Vinyl pressings
by Jim Messina · 1981
Messina was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 12 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.
BSK-1-3559-RE1 S3 #1 + Wally CAP. J MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △644Runout A Side, Variant 1
BSK-2-3559-RE1 S4 #1 + SLM + △ 644-X CAP. J MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout B Side, Variant 1
BSK-1-3559-RE1 S2 #1 + Wally CAP. W MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △644Runout A Side, Variant 2
BSK-2-3559-RE1 S1 #1 + SLM + △ 644-X CAP. W MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout B Side, Variant 2
BSK-1-3559-RE1 S2 + Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △644 CAP-L.A.Runout A
BSK-1-3559-RE1 S-1 + Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △ 644-X CAP-L.A.Runout B
side one: BSK-1-3559-RE1 S3 #1 + [Wally CAP,"J" upside down] ["mastered by capitol" stamped upside down] SLM + (triangle logo) 644
side two: BSK-2-3559-RE1 S4 #1 + SLM + (triangle logo) 644-X ["CAP,"J" "mastered by capitol" stamped "Wally" all upside down]
BSK-1-3559-RE1 S1 ━◁ CAP. W. Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △ 644Side A Runout
BSK-2-3559-RE1 S-1 CAP. W. #2 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + ━◁ △ 644-xSide B Runout
MX198465B BSK3559-1 ♀Side 1 runout machine stamped
MX198466 BSK3559-2 ♀Side 2 runout machine stamped
XBS-3559-A QSide A
XBS-3559-B (3) QSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3559First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3559First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 911 (BSK 3559)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 911 (BSK 3559)First yearLP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 911First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56911First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56 911LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 911First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11026WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11026WFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 911First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Panama | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3559First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1506First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3559LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | US | Warner Bros. Records PRO-A-960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
19 vinyl pressings of Messina are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3559, released June 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3559, PRO-A-960, XBS 3559, WB 56 911 (BSK 3559)) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3559-RE1 S3 #1 + Wally CAP. J MASTERED BY CAPITOL SLM + △644 and BSK-2-3559-RE1 S4 #1 + SLM + △ 644-X CAP. J MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally. 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.
