Vinyl pressings
by Huey Lewis & The News · 1986
Jacob's Ladder was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 6 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.
VS4-43097-AS-3 G1 B 2 MASTERDISKRunout stamped/etched side A, Variant 1
VS4-43097-BS-1 G1 VB 7Runout etched side B, Variant 1
VS4-43097-AS-4 D G1 B11 MASTERDISKRunout stamped/etched side A, Variant 2
VS4-43097-BS-2 D G1 A19Runout etched side B, Variant 2
VS4-43097-AS-3 G1 B 2 MASTERDISKRunout stamped/etched side A, Variant 1
VS4-43097-BS-1 G1 VB 7Runout etched side B, Variant 1
VS4-43097-AS-4 D G1 B11 MASTERDISKRunout stamped/etched side A, Variant 2
VS4-43097-BS-2 D G1 A19Runout etched side B, Variant 2
ZS4-43097-A-6 1-1 MASTERDISK SRCRunout A
ZS4-43097-B-6 1-1 MASTERDISK TD SRCRunout B
VS4 43097 ASLabel A
VS4 43097 BSLabel B
VAS-2488-A-1 MASTERDISK EMWSide A runout
VAS-2488-A-1 MASTERDISK EMWSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | Chrysalis K-215 / Chrysalis 108 807First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Promo · Promo, Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Promo · Promo, Limited |
| 1986 | Canada | Chrysalis 43097First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1986 | Canada | Chrysalis 43097First year7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | France | Chrysalis 888 305-1First year12", Maxi-Single | 12", Maxi-Single |
| 1986 | France | Chrysalis 6837 901First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | France | Chrysalis 888 305-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Mexico | CBS PR 650542First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VAS 2596First year12", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VAS 2488First year12", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VS4 43097First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-17693First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-17693First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VS4 43097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VS4 43097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1986 | US | Chrysalis VS4 43097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | US | Collectables COL 63197", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
21 vinyl pressings of Jacob's Ladder are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1986 and 1995.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, Japan, Canada, France and more. One of them is Chrysalis VS4 43097, released December 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VS4 43097, VAS 2596, VAS 2488, WWS-17693) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VS4-43097-AS-3 G1 B 2 MASTERDISK and VS4-43097-BS-1 G1 VB 7. 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.
