Vinyl pressings
by Bon Jovi · 1988
Born To Be My Baby was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 12 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.
SRC 872-156-7-2-59954-SP 1-2 STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching
SRC 872-156-7-2-59963-SP 1-1 STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching
2-59954A-side label
2-59963B-side label
872-156-7-2-59954-CBS M G1 STERLING A8A-Side Runout Etching
872-156-7-2-59963-CBS M G1 A4 STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching
2-59954A-side label
2-59963B-side label
872-156-7-2-59954-SP 1-2 STERLING SRCA-Side Runout Etching
872-156-7-2-59963-SP 1-2 STERLING SRCB-Side Runout Etching
2-59954A-side label
2-59963B-side label
JOV 4A-1U-1-Q1 DB.TAPEoneRunout side A
JOV 4B-1U-1-Q3 DB.TAPEoneRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australasia | Mercury 872 743-1 / PolyGram 872 743-1First year12", EP | 12", EP |
| 1988 | Australia | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Canada | Mercury 872 156-7EFirst year7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1988 | Canada | Mercury 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1988 | Canada | Mercury DJM 302First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Europe | Phonogram 872 359-1 / Vertigo JOV R 412First year12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | Germany | Vertigo 872 359-1First year12", Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | Italy | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Japan | Mercury 10PD-5 / Mercury SNP-1068First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Mexico | PolyGram S/N-836First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1988 | Portugal | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Portugal | PolyGram 872 156-7First year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Spain | Vertigo 872 156-7First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
28 vinyl pressings of Born To Be My Baby are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1988 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Australasia, Australia and more. One of them is Mercury 872 156-7.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 872 156-7, 872 156-7 DJ, JOV 4, JOVR 412) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SRC 872-156-7-2-59954-SP 1-2 STERLING and SRC 872-156-7-2-59963-SP 1-1 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.
