Vinyl pressings
by Daryl Hall & John Oates · 1982
H₂O was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
42 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 27 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.
AFL1-4383-A-R1 MASTERDISK RL I A5QRunout A, variant 1
AFL1-4383-B-R1 MASTERDISK I A9QRunout B, variant 1
AFL1-4383-A-R2 MASTERDISK RL I A2VRunout A, variant 2
AFL1-4383-B-R1 MASTERDISK I A12Runout B, variant 2
AFL1 - 4383 - A - M1 RL - 25767 MASTERDISKSide A runout, Variant 1
AFL1 - 4383 - B - M1 - - 25767 - X MASTERDISKSide One runout, Variant 1
AFLI - 4383 - A - RI [MASTERDISK] RL [A2]Side A runout, Variant 2
AFLI - 4383 - B - RI [MASTERDISK A G E]Side One runout, Variant 2
RCALP 6056 A-1U-1-2 - X1 AFL1 - 4383 - A - UK MASTERDISK RLRunout, A-side
RCALP 6056 B-1U-1-2 - AFL1 - 4383 - B - UK MASTERDISKRunout, B-side
RCALP 6056 A-1U-1-1-1 AFL1-4383-A-UK MASTERDISK RLSide A runout stamped & etched Variant 2
RCALP 6056 B-1U-1-1- AFL1-4383-B-UK MASTERDISKSide 1 runout stamped & etched Variant 2
RCALP+P+6056+A ORLAKEEtching Side A
RCALP+P+6056+B ORLAKEEtching Side B
RCALP 6056 A-1U-1-1 - X1 AFL1 - 4383 - A - UK MASTERDISK RLRunout, A-side
RCALP 6056 B-1U-1-4 - AFL1 - 4383 - B - UK MASTERDISKRunout, B-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Argentina | RCA TLP-50028 / RCA Victor TLP-50028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 4383First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 4383First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Brazil | RCA 104.4170 / RCA Victor 104.4170First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | RCA AFL1-4383First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Colombia | RCA Victor 05(0131)01922First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | RCA PL 14383First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | RCA PL 14383First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | RCA PL 14383 / RCA 76.27 048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | RCA PL 14383 / RCA 76.27 048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PL 14383 / RCA 76.27 048First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA 28 504-9LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA Victor 46 298-6LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PL 14383 / RCA 76.27 048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20251 / RCA Victor MAL-RCLP 20251First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-413 / RCA 88725441031LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RCA SPLP 1001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | RCA NL90080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Peru | RCA XRPL1-892LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
56 vinyl pressings of H₂O are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1982 and 2014.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Ireland, Argentina and more. One of them is RCA AFL1-4383, released October 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AFL1-4383, RCALP 6056, RCALPP 6056, TLP-50028) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AFL1-4383-A-R1 MASTERDISK RL I A5Q and AFL1-4383-B-R1 MASTERDISK I A9Q. 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.
