Vinyl pressings
by Ashford & Simpson · 1979
Stay Free was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. 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 1979, the album's first year, in 15 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.
HS-1-3357-RE1-WW1#3-◁side A runout etched
HS-2-3357-RE1-WW1 -◁side B runout etched
HS-1-3357-RE1-WW2 --◁ (side 1)Variation 1 - side A runout etched
HS-2-3357-RE1-WW2 --◁ (side 2)Variation 1 - side B runout etched
HS-1-3357-RE1-LW1• 2 #64 ✲ MR △24499 (1)Runout A etched / 2 ✲ stamped
HS-2-3357-RE1-LW3• 2 #64 ✲ MR △24499-XRunout B etched / 2 ✲ stamped
SUbA• HS-1-3357-RE1-LW2-1Runout side 1 etched
SUB-B HS-2-3357-RE1-JW3 #3Runout side 2 etched
3 ✲̶̷̲̅ 3Runout side 1 stamped / both 3 sideways
HS-1-3357-RE1-JW4 0Runout side 1 etched, variant 2
HS-1-3357-RE1-LW1-1 ✲Variant 1 Runout side A
HS-2-3357-RE1-LW4 ✲Variant 1 Runout side B
HS-1-3357-RE1-LW2 1 ✲Variant 2 Runout side A
HS-2-3357-RE1-LW1 1 ✲Variant 2 Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records HS 3357First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3357First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records LP-80020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 703First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56703 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10714WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10714WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records GWEA-5372First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 703First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records S 90.176First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56703First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 36.132LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records WAR 56703LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of Stay Free are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records HS 3357.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use HS 3357, K 56703, WB 56 703, XHS 3357) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS-1-3357-RE1-WW1#3-◁ and HS-2-3357-RE1-WW1 -◁. 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.
