Vinyl pressings
by Chaka Khan · 1981
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. 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 1981, the album's first year, in 14 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-1-3526-LW2 • 2 M #64 ✳ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
HS-2-3526-LW5 • 1 #64 M ✳ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
HS-1-3526-LW2 • 2 ✳ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
HS-2-3526-LW3 • 2 ✳ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
HS-1-3526-LW2. 2 *A Side Runout
HS-2-3526-LW3 .. *B Side Runout
HS-1-3526-LW4 • 1 ✳ STERLINGA Side Runout
HS-1-3526-LW2 • 2 ✳ STERLINGB Side Runout
HS-1-3526-JW1Side A Etched
STERLING 0Side A Stamped
HS-2-3526-JW1Side B Etched
0Side B Stamped
HS-1-3526-WW2 #8Side A; etched Variant 1
HS-2-3526-WW3 #6Side B; etched Variant 1
HS-1-3526-WW2 #9Side A; etched Variant 2
HS-2-3526-WW3 #7Side B; etched Variant 2
HS-1-3526-JW1Side A Etched
STERLINGSide A Stamped
HS-2-3526-JW1Side B Etched
ASCAP
K+56888 A-1 WEA T11 02Side 1 etched
K 56888 B-1WEA T11 02Side 2 etched
STRAWBERRYBoth Sides stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records HS 3526First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 36.188First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XHS 3526First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10995WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10995WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 888First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records HS 3526First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Panama | Warner Bros. Records HS 3526First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1486LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 56888LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
26 vinyl pressings of What Cha' Gonna Do For Me are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1981 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records HS 3526.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use HS 3526, BSK 3526, K 56888, 36.188) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS-1-3526-LW2 • 2 M #64 ✳ STERLING and HS-2-3526-LW5 • 1 #64 M ✳ 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.
