Vinyl pressings
by Cheap Trick · 1977
In Color was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 9 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.
1 S AL-34884-1E STERLING B4Runout A variant 1
1 S BL-34884-1E STERLING B5Runout B variant 1
1 S AL-34884-1F STERLING 35ARunout A variant 2
1 S BL-34884-1C STERLING ARunout B variant 2
o T 1 AL-34884-1E STERLINGA side runout, variant 1
o T 1 BL-34884-1E STERLINGB side runout, variant 1
o T 1 AL-34884-1E STERLING A 17A side runout, variant 2
o T 1 BL-34884-1B STERLING C 9B side runout, variant 2
AL-34884-1D sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢSide A Runout Variant 1
BL-34884-1A sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢSide B Runout Variant 1
AL-34884-1D sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢSide A Runout Variant 2
BL-34884-1D sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢSide B Runout Variant 2
AL-34884-1H P V STERLINGA Side Etch exc sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped
BL-34884-1A PV STERLING 5B Side Etch exc sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 5 stamped
T\ AL-34884-1E AVariant 1 A Side Etch exc sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped
T/ BL-34884-1BVariant 1 B Side Etch exc sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped
P AL-34884-1H STERLING BRunout A, variant 1
P BL-34884-1D STERLING ARunout B, variant 1
P AL-34884-1D STERLING B CRunout A, variant 2
P BL-34884-1D STERLING C ARunout B, variant 2
o T1 AL 34884-1B STERLING GSide A
BL 34884-1G STERLING T1-o CSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3836First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3836First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Epic PE 34884First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | Epic 82214 / Epic EPC 82214First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Europe | Epic EPC 82214 / Epic 82214LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1977 | Europe | Epic 82214 / Epic EPC 82214First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | Epic 25AP 728First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Epic 25AP 728First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Epic ELPS 3836First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | South Africa | Epic KSF 2002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Epic EPC 82214 / Epic S EPC 82214First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | UK | Epic EPC 82214First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Epic PE 34884First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Epic PE 34884First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Epic PE 34884 / Epic 34884First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3836 / Epic PE 34884LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 091LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2011 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 091LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2013 | US | Epic 88883777741LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Worldwide | Music On Vinyl MOVLP3552 / Epic MOVLP3552LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Epic 82214LP, White Label, Stereo | LP, White Label, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 82214 / Epic S EPC 82214LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic PE 34884LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic PE 34884LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic PE 34884LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of In Color are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1977 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Epic PE 34884, released September 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PE 34884, EPC 82214, ELPS 3836, 82214) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1 S AL-34884-1E STERLING B4 and 1 S BL-34884-1E STERLING B5. 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.
