Vinyl pressings
by Billy Squier · 1980
The Tale Of The Tape was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1980, 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.
ST-1-12062 F-6 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyA-Side Runout Etching
0̶ ST-2-12062 F-1 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyB-Side Runout Etching
ST 1-12062A-Side Label
ST 2-12062B-Side Label
ST-1-12062 F-6 · —◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, etched, variant 1
ST-2-12062 F-1 —◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0̶̷̶̷̶̷̶Side B runout, etched, variant 1
ST-1-12062 F-6 · —◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, etched, variant 2
ST-2-12062 G6 —◁ Gene MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0̶̷̶̷̶̷̶Side B runout, etched, variant 2
ST-1-12062 F-1 #1 Wally Mastered By Capitol 0Side A Runout Etched
ST-2-12062 F-1 #3 Wally Mastered By Capitol 0Side B Runout Etched
Mastered By Capitol 0Side A & B Runout Stamped
ST 1-12062Side A Label
ST-1-12062 F-5. 1 ✲✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, etched [Stamped: 1 ✲✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOL]
ST-2-12062 F-3. 1 ✲✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, etched [Stamped: 1 ✲✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOL]
ST 1-12062Label A
ST 2-12062Label B
ST-1-12062 F-6 · —◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout
ST-2-12062- G6 —◁ Gene MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout
ST-1-12062Side A label
ST-2-12062Side B label
ST-1-12062 F-5. 1 ✲ ✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, etched [Stamped: 1 ✲✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOL]
ST-2-12062 F-3. 1 ✲ ✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, etched [Stamped: 1 ✲✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOL]
ST 1-12062Label A
ST 2-12062Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Capitol Records 8821First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-512062LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 12062 / Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Capitol Records 2C 068-86.139First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 139 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-86 139First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Capitol Records SLEM-1151First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Capitol Records 11C 074 86139First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Capitol Records E-ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records ST-512062LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | US | Elektra ST-512062LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records ST-12062First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16342LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Capitol Records 1C 038-15 7633 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-86 139 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-86 139LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SN-16342LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Capitol Records ST-12062LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records ST-12062LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SN-16342LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
27 vinyl pressings of The Tale Of The Tape are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1980 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Capitol Records ST-12062.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST-12062, E-ST-12062, 8821, ST 12062) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-12062 F-6 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally and 0̶ ST-2-12062 F-1 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally. 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.
