Vinyl pressings
by April Wine · 1982
Power Play was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. 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 1982, the album's first year, in 14 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.
AQR-533-A-2 STERLING ◎Runout side A - variant 1
AQR-533-B-1 STERLING ◎Runout side B - variant 1
AQR-533-A-1 STERLING ◎Runout side A - variant 2
AQR-533-B-1 STERLING ◎Runout side B - variant 2
AQR-533-AX STERLING [Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada Limited logo]Runout, side A
AQR-533-BX STERLING [Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada Limited logo]Runout, side B
AQR533-ALabel, side A
AQR533-BLabel, side A
ST-1-12218-Z14 #3 ---◁ STERLINGRunout A, variant 1
ST-2-12218-Z13 ---◁ STERLINGRunout B, variant 1
ST-1-12218-Z14 #4 ---◁ STERLINGRunout A, variant 2
ST-2-12218-Z14 #4 ---◁ STERLINGRunout B, variant 2
ST-1-12218-Z17· 1 ✲ STERLINGSide A runout etched, except (✲, STERLING) stamped, Variant 1
ST-2 -12218-Z17· 3 ✲ STERLINGSide B runout etched, except (✲, STERLING) stamped, Variant 1
ST-1-12218-Z17· ✲ STERLINGSide A runout etched, except (✲, STERLING) stamped, Variant 2
ST-2 -12218-Z17· ✲ STERLINGSide B runout etched, except (✲, STERLING) stamped, Variant 2
ST-1-12218-Z10 #1 0 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
ST-2-12218-Z19 #4 0 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
ST-1-12218-Z10 #3 0 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
ST-2-12218-Z19 #1 0 STERLINGRunout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Capitol Records ST 12218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Brazil | Capitol Records 31C 064 400105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 533 / Capitol Records AQR 533First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR 533 / Capitol Records AQR 533First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-400 105First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-400 105First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-400 105LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1982 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81512 / Toshiba EMI ECS-81512First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81512First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81512First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | New Zealand | Capitol Records ST 12218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Portugal | Capitol Records 11C 078-400105 / EMI 11C 078-400105First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | Capitol Records ST-12218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | South Africa | Capitol Records ST (D) 12218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | South Korea | Capitol Records ST-12218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Canada | Aquarius Records AQR-533LPLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-400 105 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-400 105LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of Power Play are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1982 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in Canada, UK, US, Australia and more. One of them is Aquarius Records AQR 533.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AQR 533, EST 12218, ST-12218, ST 12218) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AQR-533-A-2 STERLING ◎ and AQR-533-B-1 STERLING ◎. 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.
