900207", 45 RPM, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1986 | Mexico | Epic SCL-45064First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1986 | New Zealand | Epic ES 1144 / Epic A 7183First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1986 | New Zealand | Epic ES12184First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
50 vinyl pressings of The Edge Of Heaven are listed here, from 19 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in UK, US, Australia, Japan and more. One of them is Epic FINT 1, released June 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FINT 1, FIN T1, FIN 1, FIN1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FINT I A1 TOWNHOUSE C and FINT · I B6 C ⋀ 1. 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.
