Vinyl pressings
by Cory Wells · 1978
Touch Me was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 8 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.
TC A&M-Sp5083-TIRunout side A
TI A&M SP5083-T2 A8Runout side 1 (variant 1) all etched except last letter 'A'
TI A&M Sp5084-T2 3DRunout side B
TI A&M SP5084-T1 A6Runout Side 2 (variant 1) all etched except last letter 'A"
A&M-SP 5083-MA △22945 (4)Runout side A, etched, variant 1
A&M SP 5084- M3 = △22945 - X (7)Runout side B, etched, variant 1
A&M-SP 5083-M2 MR △22945 PittmanRunout side A, etched, variant 2
A&M SP 5084- M1 MR △22945 - X PittmanRunout side B, etched, variant 2
A&M SP5083-M1 MR[circled] △22945 (1)Side A runout
A&M SP5084-M4 - △22945-X (3)Side B runout
SP-5083Side A label
SP-5084Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | A&M Records L36522First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4673 / A&M Records SP 4673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4673 / A&M Records SP 4673First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Italy | A&M Records SLAM 64673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records GP-2074First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records GP-2074First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | A&M Records AMLH 64673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Portugal | A&M Records PPSP-4673First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4673First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4673First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP 5084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4673First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4673First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Venezuela | A&M Records AMS-5160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
14 vinyl pressings of Touch Me are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, Australia, Canada, Italy and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4673.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4673, SP 5084, L36522, SLAM 64673) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TC A&M-Sp5083-TI and TI A&M SP5083-T2 A8. 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.
