Vinyl pressings
by Deep Purple · 1984
Perfect Strangers 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.
51 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 29 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.
POLH 16 A//1▽ 130SS 12 8 STERLINGVariant 1, side A runout, stamped
POLH 16 B//1▽ 130SS 13 9 Ⓗ STERLINGVariant 1, side B runout, stamped
POLH 16 A//1▽ 130SS 1 3 1 STERLINGVariant 2, side A runout, stamped
POLH 16 B//1▽ 130SS 1 3 Ⓗ STERLING 4Variant 2, side B runout, stamped
422-824-003-1AS PRC-R-2-1 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side A, variant 1
422-824-003-1BS PRC-R-2-1 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side B, variant 1
422 824-003-1-AS H̶R̶M̶ PRC-R-2-2-3-8 STERLING ⚾︎ 341-226Runout side A, variant 2
422.824-003-1-BS.PRC-R1-1-3-11 STERLING ⚾︎ 343-210Runout side B, variant 2
P 422 824-003-1-AS-CRP-1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
P 422-824-003-1-BS-CRP-P STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
P 422 824-003-1-AS-CRP-1 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side A, variant 2
P 422-824-003-1-BS-CRP-P1 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side B, variant 2
422 824 003•1•AS-H̶R̶M̶ PRC•R1 - 2 - 2 - P 206-5PE STERLING ⚾︎Runout side A, variant 1
422•824-003-1-BS•PRC-R1 - 2 - 3 - 21 205-5PE STERLING ⚾︎Runout side B, variant 1
422 824 003-1-AS-H̶R̶M̶ PRC-R1 - 1 - 5 - E 326-226 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side A, variant 2
422-824-003-1-BS-PRC-R1-2-1 -6 524-223 STERLING ⚾︎Runout side B, variant 2
STERLING P 422 824-003-1-AS-HRM-1Side A runout, variant 1
STERLING P 422-824-003-1-BS-HRMSide B runout, variant 1
STERLING + A-1 422 824 003-1-AS-HRMSide A runout, variant 2
STERLING + B-3 422 824 003-1-BS HRM-1Side B runout, variant 2
824-003-A G/A G A15 (H-TR)Run out, side A / etched. Variant 1
824-003-B G/A G1 C3 (H-TR)Run out, side B / etched. Variant 1
824-003-A G/A G1 F9 (H-TR)Run out, side A / etched. Variant 2
824-003-B G/B G1 C4 (H-TR)Run out, side B / etched. Variant 2
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 | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | Polydor 8237771 / Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS-1-6410 / Polydor PDS 1 6410First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS-1-6410LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS-1-6410 / Polydor PDS 1 6410First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS 1 6410 / Polydor PDS-1-6410First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS 1 6410 / Polydor PDS-1-6410First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Polydor PDS-1-6410LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Ecuador | Mercury LP-70050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| 1984 | Finland | Polydor 823 777-1 Y / Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 823 777-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | Polydor 823 777-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1994 | Russia | Polydor 823 777-1 / PolyGram 823 777-1LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Wax Cathedral MELT-005 / Mercury MELT-005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Europe | Polydor 3635872 / Polydor 0600753635872LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Polydor PDS-1-6410LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Polydor 3635872 / Polydor 0600753635872LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 823 777-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Philippines | Mercury 824 003-1 M-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Singapore | Polydor noLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 807LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Turkey | Relax 2010LP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
82 vinyl pressings of Perfect Strangers are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1984 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, Japan, South Korea and more. One of them is Polydor POLH 16.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLH 16, 824 003-1 M-1, 824 003 1M1, 25MM 0401) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLH 16 A//1▽ 130SS 12 8 STERLING and POLH 16 B//1▽ 130SS 13 9 Ⓗ STERLING. 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.
