Vinyl pressings
by John Entwistle · 1981
Too Late The Hero 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.
19 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 16 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.
ST-C-814733-A + SP SLM TML-X 0-2 SM3-1 △771Side A runout, variant 1
ST-C-814734-SP + + TML-X SP SLM + △771-X 0-2-SM1-2Side B runout, variant 1
ST-C-814733-A :+ SP SLM + TML-X 0̵-̵2̵ ̵S̵M̵2̵-̵2̵ △771 0-2 SM2-4Side A runout, variant 2
ST-C-814734-A :+ + TML-X SP SLM + 0̵-̵1̵ △771-X 0-2 SM3-3Side B runout, variant 2
ST-C-814733-A ※※※✕ TML-X SLM △771 B-16039-ARunout side A
ST-C-814734-A ✕※ TML-X ※※ SLM △771-X B-16040-ARunout side B
ST-C-814733-ARLabel side A
ST-C-814734-ARLabel side B
K 99179-A-1 W-5 WOIOside A, runout, etched
K 99179-B-1 W-5 WOIOside B, runout, etched
STRAWBERRYboth sides, runout, stamped
XWEA-99179-A QSIDE A
XWEA-99179-B 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 | WEA 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | WEA 38.047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | WEA XWEA 99179 / WEA WEA 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | WEA WEA K 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | WEA WEA 99 179 / WEA WEA K 99 179First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | WEA K 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | WEA WEA 99179 / WEA WEA K 99 179First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | WEA P-11080JFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | WEA P-11080JFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | WEA LWI-6101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | WEA 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | WEA 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | WEA WEA U 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | WEA WEA K 99179 / WEA WEA 99179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Wea International WIC 5031First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | WEA 99179LP, Album | LP, Album |
21 vinyl pressings of Too Late The Hero are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Atco Records SD 38-142, released September 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 38-142, K 99179, 99179, 38.047) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-C-814733-A + SP SLM TML-X 0-2 SM3-1 △771 and ST-C-814734-SP + + TML-X SP SLM + △771-X 0-2-SM1-2. 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.
