Vinyl pressings
by Jennifer Holliday · 1983
I Am Love was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1983, 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.
Δ5003 1-1 [Allied Logo] R-11712-SH1 7-29525-BCA-2232-S-SH1Etched Side A, except [Allied Logo] stamped
Δ5004 1-1 7-29525-BCA-2233-S-SH1 [Allied Logo] R-11713-SH1 SLMEtched Side B, except [Allied Logo] stamped
7-29525-BCA-2232-S-JW1#2 [0]Runout, side A, etched, except [stamped]
7-29525-BCA-2233-S-JW1 #1 [0]Runout, side B, etched, except [stamped]
BCA 2232SLabel side A
BCA 2233SLabel side B
7-29525-BCA-2232-S-SR1 SRC(logo) 1-1A side runout
7-29525-BCA-2233-S-SR1 SRC(logo) 1-1B side runout
7-29525-BCA-2232-S-WW1 · ─◁A side runout
7-29525-BCA-2233-S-WW1 · ─◁B side runout
BCA 2232SA side label
BCA 2233SB side labe
7-29525-BCA-2232-MDJ-SH1 a R-11711-SH1 SLM ∆ 5002 1—1Mono Side Runout
7-29525-BCA-2232-S-SH1 ∆ 5003 1—1 a R-117812-SH1Stereo Side Runout
BCA 2232DJMMono Side Label
BCA-2232SStereo Side Label
7-2525-BCA-2232-MDJ-SR1Mono side runout, etched
7-29525-BCA-2232-S-SR1Stereo side runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia | Geffen Records GEF 29525First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Brazil | Geffen Records 42001First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1983 | Canada | Geffen Records 92 95257First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Europe | Geffen Records GEFA 3704 / Geffen Records A-3704First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1983 | Japan | Geffen Records 07SP 772First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Japan | Geffen Records 07SP 772First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Geffen Records GEFA 3867First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | South Africa | Geffen Records SSC 5523First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | UK | Geffen Records TA 3704First year12" | 12" |
| 1983 | UK | Geffen Records A 3704First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | UK | Geffen Records GGEF 0483First year7" | 7" |
| 1983 | UK | Geffen Records A 3704First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1983 | US | Geffen Records 7-29525First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | US | Geffen Records 7-29525First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1983 | US | Geffen Records 7-29525First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Geffen Records GGEF 04837", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | Geffen Records GGEF 04837", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
20 vinyl pressings of I Am Love are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Europe, Japan and more. One of them is Geffen Records 7-29525.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7-29525, TA 3704, GGEF 0483, A 3704) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Δ5003 1-1 [Allied Logo] R-11712-SH1 7-29525-BCA-2232-S-SH1 and Δ5004 1-1 7-29525-BCA-2233-S-SH1 [Allied Logo] R-11713-SH1 SLM. 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.
