Vinyl pressings
by Go-Go's · 1981
Beauty And The Beat 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.
39 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 16 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.
SP 070021-A CT1 A17 STERLING 1TRunout A, variant 1
SP 070021-B CT1 J10 STERLING 1TRunout B, variant 1
A&M·SP·070021-A-T6 STERLING T1Runout A, variant 2
A&M·SP·070021-B-T6 ^ STERLING T1Runout B, variant 2
.2S SPO 70021-A-CS1 A5 STERLINGRunout, side A (var. 1)
1.S SPO 70021-B-CS1 A4 STERLINGRunout, side B (var. 1)
1S SPO 70021-A-CS2 A JRunout, side A, etched except J is stamped (var. 2)
1S SPO 70021-B-CS2 A JRunout, side B, etched except J is stamped (var. 2)
S SPO 70021-A-CS1 B1 STERLINGRunout A
1 S SPO 70021·B·CS2 A 7 STERLINGRunout B
0-70021-ALabel A
0-70021-BLabel B
SP070021-A-RCA 1̶ 2 I STERLING D2 FRunout A, variant 1
SP•07002-B-RCA 1̶ 2 STERLING I A2 ERunout B, variant 1
SP0-70021-A-RCA-2 STERLING I B3Runout A, variant 2
SP0 70021 B RCA3 STERLING I A6Runout B, variant 2
SPO 70021-A-CT1 1T STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
SPO 70021-B-CT2 1T STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
SPO 70021-A-CT1 1T STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
SPO 70021-B-CT1 1T STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
SP 070021-A-ES2 VI EMW STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
SP 070021-B-M1 MR △ 25409X STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
SP 070021-A-M2 MR △ 25409 2-1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
SP 070021-B-ES2 EMW STERLINGSide B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | I.R.S. Records ELPS 4254First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Brazil | Epic 144.730First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP-70021LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | I.R.S. Records SP 70021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Costa Rica | CBS/Sony 1100685First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Illegal Records ILP 85332 / Illegal Records 85332First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Illegal Records ILP 85332 / Illegal Records 85332First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 2140First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | I.R.S. Records 25AP 2140First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | I.R.S. Records 25AP 2140First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Capitol Records 50999 027027 11LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | US | I.R.S. Records SP70021 / Capitol Records 50999 027027 11LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Capitol Records 602508848889 / I.R.S. Records 602508848889LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2020 | US | I.R.S. Records 5099902702711 / I.R.S. Records 270271LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | US | I.R.S. Records B0034269-01 / Capitol Records B0034269-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | I.R.S. Records 00602508848889 / Capitol Records 00602508848889LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | I.R.S. Records ILP 32592 / I.R.S. Records SP 70021LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | I.R.S. Records SP 70021LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | I.R.S. Records SP 75021LP, Album | LP, Album |
65 vinyl pressings of Beauty And The Beat are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1981 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is I.R.S. Records SP 70021, released July 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 70021, ELPS 4254, 144.730, 1100685) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP 070021-A CT1 A17 STERLING 1T and SP 070021-B CT1 J10 STERLING 1T. 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.
