US
June 30, 1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records Inc. BSK 3581
- Format
- LP, Album · Label Copy
Vinyl pressings
Special Forces
by Alice Cooper · 1981
36 pressings20 countriesHard RockRock
Special Forces 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.
How to spot a first pressing of Special Forces
30 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
US
1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581
- Format
- LP, Album · Jacksonville Pressing
- Runout / matrix
BSK-1-3581-JW2 #2 TML-X 0Side A etched 0 stamped
BSK-2-3581-JW1 #1 TML-M 0Side B etched TML-M 0 stamped
US
1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
BSK-1-3581-S2 + SLM + Δ842 #2 TML-M B-16025-S2Variant 1, Etched Side A (Except ""SLM" & "TML-M" stamped)
BSK-2-3581-S1 + SLM + TML-M Δ842-XVariant 1, Etched Side B (Except ""SLM" & "TML-M" stamped)
BSK-1-3581-S2 + SLM + Δ842 #2 TML-M [Allied 'a' logo] B-16025-S2Variant 2, Etched Side A (Except ""SLM", "TML-M" & "[Allied a' logo]" stamped)
BSK-2-3581-S1 + SLM + TML-M Δ842-X [Allied 'a' logo] B-16026Variant 2, Etched Side B (Except ""SLM", "TML-M" & "[Allied a' logo]" stamped)
US
1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Winchester Pressing
- Runout / matrix
BSK-1-3581 WW1 TML-M · ─◁Side A runout
BSK-2-3581-WW1 TML-S · ─◁Side B runout
UK
1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records K 56927Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581
- Format
- LP, Album · West Drayton Pressing
- Runout / matrix
W-2 K+56927+A2 •STRAWBERRY•Side A runout, etched / stamped
W-3 K+56927+B2 •STRAWBERRY•Side B runout, etched / stamped
UK
1981- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records K 56927Warner Bros. Records K 56 927
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
R/S Alsdorf 56927 A3 GBside A, runout
R/S Alsdorf 56927 B3side B, runout
•STRAWBERRY•both sides, runout, stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 36 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s32 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 208995First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records BSK-3581First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.052First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.052LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Colombia | Warner Bros. Records 23(1031)00270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 927First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 927 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 927First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 927First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56927First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56927LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Guatemala | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB56927First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 927First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
2010s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 081227933807LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Warner Bros. Records RCV1 3581 / Rhino Records RCV1 3581LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
Year unknown2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 113LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light HR 074LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
Tracklist
- A1Who Do You Think We Are4:20
- A2Seven & Seven Is2:41
- A3Prettiest Cop On The Block3:13
- A4Don't Talk Old To Me2:54
- A5Generation Landslide '81 (Live)3:53
- B1Skeletons In The Closet3:43
- B2You Want It, You Got It3:14
- B3You Look Good In Rags3:34
- B4You're A Movie3:36
- B5Vicious Rumours3:43
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Special Forces are there?
36 vinyl pressings of Special Forces are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1981 and 2017.
When was Special Forces first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records Inc. BSK 3581, released June 30, 1981.
How do I tell if my copy of Special Forces is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3581, K 56927, 56927, XBS 3581) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Special Forces on vinyl worth?
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.
