Vinyl pressings
by Kenny Rogers · 1984
What About Me? was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 21 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.
AFL1-5043-A 2S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY Ⅰ A2DRunout side A, variant 1
AFL1-5043-B 1S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY Ⅰ A1ARunout side B, variant 1
AFL1-5043-A 2S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY I A1BBRunout side A, variant 2
AFL1-5043-B 2S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY I D3RRunout side B, variant 2
AFL1-5043-ASide A label
AFL1-5043-BSide B label
ML4765-A-1Runout etched side A
ML4765-B-1Runout etched side B
AFL1-5053ALabel side A
AFL1-5043BLabel side B
AFLI 5043 ASide A runout etched
AFLI 5043Side B runout etched
AFLI 5043ASide A label
AFLI 5043BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | RCA Victor TLP 60093First yearLP | LP |
| 1984 | Australia | Starcall Records SFL1 0110 / Starcall Records SFLI 0110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Barbados | RCA AFL1-5043First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4194First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | RCA AFL1-5043 / RCA Victor AFL1-5043First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | RCA AFL1-5043 / RCA Victor AFL1-5043First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Colombia | RCA Victor 05013102048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA PL85043First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA PL85043LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20318 / RCA Victor RCLP 20318First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Iceland | Skífan PL 85045 / RCA PL 85043First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | India | RCA Victor AJL1-5335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | RCA PL 85043First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Italy | RCA PL 85043First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1984 | Japan | RCA RPL-8265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of What About Me? are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1984 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and more. One of them is RCA AFL1-5043.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AFL1-5043, AJL1-5335, SFL10110, AJL1-5043) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AFL1-5043-A 2S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY Ⅰ A2D and AFL1-5043-B 1S MASTERED BY CAPITOL WALLY Ⅰ A1A. 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.
