Vinyl pressings
by Ellen Foley · 1979
What's A Matter Baby 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.
14 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 7 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.
01-7999-1A-1 ටRunout side A variant 1
01-7999-1B-1 ටRunout side B variant 1
01-7999-1A-4Runout side A variant 2
01-7999-1B-2Runout side B variant 2
01-7999-1A-4Runout side A
01-7999-1B-2Runout side B
EPC-S-7999-A1Runout side A, variant 1
EPC-S-7999-B1Runout side B, variant 1
EPC-S-7999-A1 7 VRunout side A, variant 2
EPC-S-7999-B1 7 1 1Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Canada | Epic 9-50770First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic EPC 7999 / Cleveland International Records EPC 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic 9*50770 / Cleveland International Records EPC 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Epic EPC S 7999 / Cleveland International Records EPC S 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Germany | Epic EPC S 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Japan | Epic 06*5P-92First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 7999First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Epic 9-50770First year7" | 7" |
| 1979 | US | Epic 9-50770First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Epic 9-50770First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Epic 9-50770 / Cleveland International RecordsFirst year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | Epic S EPC 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | Epic S EPC 7999 / Cleveland International Records S EPC 7999First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
14 vinyl pressings of What's A Matter Baby are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in Europe, UK, US, Canada and more. One of them is Epic EPC 7999.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EPC 7999, 9*50770, S EPC 7999, 9-50770) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 01-7999-1A-1 ට and 01-7999-1B-1 ට. 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.
