Vinyl pressings
by John Cale · 1981
Honi Soit 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.
11 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 7 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.
T1 SPO - 4849 - A STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
1T SPO - 4849 - B STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
T1 SPO - 4849 - A T-2 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
1T SPO - 4849 - B T-2 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
SPO -4849- A P-1 STERLING PSide A etched, variant 1 ["STERLING, P" stamped]
SPO -4849- B P-1 STERLING PSide B etched, variant 1 ["STERLING, P" stamped]
SPO -4849- A P-1 STERLINGSide A etched, variant 2 ["STERLING" stamped]
SPO -4849- B P-1 STERLING ASide B etched, variant 2 ["STERLING, A" stamped]
TI SPO - 4849 - ASide 1 Etched Variant 1
IT SPO - 4849 - BSide 2 Etched Variant 1
TI SPO - 4849 - A T-2Side 1 Etched Variant 2
IT SPO - 4849 - B T-2Side 2 Etched Variant 2
AMLH 64849 A1 STERLINGRunout Side A, Stamped
SP-4849-A-INT -1Runout Side A, Etched
AMLH 64849 B1 STERLINGRunout Side B, Stamped
SP-4849-B-INT -1Runout Side B, Etched
SP- 4849 - A - INT < STERLING -1 A1 AMLH 68489 A1Side A, etched
SP- 4849 - B - INT STERLING -1 AMLH 68489 B1Side B, etched
P2Aadditional runout etching on both sides, 12 0'clock from the etchings noted above
SMX-57613Side 1 Label
SMX-57614Side 2 Label
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 | A&M Records L-37586First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records L-37586LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Australia | Mushroom MRL.37586LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records L-37586First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 64849 / A&M Records SP 4849First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | A&M Records L 37586First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | A&M Records 2PSP-4849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records SP- 4849 / A&M Records AMLH 64849First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4849First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4849First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4849LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64849LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4849First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | A&M Records 394 849-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 394 849-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 394 849-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 394 849-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
20 vinyl pressings of Honi Soit are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4849, released March 10, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4849, AMLH 64849, SP- 4849, L-37586) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 SPO - 4849 - A STERLING and 1T SPO - 4849 - B 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.
