Vinyl pressings
by Eric Carmen · 1988
The Best Of Eric Carmen 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.
17 pressings came out in 1988, 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.
AS-8547 SA KP EMW kdiscRunout side A
AS-8547 SB KP EMW kdiscRunout side B
AL-8547 SAMatrix side A, on label
AL-8547 SBMatrix side B, on label
AS-8547 SA ᐉ KP EMW KDISCRun-out Side A
AS-8547 SB ᐉ KP EMW KDISCRun-out Side B
AL-8547 SALabel Side A
AL-8547 SBLabel Side B
AL-8547 SA-1 (balloon symbol) B-30244-1 kdisc KP △ 19474 1-1Side 1 etched (kdisc stamped)
AL-8547 SB-1 (balloon symbol) B-30245-1 kdisc KP △ 19474-X 1-2Side 2 etched (kdisc stamped)
AL-8547-SASide 1 label
AL-8547-SBSide 2 label
VPL1 7586 A-2 AL 8547-ARunout Markings, Side A, hand-etched
VPL1 7586 B-2 AL 8547-BRunout Markings, Side B, hand-etched
A 27L-46/ASide A
A 27L-46/BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Argentina | Arista TLP-90147First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Australia | Arista VPL1-7520First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Brazil | Arista 140.8049First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | Arista AL-8548LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Canada | Arista AL-8547LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1988 | Canada | Arista AL-8548First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Europe | Arista 208 999First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Europe | Arista 208 916First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1988 | Israel | Arista BAN 258 999First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Japan | Arista A27L-46First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Mexico | Arista LA-798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | South Africa | Arista ASTC 203First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | South Korea | Arista SAPR-065 / Seoul Records SAPR-065First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Spain | Arista 5C 208916First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | Arista AL-8548LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Arista AL-8548LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
23 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Eric Carmen are listed here, from 14 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, Australasia, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Arista AL-8547, released February 5, 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL-8547, VPL1 7586, TLP-90147, VPL1-7520) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AS-8547 SA KP EMW kdisc and AS-8547 SB KP EMW kdisc. 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.
