Vinyl pressings
by EPMD · 1988
Strictly Business was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 4 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.
[SRC stamp] FRE-80123 X THE KOALA IS STRICTLY BUSINESS [MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK stamp] CgRunout, Side X
1-1 [SRC stamp] FRE-80123 Y THE HAND IS STRICTLY BUSINESS F/W CgRunout, Side Y
7RE-80123 X THE KOALA IS STRICTLY BUSINESS 1-1 F/W cg SRCRunout area side X
7RE-80123-Y1 THE HAND IS STRICTLY BUSINESS F/W cg ☮ 1-1 SPRunout area side Y
7-RE-80123XLabel side X
7-RE-80123YLabel side Y
7-RE-80123XX-side label
7RE-80123 X THE KOALA IS STRICTLY BUSINESS 1-1 F/W cg SRCRunout area side X
7RE-80123-Y1 THE HAND IS STRICTLY BUSINESS F/W cg ☮ 1-1 SPRunout area side Y
7-RE-80123XLabel side X
7-RE-80123YLabel side Y
COOL 172 A1A Side Runout Groove
COOL 172 A2B Side Runout Groove
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Belgium | Indisc BCM 2157First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records B.C. 7-2157-40 / BCM Records B.C. 7-2157-41First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records B.C. 12-2157-40First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOLXP 172First year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOLX 172 / Cooltempo COOL X 172First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records FRE-80123First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records FRE-8012312", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records 7-RE-80123First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records 7-RE-80123First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records 7-RE-80123First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOL 172 / Ensign COOL 172First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | US | Fresh Records FRE-80123First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1989 | France | Vogue 31215112", Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1989 | France | Fresh Records 102315 / Vogue 1023157", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK | Mr Bongo MRB71997", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2022 | UK | Mr Bongo MRB71997", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Fresh Records FRE-8012312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Fresh Records FRE-8012312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
18 vinyl pressings of Strictly Business are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1988 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Belgium, Germany, Austria, & Switzerland. One of them is Fresh Records FRE-80123.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FRE-80123, 7-RE-80123, COOL 172, COOLX 172) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [SRC stamp] FRE-80123 X THE KOALA IS STRICTLY BUSINESS [MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK stamp] Cg and 1-1 [SRC stamp] FRE-80123 Y THE HAND IS STRICTLY BUSINESS F/W Cg. 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.
