Vinyl pressings
by Foreigner · 1979
Head Games 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.
42 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 27 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.
STA-794377-AA ① △24482 (3) RTB-1 STERLING PR (P̸)Var. 1: Runout A
STA-794378-AA ⑤ △24482-X 15 RTB-1 (PR) STERLINGVar. 1: Runout B
STA-794377-AA ⑤ △24482-12 RTB-1 STERLING (PR)Var. 2: Runout A
STA-794378-AA ② MR △24482-X (7) RTB-1 (PR) STERLINGVar. 2: Runout B
STA-794377-AAA + - 1 RTB-1 STERLING (PR)Runout side A, variant 1
STA-794378-A RTB-1 (PR)X STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
STA-794377-AAA ++-1 PRC RTB-1 (PR)P STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
STA-794378·DDD -1 RTB·4 (PR) STERLING PRCRunout side B, variant 2
STA-794377-A 0-2 RTB-1 (PR) SP STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
STA-794378-A 0-3 SM1-2 RTB 1 (PR) SP STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
STA-794377-A 0-3 RTB-1 (PR) SP STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
STA-794378-A 0-4 SM1-1 RTB 1 (PR) SP STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
STA - 794377 - A RTB-1 (PR) P STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
STA - 794378 - A RTB-1 (PR) P STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
STA - 794377 - A RTB-1 (PR) P STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
STA - 794378 - B RTB 2 STERLING (PR)PRunout side B, variant 2
STA-794377-A O-4 SM 2-1 RTB-1 (PR) SP STERLINGVariant 1: Side A Etch, exc "STERLING"
STA-794378-F SPO-0 [EDP LOGO] M1 STERLINGVariant 1: Side B Etch, exc [EDP logo] & "STERLING"
STA-794377-1F SPO-1 STERLING [EDP logo] M1Variant 2: Side A Etch, exc "EDP" & "STERLING"
STA-794378-F SPO-1 [EDP logo] M1 STERLINGVariant 2: Side B Etch, exc "EDP" & "STERLING"
STA-794377-AA ④ ∆24482 RTB-1 STERLING (PR)Side 1, variant 1:
STA-794378-AA ⑤ 24482-X (15) RTB-1 (PR) STERLINGSide 2, variant 1:
STA-794377-AA ③ ∆24482 RTB-1 (PR) STERLINGSide 1, variant 2:
STA-794378-AA ③ MR ∆24482-X (12) RTB-1 (PR) STERLINGSide 2, 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 | Argentina | Atlantic 208698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Atlantic SD 29999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | Atlantic 30.114First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Atlantic XSD 29999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Atlantic XSD 29999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Atlantic XSD 29999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Colombia | Atlantic SD 29999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Atlantic LP-73009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Atlantic ATL 50 651First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Atlantic ATL 50 651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Atlantic 50 651LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Greece | Atlantic 50651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Atlantic 50651LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1979 | India | Atlantic SD.29999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Israel | Atlantic 50651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | Atlantic 30572 2LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Mexico | Atlantic LWA 5368LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ATL 50651 / Atlantic ATL 50651LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Atlantic 50651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-342LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered |
| 2013 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-342LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | US | AtlanticLP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered |
| 2017 | US | Atlantic R1 29999LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records RCV5 29999 / Atlantic 603497820917LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records RCV1 29999 / Atlantic 603497822492LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Analogue Productions APA 068-45 / Atlantic APA 068-45LP, 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2025 | US | Analogue Productions APA 068-45 / Atlantic SD 29999LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Atlantic ATL 50 651 / Atlantic SD 29 999LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Atlantic ATL 50 651LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | Stereophonic SM 68LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Atlantic SD 29999LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Atlantic SD 29999LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
72 vinyl pressings of Head Games are listed here, from 31 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Japan, Germany and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 29999, released September 11, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 29999, K50651, P-10698A, ATL 50 651) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STA-794377-AA ① △24482 (3) RTB-1 STERLING PR (P̸) and STA-794378-AA ⑤ △24482-X 15 RTB-1 (PR) STERLING. 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.
