Vinyl pressings
by Kiss · 1976
Hard Luck Woman was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. 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 1976, the album's first year, in 10 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.
NB-872-A-1-CSM STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
NB-872-B-CSM STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
NB-873-A-1-CSM STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
NB-873-B-1-CSM STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
N̶B̶-̶8̶7̶6̶- A-4-CP NB 873 p STERLINGRunout A
NB-873-B-5-CP p STERLINGRunout B
(873-A)Label A
(873-B)Label B
T NB-873-A-3-CTH STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
T NB-873-B-3-CTH STERLING TIRunout side B, variant 1
T NB-873-A-3-CTH STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
T NB-873-B-2-CTH STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
NB-873-A-M-CSM STERLINGRunout mono side
NB 873-A-CSM STERLINGRunout stereo side
873-ALabel mono side
873-ALabel stereo side
T NB-873-A-2-CTH STERLINGSide A runout
T NB-873-B-3-CTH STERLINGSide B runout
873-ASide A label
873-BSide B label
BF 18490 BZ 1873Runout side A
BF 18490 BZ 1874Runout side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Argentina | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | Australia | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | Canada | Casablanca NB 873XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Casablanca BZ 4402 / Bellaphon Records BZ 4402First year12", 45 RPM, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | Durium DE 2900 / Durium DE. 2900First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1976 | Italy | Durium Marche Estere DE. 2900First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | Rhodesia | R & T NAS 23First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | South Africa | Casablanca NAS 23First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | Sweden | Casablanca 7C 006-98639First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | Sweden | Casablanca 7C 006-98639First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1976 | US | Casablanca NB 873First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of Hard Luck Woman are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1976 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, Germany, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Casablanca NB 873.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NB 873, BF 18490, NB 873X, BZ 4402) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NB-872-A-1-CSM STERLING and NB-872-B-CSM 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.
