Vinyl pressings
by Jackson Browne · 1976
The Pretender was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 17 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.
7E-1079 A-6 PRC-I-II PRCSide A runout, variant 1
7E-1079 B-6 PRC-I-III PRCSide B runout, variant 1
7E-1079 A-4 PRC I - ISide A runout, variant 2
7E-1079 B-4 PRC I - ISide B runout, variant 2
7E-1079 A-1 CSM [I underlined] 5 1 SRunout A, variant 1
7E-1079 B-1 CSM B8 1 SRunout B, variant 1
1S 7E-1079 A-1 CSM 911Runout A, variant 2
S1 7E-1079 B-3 CSMRunout B, variant 2
7E-1079 SP A [SRC logo] 7E 1079-ASide A - runout variant 1
7E-1079 B SP [SRC logo]Side B - runout variant 1
7E-1079 B̶ SP A [SRC logo] 7E 1079-A 1-1Side A - runout variant 2
7E-1079 B SP [SRC logo] 1-1Side B - runout variant 2
6E-107-A SP 7̶E̶-̶1̶0̶7̶9̶ B̶ SP A̶ [SRC logo] 7̶E̶-̶1̶0̶7̶9̶ A̶ 1-2Side A runout, variant 1
6E-107-B 7̶E̶-̶1̶0̶7̶9̶ B̶ SP [SRC logo] 1-2Side B runout, variant 1
6E-107 A-13 SP [SRC logo] 1-2Side A runout, variant 2
6E-107 B 7̶E̶-̶1̶0̶7̶9̶ B̶ SP [SRC logo] 1-6Side B runout, variant 2
7E-1079 SP A [SRC logo] 7E 1079-ASide A - runout variant 1
7E-1079 B SP [SRC logo]Side B - runout variant 1
7E-1079 B̶ SP A [SRC logo] 7E 1079-A 1-1Side A - runout variant 2
7E-1079 B SP [SRC logo] 1-1Side B - runout variant 2
7E-1079 SP A 7E 1079-ASide A runout, variant 1
7E-1079 SP BSide B runout, variant 1
7E-1079 ̶B̶ SP A [SRC logo] 7E 1079-A 1-5Side A runout, variant 2
7E-1079 B SP [SRC logo] 1-3Side B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Asylum Records 7E 1079 / Asylum Records 7E-1079First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia | Asylum Records 7E 1079 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Australia | Asylum Records 7E 1079 / Asylum Records 7E-1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Belgium | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | Asylum Records 7E-1079 / Asylum Records 32. 009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES 1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES 1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES-1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Asylum Records 53 048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53048First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Asylum Records 53048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Asylum Records 454First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Ireland | Asylum Records K 53048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Asylum Records W 53048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Asylum Records P-6369YLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Greece | Asylum Records 53048LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1 - 055LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1982 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-055 / Asylum Records MFSL 1-055LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-055 / Asylum Records MFSL 1-055LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES 1079 / Asylum Records 7ES-1079LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Asylum Records 6E-107LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1985 | Spain | Asylum Records LB 53048 / Asylum Records 53048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES 1079 / Asylum Records 7ES-1079LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES 1079LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records AS 53048LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records K 53 048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records K 53 048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records K 53 048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records K53048LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records K53048LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 048 / Asylum Records 7E-1079LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
92 vinyl pressings of The Pretender are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1976 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Asylum Records 7E-1079, released November 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7E-1079, 6E-107, K53048, K 53048) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7E-1079 A-6 PRC-I-II PRC and 7E-1079 B-6 PRC-I-III PRC. 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.
