Vinyl pressings
by Garland Jeffreys · 1981
Escape Artist 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.
20 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 9 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.
EPC - 84808-A3 MASTERDISK RLLP runout side A, variant 1
PC - 84808-B3 MASTERDISK TO : AD, CO, AL, HL, DW, JLLP runout side B, variant 1
EPC - 84808-A3 MASTERDISK RL BLP runout side A, variant 2
PC - 84808-B3 MASTERDISK TO : AD, CO, AL, HL, DW, JL DLP runout side B, variant 2
S-EPC-84808-A1 MASTERDISK RL
S-EPC-84808-B2 MASTERDISK RL TO: AD, CO, AL, HL, DW, JL
EPC - 84808-A1 MASTERDISK RLVariant 1: runout Side A
PC - 84808-B2 MASTERDISK TO : BL TO AD CO AL HL BW JLVariant 1: runout Side B
XPS - 1011-A1 MASTERDISC RLRunout 7" Side C [etched]
XPS - 1011-B1 MASTERDISC RLRunout 7" Side D [etched]
S-EPC-84808-A2 RL MASTERDISK VSide A
S-EPC-84808-B2 RL MASTERDISK V 2 TO: AD,CO,AL,HL,DW,JL.Side B
1S AL-36983-1E MASTERDISK-BKSide A runout
1S BL-36983-1F MASTERDISK-BKSide B runout
AL 36983Side A label
BL 36983Side B label
p AL-36983-1B MASTERDISK-DCRunout, Etched, Side A [MASTERDISK Stamped]
p BL-36983-1A MASTERDISK-BKRunout, Etched, Side B [MASTERDISK Stamped]
AL 36983Label, Side A
BL 36983Label, 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 | Epic ELPS 4173First yearLP, Album, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM | LP, Album, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic 84808 / Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Epic 84808 / Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-278 / Epic 25·3P-279First yearLP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP | LP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP |
| 1981 | Japan | Epic 25-3P278-9 / Epic/Sony 25-3P278-9First yearLP, Advance, Album, Stereo, 12", EP, Promo, Sampler · Promo | LP, Advance, Album, Stereo, 12", EP, Promo, Sampler · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Epic ELPS 4173First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Epic S EPC 84808 / Epic EPC 84808First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Epic JE 36983 / Epic AE7 1223First yearLP, Album, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Epic JE 36983First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Epic JE 36983 / Epic 36983First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Epic JE 36983 / Epic AE7 1223First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", EP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Epic JE 36983 / Epic 36983First yearLP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Epic PE 36983 / Epic E 36983LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
22 vinyl pressings of Escape Artist are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Europe, UK, US, Canada and more. One of them is Epic 84808.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 84808, EPC 84808, S EPC 84808, JE 36983) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EPC - 84808-A3 MASTERDISK RL and PC - 84808-B3 MASTERDISK TO : AD, CO, AL, HL, DW, JL. 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.
