Vinyl pressings
by Esther Phillips · 1977
You've Come A Long Way, Baby was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. 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 1977, the album's first year, in 8 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.
T1 SRM-1-1187 A-8 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Runout, side A
T1 SRM-1-1187B-8 CT ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Runout, side B
SRM-1-1187-ALabel, side A
SRM-1-1187-BLabel, side B
1Ƨ ∆ SRM-1-1187-A-12 SX ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. BSide A runout
SRM-1-1187-B9 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side B runout
SRM-1-1187-ASide A label
SRM-1-1187-BSide B label
6338 831.ASide A etched runout
6338 831 BSide B etched runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Unknown | Mercury 6338.831First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | Australia | Mercury 6338 831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-1187First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Mercury 6338 831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Mercury 6338 831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7316First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7316First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Mercury 6338 831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Mercury 6338 831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Mercury SRM-1-1187First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Mercury SRM-1-1187First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Scandinavia | Mercury 6338 831LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Mercury SRM-1-1187LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
13 vinyl pressings of You've Come A Long Way, Baby are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1977 and 1978.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, Australia, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Mercury SRM-1-1187.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRM-1-1187, 6338.831, 6338 831, RJ-7316) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 SRM-1-1187 A-8 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. and T1 SRM-1-1187B-8 CT ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.. 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.
