Vinyl pressings
by Holly And The Italians · 1981
The Right To Be Italian 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 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.
203434 A-1/81S 1 Made in GermanyRunout side A, stamped
203434 B-2/81S 1 Made in GermanyRunout side B, stamped
S 203 434 ALabel side A
S 203 434 BLabel side B
V 2186 A1 WHAT IT IS TOWNHOUSE V 5
V 2186 B1 TOWNHOUSE V 5
V2186 A1 < WHAT IT IS TOWNHOUSESide A runout
V2186 B1 < TOWNHOUSESide B runout
V 2186Side A - Label
V 2186Side B - Label
AL-37359-1E STERLING 1SSide A runout (etched except for "STERLING," stamped)
BL-37359-1E STERLING A 2 1SSide B runout (etched except for "STERLING," stamped)
AL 37359Side A label
BL 37359Side B label
AL-37359-1E STERLINGRunout A, variant 1
BL-37359-1E STERLINGRunout B, variant 1
AL-37359-1A STERLINGRunout A, variant 2
BL-37359-1B STERLINGRunout B, variant 2
p AL - 37359 - 1A D STERLINGVariant 1, Side A runout (etched except for "D STERLING," stamped; "p" faint)
BL-37359 - 1A C STERLINGVariant 1, Side B runout (etched except for "STERLING," stamped)
P AL-37359- 1A STERLING AVariant 2, Side A runout
C BL-37359-1A STERLING CVariant 2, Side B runout
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 | Virgin V 2186First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Benelux | Virgin 203 434-320 / Virgin 203 434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Virgin VL 2214First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Virgin 203 434-320 / Virgin 203 434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 203434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 434-320 / Virgin 203 434First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12186First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6975 / Virgin VIRG-6975First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6975 / Virgin VIRG-6975First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Virgin V2186First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Virgin V 2186First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Virgin V 2186LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1981 | UK | Virgin V 2186First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Epic NFE 37359 / Virgin NFE 37359First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Epic NFE 37359 / Virgin NFE 37359First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
18 vinyl pressings of The Right To Be Italian are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Germany, UK, US, Yugoslavia and more. One of them is Virgin 203 434-320.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 203 434-320, V 2186, NFE 37359, LSVIRG 73120) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 203434 A-1/81S 1 Made in Germany and 203434 B-2/81S 1 Made in Germany. 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.
