Vinyl pressings
by Bruce Hornsby And The Range · 1986
The Way It Is was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
24 pressings came out in 1986, 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.
NFL1-8058-A-2S Precision JSide A Runout (Etched)
NFL1-8058-B-2S Precision BSide B Runout (Etched)
I A1 A1Side A Runout (Stamped)
I A3Side B Runout (Stamped)
RPL - 8348A 111 + S(Side A)
RPL - 8348B 111 +(Side B)
SFL1 151A
SFL1 151B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Argentina | RCA Victor TLP-70055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor SFL1 0151First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA SFL1 0151First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | Starcall Victor SFL1 0151First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4220First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | RCA Victor AFL1-5904LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Canada | RCA Victor NFL1-8058First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL89901First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA 13 688-7LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA 36 156-8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL89901First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL89901First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL89901First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20386 / RCA Victor RCLP 20386First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20386LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Exhibit Records eXLP1-44072LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1397 / RCA Victor MOVLP1397LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA PL89901LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA PL89901LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| ? | Ireland | RCA PL89901LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
41 vinyl pressings of The Way It Is are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1986 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is RCA Victor NFL1-8058.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NFL1-8058, PL89901, RPL 8348, SFL1 0151) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NFL1-8058-A-2S Precision J and NFL1-8058-B-2S Precision B. 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.
