Vinyl pressings
by Cheap Trick · 1979
Dream Police was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 11 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.
TI ZSS-166685-1C STERLINGRunout A, variant 1
T ZSS-166686-1D STERLING TIRunout B, variant 1
T ZSS 166685-1G STERLINGRunout A, variant 2
T ZSS-166686-1G STERLING TRunout B, variant 2
p ZSS-166685-1A sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢRun-out A, etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped)
p ZSS-166686-1A sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢRun-out B, etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped)
ZSS 166685Label side A
ZSS 166686Label side B
ZSS-166685-1F STERLING SSide A runout etched; STERLING stamped - variant 1
ZSS-166686-1F SSS STERLINGSide B runout etched; STERLING stamped - variant 1
ZSS-166685-1F STERLING SSide A runout etched; STERLING stamped - variant 2
ZSS-166686-1E STERLING SSide B runout etched; STERLING stamped - variant 2
ZSS - 166686-1B sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢA-side
ZSS - 166686 - 1A sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢB-side
ZSS 166685-1G TI TA runout
ZSS 166686-1G T TIIIIIIB runout
ZSS 166685A label
ZSS 166686B label
ZSS-166685-1A sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢRun-out A (long), etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped)
T ZSS-166691-1C sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ ᵀᴵRun-out B (short), etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Epic ES 380First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1979 | Australia | Epic ES 380First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Canada | Epic 9-50774First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic EPC 7880First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic EPC 7880First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic EPC 7880First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Epic EPC 7880First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Germany | Epic EPC 7880First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Epic EPC 7880 / Epic S EPC 7880 a/bFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Italy | Epic EPC 7880First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Epic 06・5P-76First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Epic 06・5P-76First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Epic ES 380First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 7880First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 7880First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Argentina | Epic 40.2367", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
29 vinyl pressings of Dream Police are listed here, from 11 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Epic 9-50774, released September 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9-50774, S EPC 7880, ct 1, 40.236) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TI ZSS-166685-1C STERLING and T ZSS-166686-1D STERLING TI. 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.
