Vinyl pressings
by Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band · 1978
Stranger In Town was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
56 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 24 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.
SW-1-11698 F-3 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side A, variant 1
SW-2-11698 F-4 #3 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side B, variant 1
SW-1-11698 F-3 #5 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side A, variant 2
SW-2-11698 F-4 #6 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side B, variant 2
SW-1-11698 F-1 #3 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Variant 1 Side A
SW-2-11698 F-10 #3 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Variant 1 Side B
SW-1-11698 F-1 Wally Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Variant 2 Side A
SW-2-11698 F-2 #2 Wally Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Variant 2 Side B
SW-1-11698 F12 #6 ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴄᴀᴘɪᴛᴏʟSide A
SW-2-11698 F29 Wally ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴄᴀᴘɪᴛᴏʟSide B
sw-1-11698 F-5 1 #74 ✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLVariant 1 Side A runout etched & stamped
sw-2-11698 F-5 2 #74 ✲ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLVariant 1 Side B runout etched & stamped
SW-1-11698 F-5· 4 ✲ Wally ̷ ̷S̷U̷B̷-̷X̷ MASTERED BY CAPITOLVariant 2 Side A runout etched & stamped
SW-2-11698 G30. 2 #74 ✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOLVariant 2 Side B runout etched & stamped
SW-1-11698 F12#7 Mastered at Capitol 0Side A - Etched, [Mastered at Capitol, 0 - stamped] [Var. 1]
SW-2-11698-G 33#3 Semr Mastered At Capitol 0Side B - Etched [Mastered at Capitol, 0 - stamped] [Var. 1]
SW-1-11698 F12 #4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL kp 0Side A etched, [MASTERED BY CAPITOL, 0 stamped] [Var. 2]
SW-2-11698 F28 #7 MASTERED BY CAPITOL kp 0Side B etched, [MASTERED BY CAPITOL, 0 stamped] [Var. 2]
SW-1-11698 F-23 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, variant 1
SW-2-11698 G-36 • ━◁ Wayne MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, variant 1
SW-1-11698 F-23 #3 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, variant 2
SW-2-11698 G-36 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Capitol Records 38024First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Brazil | Capitol Records 31C 064 85333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Capitol Records SW-11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Capitol Records SW-11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Capitol Records SW-11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Capitol Records SW-11698 / Capitol Records SW 11698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Colombia | Capitol Records 11603First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Capitol Records 2S 068-85.333 / Capitol Records SPC 86 333First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | France | Capitol Records 2S 068-85333 / Capitol Records 2S 068 - 85.333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Capitol Records SPC 85333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Greece | Capitol Records 14C 062-85333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Ireland | Capitol Records EA -ST11698First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | UK | Capitol Records EAST 11698 / Capitol Records 0C 062-85 333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Capitol Records SW-11698LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SW-511698 / Columbia House Canada Ltd. SW-511698LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Europe | Capitol Records 064-7 4674 1 / Capitol Records 064 7 4674 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Capitol Records 2C 068-85333 / Capitol Records 2C 068-85.333LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Capitol Records 062-1853331 / Capitol Records 01 14C 062-1853331LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Capitol Records 3C 064-85333LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Sweden | Capitol Records 7C 062-85333 / Capitol Records SW 11698LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Capitol Records EAST 11698 / Capitol Records 0C 062-85 333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
73 vinyl pressings of Stranger In Town are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1978 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Germany, Argentina and more. One of them is Capitol Records SW-11698, released May 15, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SW-11698, SEAX-11904, EA-ST 11698, EA-STS 11698) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SW-1-11698 F-3 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL and SW-2-11698 F-4 #3 • ━◁ Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL. 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.
