Vinyl pressings
by Chicago · 1984
Hard Habit To Break was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1984, 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.
7-29214-BCA-2⃫8⃫8⃫3⃫-S . JW1 #2 2833 STERLING 0Side A runout etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 0 stamps)
7-29214-BCA-2837-S . JW1 #1 STERLING 0Side B runout etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 0 stamps)
BCA 2833SSide A Label
BCA 2837SSide B Label
7-29214-BCA-2833-S-SH1#2 -SH1 · ─◁ SLM ∆ 7425 1-1 WIN. R-13190 STERLING ɑSide A runout
7-29214-BCA-2837-S-WW1 · ─◁ STERLINGSide B runout
BCA 2833SSide A label
BCA 2837SSide B label
BCA-2833-SSR1 [SRC logo] 7-29214 ̷B̷C̷A̷-̷2̷8̷8̷3̷-̷S̷R̷1̷ 1-2 STERLINGSide A runout
7-29214-BCA-2837-S-SR1 [SRC logo] STERLING 1-1Side B runout
BCA 2833SSide A label
BCA 2837SSide B label
BCA 2833SSide A
BCA 2837SSide B
△7425 1-1 7-29214-BCA-2833-S-SH1 Q R-13190-SH1 SLM STERLINGSide A etched, STERLING stamped
△7366 1-1 7-29214-BCA-2837-S-SH1 Q R-13144-SH1 SLM STERLINGSide B etched, STERLING stamped
△7425 1-1 7-29214-BCA-2833-S-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] R-13190-SH1 SLM STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching
STERLING 7-29214-BCA-2833-DJ-S-SH2 △7365 1-1 7-29214-BCA-2833-S-SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] R-13143-SH2 SLMB-Side Runout Etching
BCA 2833SA-Side Label
BCA 2833S DJB-Side Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 7-29214First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 16.271First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 92147First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 92147 / Full Moon 92 92147First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 92147First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 929 197-7 / Full Moon 929 197-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 920 248-0First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | Ireland | Full Moon W 9214 / Warner Bros. Records W 9214First year7" | 7" |
| 1984 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records 92 9214-7First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1984 | Mexico | Full Moon SWB-139First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records 7-29214First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0729214.5First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0729214.5First year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Philippines | Warner Bros. Records WB-77-410 / Warner Bros. Records 7-29214First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records S 929214-7 / WEA 92 9214-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records GS 452167", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
32 vinyl pressings of Hard Habit To Break are listed here, from 15 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 9 29214-7, released July 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 29214-7, PRO-A-2183, 7-29214, W9214) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7-29214-BCA-2⃫8⃫8⃫3⃫-S . JW1 #2 2833 STERLING 0 and 7-29214-BCA-2837-S . JW1 #1 STERLING 0. 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.
