Vinyl pressings
by Johnny Thunders · 1978
So Alone was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 5 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.
RAYS S-6 RAL1 A EG 1Side A runout, variant 1
RAYS S-7 RAL1 B EG 1Side B runout, variant 1
RAYS Ƨ-11 RAL1 A EG 1Side A runout, variant 2
RAYS S-10 RAL 1 B EG 1Side B runout, variant 2
RAL 1-A₂ E.G. W-8Side A runout, etched, variant 1
STRAWBERRY RAL-1-B2 F/1 W-L W-2Side B runout, stamped / etched, variant 1
RAL 1-A2 EG W-8Side A runout, etched, variant 2
STRAWBERRY RAL-1-B2 F/1 7M W-2Side B runout, stamped / etched, variant 2
WEA 56571-A PFRunout side A
WEA. 56571. B3 PFRunout side B
WEA 56571-A PFRunout side A
WEA. 56571. B3 PFRunout side B
WEA 56571-A PFRunout Side A, etched
WEA·56571·B3 PF·Runout Side B, etched
Ral. 1 aSide A label
Ral. 1 bSide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Belgium | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records RAL 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Real Records RAL 1 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records RAL 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records Ral 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Real Records RAL 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Real Records RAL 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records RAL 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Sire 2C 068 62717LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Ariola 200 446 / Ariola 200 446-320LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK & Europe | Real Records RAL 1 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Europe | Dead Dicks WD-0391LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP38LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP38CLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP-38LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | UK & Europe | Remarquable Records RMQ1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2016 | UK & Europe | Remarquable Records RMQ1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Compilation, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP100LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2022 | US | Drastic Plastic Records DPRLP100LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Real Records RCV1 26982 / Rhino Records 603497837793LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 571 / Real Records RAL 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
26 vinyl pressings of So Alone are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1978 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, Belgium, France, Germany and more. One of them is Real Records RAL 1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RAL 1, WB 56 571) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RAYS S-6 RAL1 A EG 1 and RAYS S-7 RAL1 B EG 1. 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.
