Vinyl pressings
by Ian Dury And The Blockheads · 1978
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
41 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 15 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.
BUY 38 A-3U 1 AT STRAWBERRYA-side runout, variant 1
BUY 38 B-1U 1 AD B̶U̶Y̶ ̶3̶8̶ ̶B̶ ̶A̶-̶1̶ ̶2̶ ̶U̶-̶B-side runout, variant 1
BUY 38 A-3U STRAWBERRYA-side runout, variant 3
BUY 38 B-2U STRAWBERRYB-side runout, variant 3
BUY 38 A-3U STRAWBERRYA-side runout, variant 1
BUY 38 B[obscured character]-1[obscured character]UB-side runout, variant 1
BUY 38 A-4U STRAWBERRY. 0 U U 2A-side runout, variant 2
BUY 38 B[obscured character]-1[obscured character]U R C 0 6B-side runout, variant 2
BUY 38 A-1U D Λ 1A-Side - Stamped
BUY 38 B A̶̷ 1 2̶̷ U L 1B-Side - Stamped
BUY 38 A-3U STRAWBERRY.A-Side Run-out, Variant 1
BUY 38 B-1UB-Side Run-out, Variant 1
BUY 38 A-3U STRAWBERRY. PRG 5A-Side Run-out, Variant 2
BUY 38 B-1U ATG 2B-Side Run-out, Variant 2
BUY 38 A-3U
BUY 38 B-1U
12 BUY 38 A 2 ANGEL Number One ... No less JRunout side A, etched (variant 1)
12 BUY 38 B 2 STEVE'S CRunout side B, etched (variant 1)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Stiff Records K 7372 / Stiff Records BUY 38First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1978 | Australia | Stiff Records K 7372 / Stiff Records BUY 38First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox |
| 1978 | Belgium | Stiff Records 640-157 / Stiff Records 640.157First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | Belgium | Stiff Records 640.151 / Stiff Records 640-157First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Canada | Stiff-Epic AE7 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Canada | Stiff-Epic AE7 1179First year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Canada | Stiff-Epic AE7 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Canada | Stiff-Epic AE7 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | France | Stiff Records 640157 / Stiff Records 640 157First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1978 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.12 410 / Stiff Records 6.12410 ACFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.20 009First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1978 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.12 410 / Stiff Records 6.12410First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1978 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.12 410First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF-SP-15.000First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF-SP-15.0007", 45 RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Mexico | Stiff Records TI-7050812", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK | BMG BMGCAT499LP12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Stiff Records 74050812", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Stiff Records 12 BUY 3812", 45 RPM, Repress | 12", 45 RPM, Repress |
59 vinyl pressings of Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1978 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Stiff Records BUY 38, released November 23, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BUY 38, 12 BUY 38, 12BUY38, AE 7-1179) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BUY 38 A-3U 1 AT STRAWBERRY and BUY 38 B-1U 1 AD B̶U̶Y̶ ̶3̶8̶ ̶B̶ ̶A̶-̶1̶ ̶2̶ ̶U̶-̶. 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.
