Vinyl pressings
by Ian Dury And The Blockheads · 1980
I Want To Be Straight was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 11 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-90-A-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] A 11Runout A, etched/stamped, var.1
BUY-90-B-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] 11 ARunout B, etched/stamped, var.1
BUY 90 A3 [s:] TOWNHOUSE ARunout A, etched/stamped, var.2
BUY-90-B-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] ARunout B, etched/stamped, var.2
BUY IT 90-ACenter label, A-side
BUY IT 90-BCenter label, B-side
BUY-90- A 3 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1
BUY-90-B 1 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, variant 1
BUY 90 A3 < TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 2
BUY-90-B3 <Runout side B, variant 2
BUY-90-A3 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 1
BUY-90-B3Side B runout, variant 1
BUY 90 A2 A 3 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2
BUY-90-B-1 11 A TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2
BUY-90-A-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] ˅ 18Runout A
BUY-90-B-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] ˅ 21Runout B
BUY 90 A3 TOWN HOUSE ⋀Runout side A
BUY-90 B3 ⋀Runout side B
BUY 90-ALabel side A
BUY 90-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Stiff Records K-7980 / Stiff Records BUY-90First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Belgium | Stiff Records 640.202First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Benelux | Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.12894 AC / Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.12894 AC / Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Ireland | Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Stiff Records BUY90First year7" | 7" |
| 1980 | Portugal | Stiff Records BUY 90 NPFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | Stiff Records MO 1979First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | Stiff Records MO 1979First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | UK | Stiff Records BUY 90First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1980 | Australia | Stiff Records K-7980First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIPX-1548First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
20 vinyl pressings of I Want To Be Straight are listed here, from 11 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Australia, Japan, Belgium and more. One of them is Stiff Records BUY 90, released August 22, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BUY 90, BUY IT 90, K-7980, VIPX-1548) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BUY-90-A-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] A 11 and BUY-90-B-1 TOWNHOUSE [s:] 11 A. 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.
