Vinyl pressings
by Electric Light Orchestra · 1979
Confusion / Last Train To London was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 10 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.
JET-166-A1 STRAWBERRY ΛRunout side A, etched/stamped, variant 1
JET 166 AA2 STRAWBERRY Λ J̶E̶T̶ ̶1̶6̶6̶ ̶B̶-̶2̶Runout side A A, stamped/etched, variant 1
JET-166-AA1 STRAWBERRYRunout side A, variant 2
Jet-166-A3 STRAWBERRYRunout side A A, variant 2
JET-166-A1 STRAWBERRYA-side variant 1
JET 166 AA2 STRAWBERRYAA-side variant 1
JET-166-A1 STRAWBERRYA-side variant 2
JET-166-AA1 STRAWBERRYAA-side variant 2
JET-166-A3Runout side A, etched, variant 1
JET-166-B3 AA3Runout side AA, etched, variant 1
JET-166-A3Runout side A, etched, variant 2
JET-166-B3 AA2Runout side AA, etched, variant 2
JET-166-A2 STRAWBERRY 9 ΛSide A runout
̶J̶E̶T̶ ̶1̶6̶6̶ ̶B̶2̶ JET 166 AA2 STRAWBERRY ΛSide AA runout
S JET 166 ASide A label
JET 166 A A٭Side AA label
JET-166-A1 STRAWBERRY ΛA-side runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
JET 166 AA2 STRAWBERRY Λ J̶E̶T̶ ̶1̶6̶6̶ ̶B̶-̶2̶B-side runout, stamped/etched, variant 1
JET-166-AA1 STRAWBERRYVersion 2 A-side
Jet-166-A3 STRAWBERRYVersion 2 B-side
JET 166 - A3 STRAWBERRYA-side runout, etched / stamped
JET - 166 - AA1 STRAWBERRYB-side runout, etched / stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | Epic 40.240First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Argentina | Epic 40.2407", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo |
| 1979 | Argentina | Epic 40.2407", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Costa Rica | Epic 45300First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Europe | Jet Records JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Jet Records JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Jet Records JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Jet Records JET S 166 / Jet Records JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Jet Records JET S 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Germany | Jet Records JET 166 / Jet Records JET S 166First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Jet Records JS 012First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Jet Records JS 012First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Spain | Jet Records JET 166 / Epic JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Thailand | CBS/Sony 0002First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Jet Records JET 166 / Jet Records S JET 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Costa Rica | Epic 453007", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | Jet Records JET 1667", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
26 vinyl pressings of Confusion / Last Train To London are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, Ireland, Argentina, Costa Rica and more. One of them is Jet Records JET 166, released November 9, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JET 166, S JET 166, 40.240, 45300) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, JET-166-A1 STRAWBERRY Λ and JET 166 AA2 STRAWBERRY Λ J̶E̶T̶ ̶1̶6̶6̶ ̶B̶-̶2̶. 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.
