Vinyl pressings
by James Brown · 1988
I'm Real was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. 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 1988, 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.
AL 44241A-Side Label
BL 44241B-Side Label
AL 44241 - A Dmm G I MASTERDISK DMM A7Label A
BL 44241 - IB Dmm (scratch) GI MASTERDISK DMMLabel B
POLD-5230-A1-1-1 MTSide 1
POLD-5230-B1-1-1 MTSide 2
834 755-1ASide A runout groove hand-etched
834 755-1BSide B runout groove hand-etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Brazil | Mercury 834 755-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | Mercury 834755-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | Scotti Bros. Records FZ 44241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | Scotti Bros. Records FZ 44241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Scotti Bros. Records 834 755-1 / Scotti Bros. Records POLD 5230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Germany | Scotti Bros. Records INT 147.331First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1988 | Germany | Scotti Bros. Records 60 054 4 / Bertelsmann Club 60 054 4LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Greece | Scotti Bros. Records 834 755-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | Scotti Bros. Records 834 755-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | Italy | Scotti Bros. Records SCT 20826First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Scotti Bros. Records 834 755-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | Scotti Bros. Records POLD 5230 / Polydor POLD 5230First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | Scotti Bros. Records FZ 44241 / Scotti Bros. Records Z 44241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Japan | Scotti Bros. Records C28Y0320First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Japan | Scotti Bros. Records C28Y0320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of I'm Real are listed here, from 11 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Japan, Australasia and more. One of them is Scotti Bros. Records FZ 44241.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FZ 44241, POLD 5230, C28Y0320, 834755-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL 44241 and BL 44241. 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.
