Vinyl pressings
by Jay Ferguson · 1979
Real Life Ain't This Way was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 9 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.
6E 158 A -1 PRCW-1 TJ "T̶H̶E̶ ̶D̶O̶M̶E̶ ̶W̶A̶S̶N̶T̶ ̶E̶V̶E̶N̶ ̶G̶I̶V̶I̶N̶G̶ ̶I̶N̶ STERLINGRunout Side A, Etched [STERLING, Stamped]
6E 158 B -1 PRCW-1 TJ "HE WAS TAKING IT, FROM BEHIND." STERLINGRunout Side B, Etched [STERLING, Stamped]
6E 158 A SP STERLING TJ [Erased etchings]Runout side A
6E 158 B SP STERLING TJ [Erased etchings] 1-1Runout side B
6E-158-A SPLabel Side A
6E-158-B SPLabel Side B
6E 158 A -2 PRC-1-1 "T̶H̶E̶ ̶D̶O̶M̶E̶ ̶W̶A̶S̶N̶T̶ ̶E̶V̶E̶N̶ ̶G̶I̶V̶I̶N̶G̶ ̶I̶N̶ STERLINGRunout Side A, Etched [STERLING, Stamped]
6E 158 B -2 PRC-1-111 "HE WAS TAKING IT, FROM BEHIND."(scratched out) STERLINGRunout Side B, Etched [STERLING, Stamped]
1-1 6E 158 A SP STERLING TJSide A runout
1-1 6E 158 B SP STERLING TJSide B runout
6E-158-A SPSide A label
6E-158-B SPSide B label
I K 53086 A1 EG STRAWBERRYRunout side A, etched
I K 53086 B1 EG STRAWBERRYRunout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-158LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Australia | Asylum Records 6E 158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Belgium | Asylum Records AS 53 086First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-158-AFirst yearLP | LP |
| 1979 | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Asylum Records AS 53 086 / Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 086 / Asylum Records 6E 158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 086LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10584YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10584YFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Asylum Records AS 53 086First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Asylum Records K 53086 / Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Asylum Records 6E-158First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
17 vinyl pressings of Real Life Ain't This Way are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Asylum Records 6E-158.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6E-158, K 53086, 6E 158, AS 53 086) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6E 158 A -1 PRCW-1 TJ "T̶H̶E̶ ̶D̶O̶M̶E̶ ̶W̶A̶S̶N̶T̶ ̶E̶V̶E̶N̶ ̶G̶I̶V̶I̶N̶G̶ ̶I̶N̶ STERLING and 6E 158 B -1 PRCW-1 TJ "HE WAS TAKING IT, FROM BEHIND." STERLING. 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.
