Vinyl pressings
by Eddy Grant · 1984
Romancing The Stone 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.
43 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 20 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.
P XSS-171690 - AA C MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JR :^)Side A runout
P XSS-171691 - AB A C MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JR :^)Side B runout
ZSS 171675Label A
ZSS 171676Label B
P ZSS-171675-AA MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERbIE JR [smiley face]Side A Runout
P ZSS-171676-AA MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERbIE JR [smiley face]Side B Runout
ZSS 171675Side A Label
ZSS 171676Side B Label
P ZSS - 171675 - AA Stamped (MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK) Herbie Jr ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Side A - variant 1
P ZSS - 171676 - AB Stamped (MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK) Herbie Jr ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Side B - variant 1
P ZSS - 171675 - AA Stamped (MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK) Herbie Jr ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Side A - variant 2
P ZSS - 171676 - AA Stamped (MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK) Herbie Jr ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Side B - variant 2
P XSM-171688-2-AC MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JRRun-out Side A
P XSM-171689-2-AC MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JRRun-out Side B
XSM 171688Label Side A
XSM 171689Label Side B
P ZSS-171675-AB MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK Herbie Jr :-)Runouts
ZSS 171675Labels
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 | ICE ES 12103First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Australia | ICE ES 956 / Portrait ES 956First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Australia | ICE ES 956 / Portrait ES 956First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Australia | ICE ES 956 / Portrait ES 956First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Bolivia | CBS 10432First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Brazil | Epic 46.609First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1984 | Brazil | Epic 46.609First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1984 | Canada | Portrait IE4-7009First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | Costa Rica | CBS 7012837First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Europe | Portrait PRTA 4392 / ICE PRTA 4392First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | ICE INT 126.111 / ICE ICET 61First year12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM · Colored vinyl | 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Germany | ICE INT 111.110 / ICE ICE 61First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Germany | ICE INT 111.110First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | ICE INT 111.110 / ICE ICE 61First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Ireland | ICE ICE 61First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
43 vinyl pressings of Romancing The Stone are listed here, from 20 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Portrait 4R9-04993.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 4R9-04993, 37-04433, AS 1853, ICET 61) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P XSS-171690 - AA C MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JR :^) and P XSS-171691 - AB A C MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK HERBIE JR :^). 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.
