VinylAI 
Data as of Oct 17, 2026
Various – Absolute Beginners The Musical (Songs From The Original Motion Picture)
1986 · Europe · Virgin · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 17, 2026
- MMint
- $14.08
- NMNear Mint
- $12.60
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $9.63
- VGVery Good
- $6.67
- G+Good Plus
- $3.71
- GGood
- $2.22
- FFair
- $1.48
- PPoor
- $0.74
83 copies listed on Discogs from $2.90.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers · 1
- €5ref VA-SQEJHMedia VG+ · Very Good Plus🇩🇪 Ships from Germany — selten gehört
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- DM 207 588 ADM 207588 A-1/2-86S IDM 207588 A-1/2-86S I II
- Runout — side B
- DM 207 588 BDM 207588 B-1/2-86S IDM 207588 B-1/2-86S I II
- Rights society
- GEMA STEMRA BIEM
- Label Code
- LC 3098
- Pressing Plant ID
- Bass clef(Embossed stamp, label side B)
- Price Code
- -630
- Other
- 207 588-8(On inner sleeve)
- Record Company
- Virgin Records
- Pressed By
- Sonopress
- Printed By
- TOPAC Gesellschaft Für Tonträger-Verpackung mbH
Specifications
- Artist
- Various
- Genre
- Rock, Pop, Stage & Screen
- Style
- Pop Rock
- Year
- 1986
- Label
- Virgin
- Catalog number
- 207 588-630
- Country
- Europe
Tracklist
- A1Absolute Beginners8:00
- A2Killer Blow4:36
- A3Have You Ever Had It Blue?5:36
- A4Quiet Life2:54
- A5Va Va Voom3:24
- B1That's Motivation4:12
- B2Having It All3:06
- B3Rodrigo Bay3:31
- B4Selling Out3:35
- B5Riot City8:29
- Producer
- Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley
- Design, Art Direction
- Tracy Drew
- Cover [Back Cover Photographs], Photography By [Back Cover Photographs]
- Graham Attwood
- Cover [Front Cover Photograph], Photography By [Front Cover Photograph]
- Davies And Starr
About this record
The Sonopress pressing plant stamped this 1986 European soundtrack with the matrix DM 207 588 A/B, marking it distinct from the UK (V 2386) and US (SV-17182) editions released the same year. An embossed bass clef on the B side is the physical signature of this particular variant.
With 83 copies currently for sale and a community ownership ratio of 827 have against only 26 want, this pressing sits in stable collector hands rather than high demand.
What drives its value
Condition drives the entire market for this European pressing. A Mint copy commands 14.08 USD, while Near Mint drops to 12.60 USD; the gap widens sharply at VG+ (9.63 USD) and VG (6.67 USD), reflecting how quickly wear erodes value on a 1986 soundtrack that has circulated for nearly four decades.
The lowest asking price across 83 active listings is 2.9 USD, indicating heavy stock of play-worn copies. The original 1986 Virgin European pressing (catalogue 207 588) competes directly with the UK variant (V 2386) and French edition (123 861), all released simultaneously; European pressings typically command less premium than UK originals, so grading and pressing-plant verification become the collector's leverage point.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number 207 588 or 207 588-630 on the spine and label. The dead-wax matrix strings read DM 207 588 A (Side A) and DM 207 588 B (Side B), or the longer variants DM 207588 A-1/2-86S I and DM 207588 B-1/2-86S I, all indicating Sonopress manufacture.
The embossed bass clef on the B side is the visual marker separating this from catalogue 207 654, which is also European Virgin but lacks this feature. Direct Metal Mastering was used in the cut.
The label should credit Virgin Records Ltd. as licencee (1986), with David Bowie's tracks (A1, B1) noted separately. No barcode appears on this pressing.
Grade by surface cleanliness under bright light; even light play dulls the gloss and drops value from 12.60 USD (NM) to 9.63 USD (VG+).
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
This is an European version with an embossed bass clef on B side. For almost identical version see: - 375426: Different catalog number.
Direct Metal Mastering
℗ 1986 Virgin Records Ltd. except tracks A1, B1 ℗ 1986 David Bowie Virgin Records Ltd. Exclusive licencee © 1986 Virgin Records Ltd.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
How do I tell this European pressing apart from the UK version?
Check the catalogue number on the spine: this pressing is 207 588 or 207 588-630 (European Virgin), whereas the UK pressing is V 2386. The matrix runout will read DM 207 588 (Sonopress), not the UK plant code. The embossed bass clef on Side B is also exclusive to this variant.
What is a VG+ copy worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ graded copy is estimated at 9.63 USD. This represents a record with light surface marks visible under bright light but no audible distortion, and reflects the typical asking price across the 83 copies currently listed for sale.
Why is there such a big price gap between Mint and VG?
A Mint copy is listed at 14.08 USD while a VG copy is 6.67 USD—nearly half. Soundtracks from 1986 were played heavily by casual listeners, so truly unplayed copies are rare. Most surviving examples show wear, making condition the primary value driver; even minor surface noise or groove wear drops a copy into the VG range.
Is this pressing rare?
No. The community database shows 827 owners against only 26 want, indicating abundant supply. With 83 copies for sale and a lowest asking price of 2.9 USD, this is a common pressing. The UK (V 2386) and US (SV-17182) editions are similarly widespread.
What does Direct Metal Mastering mean on this pressing?
DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) was a cutting technique that bypassed the lacquer intermediate stage, pressing directly from a metal master. It was marketed as improving fidelity and durability. On this 1986 Virgin release, it appears as a credit in the dead wax and on the label, indicating the mastering method used during the cut at Sonopress.