Vinyl pressings
by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five · 1984
Beat Street / Internationally Known was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 12 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.
VID-280-A-2 TRUTONE-Pa. 4-84 P ◈-P-◈A Runout Etching
VID-280-B-2 TRUTone Pa - 5-84 P ◈-P-◈B Runout Etching
(VID-280-A)A Label
(VID-280-B)B Label
VID- 280 - A -2 TRUTone - pa - 4-84 G ⧈-G-⧈Runout side A, etched [⧈-G-⧈ stamped]
VID- 280 - B - 2 TRUTone - pa - 5-84 G ⧈-G-⧈Runout side B, etched [⧈-G-⧈ stamped]
SH 32019 A VID 280 ALabel side A
SH 32019 B VID 280 BLabel side B
VID-280-A-3 TRUTONE-PA 4-84 GRunout, Side A
VID-280-B-3 TRUTONE-PA 5-84 GRunout, Side B
VID-280-A-2 TRUtone-pa-4-84 GA Runout Etching
VID-280-B TR pa-4-84 G [O]-[-]-[O]B Runout Etching
(VID-280-A)A Label
(VID-280-B)B Label
VID-280-A-2 TRuTone-Pa 4-84 P ◈-P-◈Scribed in runout A
VID-280-B-2 TRuTone-Pa 5-84 P ◈-P-◈Scribed in runout B
(VID-280-A)Label A
(VID-280-B)Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor TDS-211First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH 319First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1984 | Finland | Polarvox SH-32019 / Sugar Hill Records SH 32019First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | France | Sugar Hill Records 311066 / Vogue 311066First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1984 | France | Sugar Hill Records 311066 / Vogue 311066First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1984 | Germany | Sugar Hill Records 6.20347 / Sugar Hill Records 6.20347 AEFirst year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | TELDEC 6.2034712", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Greece | Epic EPCA 12-4602First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | Portugal | Sugar Hill Records 12.632019.25First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Spain | Sugar Hill Records OOS-687 / Zafiro OOS-687First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | Sweden | Sugar Hill Records SOSM 1191First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Misprint, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1984 | Sweden | Sugar Hill Records SOS M 119112", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK | Sugar Hill Records SHL 9659First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-32019First year12", Single | 12", Single |
| 1984 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 32019 / Sugar Hill Records SH-32019First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
21 vinyl pressings of Beat Street / Internationally Known are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is Sugar Hill Records SH-32019.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SH-32019, SH 32019, SHL 9659, TDS-211) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VID-280-A-2 TRUTONE-Pa. 4-84 P ◈-P-◈ and VID-280-B-2 TRUTone Pa - 5-84 P ◈-P-◈. 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.
