Vinyl pressings
by Elaine Paige · 1984
Cinema 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.
15 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 11 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.
EP RULES OKHand Etched Runout, Side A - All Variants
FOR KIMHand Etched Runout, Side B - All Variants
NE 1282 A//1 V 11 11Stamped Runout, Side A - Variant 1
NE 1282 B//1 V 11 9Stamped Runout, Side B - Variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 240511-1 A S EP RULES OK 18Side A runout, stamped & etched
R/S Alsdorf 240511-1 B FOR KIM 17Side B runout, stamped & etched
33 EP RULES OK R/S Alsdorf 240511-1 ASide A - stamped, except "33 EP RULES OK" etched
R/S Alsdorf 240511-1 B BE FOR KIM 41Side B - stamped, except "BE FOR KIM 41" etched
240 511- ASide A - on label
240 511- BSide B - on label
2-405111 A1 웃 DDCS CP Y11 POS1-1Side A runout - Etched
2-405111 B1 웃 DDCS CP POS1-2 Y11 2Side B runout - Etched
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 | K-Tel NA 689First yearLP, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | WEA Records Ltd. 240511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | WEA 240 511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | WEA 240 511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | WEA 240 511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | WEA 240511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | New Zealand | WEA 2405111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Portugal | WEA 229 24-0511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | WEA 240 511-1 / WEA 40511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | South Africa | Wea International PAIGE 2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | K-Tel NE 1282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | WEA 240 511-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Hallmark Records SHM 3285LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
16 vinyl pressings of Cinema are listed here, from 11 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Australia, Australia & New Zealand, Europe and more. One of them is K-Tel NE 1282.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NE 1282, NA 689, 240511-1, 240 511-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EP RULES OK and FOR KIM. 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.
