Vinyl pressings
by 38 Special · 1983
Tour De Force 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.
20 pressings came out in 1983, 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.
-A 1C SPO-4971 A RCA1 Masterdisk IRunout A variant 1
-A 1C SPO-4971 B RCA3 Masterdisk IRunout B variant 1
A 2B- SPO-4971 A-RCA1 I MASTERDISKRunout A variant 2
A 2D- SPO-4971 B-RCA3 I MASTERDISKRunout B variant 2
SP-4971-A G1A G1 (H-AD)A Side Etched
SP 4971-B G1B G1 A1 (PXPY)B Side Etched
SP-4971-A G1B G1 F2 (H-MP)A Side Etched, Variant 1
SP 4971-B G1A G1 A9 (HXMP)B Side Etched, Variant 1
S1 SPO-4971-A-M2 MASTERDISK RL MR △26303A-side runout, variant 1
S2 SPO-4971-B-M2 MR△26303x MASTERDISK RLB-side runout, variant 1
S1 SPO-4971-A-M2 MASTERDISK RL MR△26303A-side runout, variant 2
S2 SPO-4971-B-M2 MASTERDISK RL MR△26303xB-side runout, variant 2
SPO-4971 A-ES1 EMW MASTERDISKA Side Runout, Variant 1
SPO-4971 B -ES1 EMW MASTERDISKB Side Runout, Variant 1
SPO-4971 A-ES1 EMW MASTERDISKA Side Runout, Variant 2
SPO-4971 B-ES2 EMW MASTERDISKB Side Runout, Variant 2
SPO-4971 A-E31 ℰMW MASTERDISKA side runout etch, exc MASTERDISK stamp
SPO-4971 B-E31 ℰMW MASTERDISKB side runout etch, exc MASTERDISK stamp
SPO-4971 A-ES2 AM MASTERDISK EMWRunout side A
SPO-4971 B-E1MASTERDISK RL EMWRunout side B
SP-04971-ALabel side A
SP-04971-BLabel side B
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 | Australia | A&M Records L 38096First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4971LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 64971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Greece | A&M Records AMLH 64971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-28086First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Portugal | A&M Records AMLH 64971 / CBS AMLH 64971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Spain | A&M Records AMLH 64971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | A&M Records AMLX 64971First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-4971First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-4971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-4971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-4971First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-4971LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | A&M Records 394 971-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP 3310 / A&M Records SP-3310LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of Tour De Force are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1983 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4971, AMLH 64971, AMLX 64971, L 38096) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, -A 1C SPO-4971 A RCA1 Masterdisk I and -A 1C SPO-4971 B RCA3 Masterdisk I. 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.
