Vinyl pressings
by Greg Kihn Band · 1981
The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) 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.
17 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
BS 47149-A-SP 1-4 SRCRun-out A, etched (SRC stamp)
SRC B⃫S⃫ ⃫4⃫7⃫1⃫3⃫1⃫ ⃫-⃫ ⃫B⃫ ⃫-⃫ ⃫S⃫P⃫ BS-47149 B 1-Run-out B, etched (SRC stamp)
B-47149-ALabel A
B-47149-BLabel B
BS 47149-A-SP [SRC Logo]Etched Side A, except SRC logo stamped
[SRC Logo] BS 47149-BEtched Side B, except SRC logo stamped
B-47149-ALabel Side A
B-47149-BLabel Side B
BS 47149-A1-AR R-7264 [Allied 'a' logo]Side A runout
BS-47149-B1 B̶S̶ ̶4̶7̶1̶3̶1̶-̶B̶1̶-̶A̶R̶ R̶ ̶7̶0̶3̶1̶ R-7280Side B runout
B-47149-ALabel A
B-47149-BLabel B
BM 47149-A-SP 1-1 {SRC}Side A runout, hand-etched {stamped}
BS 47149-A-SP 1-2 {SRC}Side B runout, hand-etched {stamped}
BM 47149-A-AR 1 R7274Side A, variant 1
BS 47149-A-AR R7264Side B, variant 1
BM 47149-A1-AR R-7274 aSide A, variant 2
BS 47149-A1-AR R-7264 aSide B, variant 2
BSR 1507 A1Etched Side A
BSR 1507 B1Etched Side B
BSK A1507 ALabel Side A
BSK A1507 BLabel 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 | Liberation Records LS-587 / Beserkley LS-587First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Beserkley B 47149First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Beserkley B 47149First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Elektra B-47149First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Mexico | Trebol TI-70536First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Mexico | Musart MI-30878First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Mexico | Trebol TI-70536First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Mexico | Musart MI-30878First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Beserkley BSKA 1507 / Beserkley A-1507First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | WEA Z 10052First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | UK | Beserkley BSK A1507First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | Beserkley BSK A1507First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Beserkley B-47149First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Beserkley B-47149First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1981 | US | Beserkley B-47149First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
18 vinyl pressings of The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Beserkley B-47149, released May 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use B-47149, BSK A1507, LS-587, B 47149) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BS 47149-A-SP 1-4 SRC and SRC B⃫S⃫ ⃫4⃫7⃫1⃫3⃫1⃫ ⃫-⃫ ⃫B⃫ ⃫-⃫ ⃫S⃫P⃫ BS-47149 B 1-. 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.
