Vinyl pressings
by Wire · 1979
154 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.
12 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 7 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.
S̶̶HV̶L̶ 8̶1̶9̶ A̶-̶1̶̶̶ SHSP 4105 A-1Side A, stamped var.1
S̶̶HV̶̶L̶ 8̶1̶9̶ B̶-̶̶̶1̶̶̶ SHSP 4105 B-1Side B, stamped var.1
SPSR 444 A-1 1 OSide C, stamped var.1
SPSR 444 B-1 1 LSide D, stamped var.1
S̶H̶V̶L̶ ̶8̶1̶9̶ ̶A̶-̶1̶ SHSP 4105 A-1Runout Side A, stamped, variant 1
S̶H̶V̶L̶ ̶8̶1̶9̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶ SHSP 4105 B- ▓1Runout Side B, stamped, variant 1 (The "▓" looks like a "2" that was crossed out multiple times.)
S̶H̶V̶L̶ ̶8̶1̶9̶ ̶A̶-̶1̶ SHSP 4105 A-1 2Runout Side A, stamped, variant 2
S̶H̶V̶L̶ ̶8̶1̶9̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶ SHSP 4105 B- ̷2̷1 3Runout Side B, stamped, variant 2
SHVL 819 A-2Side 1
SHVL 819 B-2Side 2
BSK-1-3398-LWZ- ✲Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3398-LWI- ✲Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3398-LW1• ✲Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3398-LWZ• ✲Side B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3398-WW1Side A etched runout
BSK-2-3398-WW1Side B etched runout
-----◄Side A & B stamped runout
BSK-1-3398-JW1 #4Side A etched runout - variant 1
BSK-2-3398-JW1 #5Side B etched runout - variant 1
0Side A & B stamped runout - variant 1
BSK-1-3398-JW2 #1 0Side A runout etched; 0 stamped - 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 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records QBS 3398First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Harvest 3C 062-07097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | EMI EMS-81277First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Harvest 1A 062-07097First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Harvest 1A 062-07097LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | UK | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062-07 088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Harvest SHVL 819First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3398 / Automatic Record Co. BSK 3398First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1979 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3398First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1979 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3398LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3398First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1979 | UK | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062 - 07 088First yearLP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, EP | LP, Album, 7", 45 RPM, EP |
| 1979 | Germany | Harvest 1C 064-07 097 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-07 097First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | EMI EMS-81277First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | New Zealand | Harvest SHSP 4105LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Harvest SHVL-819LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062-07 088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M 510LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Unknown | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062-07 088LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Pinkflag PF13LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Netherlands | Pinkflag PF13LP / Konkurrent KONK40LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Repress, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Repress, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062-07 088LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Europe | Harvest 1A 062-07097LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1A 062-07097LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Pinkflag PF13LPLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | Harvest 1A 062 - 07 088LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Harvest 1A 062-07097LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Harvest SHSP 4105 / Harvest 0C 062-07 088LP, Album, Repress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Repress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
28 vinyl pressings of 154 are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Germany, Canada and more. One of them is Harvest SHSP 4105, released September 21, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SHSP 4105, SHVL 819, BSK 3398, 1C 064-07 097) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S̶̶HV̶L̶ 8̶1̶9̶ A̶-̶1̶̶̶ SHSP 4105 A-1 and S̶̶HV̶̶L̶ 8̶1̶9̶ B̶-̶̶̶1̶̶̶ SHSP 4105 B-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.
