Vinyl pressings
by Al Jarreau · 1981
Breakin' Away was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
43 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 27 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.
BSK-1-3576-JW5 0Etched Side One 0 Stamped, Variant 1
BSK-2-3576-JW3 0Etched Side Two 0 Stamped, Variant 1
BSK-1-3576-JW6 #2Etched Side One 0 Stamped, Variant 2
BSK-2-3576-JW3 #3Etched Side Two 0 Stamped, Variant 2
BSK-1-3576-WWI #6 ─◁A side variant 1
BSK-2-3576-WWI #4 ─◁B side variant 1
BSK-1-3576-WWI #10 ─◁A side variant 2
BSK-2-3576-WWI #6 ─◁B side variant 2
BSK-1-3576-JW5 0Etched Side One 0 Stamped
BSK-2-3576-JW3 0Etched Side Two 0 Stamped
BSK-1-3576-SH2 + SLM +++ Δ 777 [Allied Logo] B-15933-SH2Runout, side 1, Variant 1
BSK-2-3576-SH2 + SLM + Δ 777-X [Allied Logo] B-15934-SH2Runout, side 2, Variant 1
BSK-1-3576-S3 + SLM +++ Δ 777 [Allied Logo] B-15933-S3Runout, side 1, Variant 2
BSK-2-3576-S4 + SLM + Δ 777-X [Allied Logo] B-15934-S4Runout, side 2, Variant 2
K 56917 A DAMONT STRAWBERRY W-4Side A runout
K 56917 B DAMONT STRAWBERRY W-2Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records SLIN 3395First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576 / Warner Bros. Records 26.046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3576First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3576First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Inc. K 56 917First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56917First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56917First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56917First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1351 / Warner Bros. Records MOVLP1351LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Warner Records MOVLP1351 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP1351LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 917 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 917LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56917 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress · Club edition |
| ? | US | Warner Brothers BSK 3576LP | LP |
60 vinyl pressings of Breakin' Away are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1981 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Netherlands, Argentina and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3576, released June 30, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3576, K 56917, WB 56 917, SLIN 3395) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3576-JW5 0 and BSK-2-3576-JW3 0. 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.
