Vinyl pressings
by Emmylou Harris · 1981
Mister Sandman was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 14 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.
R/S Alsdorf 17758 A STRAWBERRYRunout A, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 17758 B STRAWBERRYRunout B, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 17758 A ·STRAWBERRY·Runout A, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 17758 B ·STRAWBERRY·Runout B, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 17758 A xx STRAWBERRYSide A runout, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 17758 Bx STRAWBERRYSide B runout, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 17758 A xxx • STRAWBERRY(G) •Side A runout, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 17758 B • STRAWBERRY(G) •Side B runout, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 17758 A STRAWBERRYRunout A
R/S Alsdorf 17758 B STRAWBERRYRunout B
FWB 0384-ALabel A
FWB 0384-BLabel B
K 17758 A-1Runout side A, etched, except [STRAWBERRY 1] stamped
K 17758 B-1Runout side B, etched, except [STRAWBERRY 1] stamped
FWB 0384Label sides A & B
K 17758 ALabel side-A
0Runout, side A&B, Stamped
WBS-49684-WCA 9098-S-JW2 #2Runout, side A, etched
WBS-49684 YCA-9579-S-JW1 #2Runout, side B, etched
WCA 9890SLabel side A
WBS-49684-WCA 9890-S-WW2 #2 •-------◁Side A - Etched
YCA-9579-S-WW1 •-------◁Runout, side B, etched
WCA 9890SLabel - Side A
YCA 9579SLabel - Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49684First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Benelux | Warner Bros. Records WB 17.758First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49684First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49684First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | El Salvador | Warner Bros. Records CA-11098First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Guatemala | Warner Bros. Records WBS-49684First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | Warner Bros. Records K 17758First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-1533WFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-1533WFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49684First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBS 389First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 45-2078First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 17758First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Warner Bros. Records WBS49684First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Warner Bros. Records WBS49684First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
23 vinyl pressings of Mister Sandman are listed here, from 14 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Germany, UK, US, Austria and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WB 17 758, released February 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WB 17 758, K 17758, WBS49684, WBS 49684) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R/S Alsdorf 17758 A STRAWBERRY and R/S Alsdorf 17758 B STRAWBERRY. 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.
