Vinyl pressings
by Kool & The Gang · 1984
Emergency 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.
26 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 17 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.
B-1 422-822-943-1-AS-HRM1Etched Side A
C- 2 - 422-822-943-1-AS-HRM2Etched Side A (Variant 1)
422-822-B-1-BS-HRMEtched Side B
C- - - 422-822-943-1-BS-HRM2Etched Side A (Variant 2)
[Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20393-ALD3 422-822--943-1-AS-ALD3 SLM △8403 1-1 STERLINGRunout A variant 1
422-822--943-1-BS-ALD [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20394-ALD SLM △8403-X 1-1 ☆STERLINGRunout B variant 1
422-822-943-1-AS-ALD [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20393-ALD STERLING SLM △8403 1-1Runout A variant 2
422-822-943-1-BS-ALD [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20394-ALD △8403-X 1-1 ☆STERLING SLMRunout B variant 2
422-822-943-1-AS-PRC 3̶ 4-1-3-2 PO6-1P6-2 STERLINGA side runout, variant 1
422-822-943-1-BS-PRC 3̶ 4-1-2-QP STERLINGB side runout, variant 1
422-822-943-1-AS-PRC-Rƻ-3-2-3-Q-1 ☆STERLINGA side runout, variant 2
422-822-943-1-BS-PRC-Rƻ-3-2-2-Q- d ☆STERLINGB side runout, variant 2
422-822-943-1-AS-CP STERLING PSide A runout etched, except STERLING stamped
422-822-943-1-BS-P2 STERLING P (AP)Side B runout etched, except STERLING stamped
422-822-943-1-AS-CRP-CP STERLING PSide A runout etched, except STERLING stamped
422-822-943-1-BS-CRP-P2 STERLING P (AP)Side B runout etched, except STERLING stamped
DSR 6 A // 2 ∇ 420 P 12 2 tone ÜSide A, stamped, [tone Ü etched]
DSR 6 B // 1 ∇ 420 P 12 2Side B, stamped
6.11278A
6.11278B
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 | Australasia | De-Lite Records 822 943-1First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1984 | Canada | De-Lite Records DSR 8509First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | De-Lite Records DSR 8509LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | De-Lite Records DSR 8509LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Colombia | FM Discos LP(11)2278First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Mercury 822 943-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | De-Lite Records 540107 / Vogue 540107First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | De-Lite Records 540107 / Vogue 540107First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | France | De-Lite Records 540107 / Vogue 540107First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | De-Lite Records 823 823-1 / De-Lite Records 823 823-1MEFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | De-Lite Records 41 959 8 / De-Lite Records LP 41 959 8LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Germany | De-Lite Records 823 823-1 / De-Lite Records 823 823-1MEFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | Mercury DSR 6First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Israel | De-Lite Records CBS 26290First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | De-Lite Records DLP 9011First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | Yalu YL-4017LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
50 vinyl pressings of Emergency are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1984 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is De-Lite Records 822 943-1 M-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 822 943-1 M-1, 422-822 943-1 M-1, DSR 6, 6.11278) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, B-1 422-822-943-1-AS-HRM1 and C- 2 - 422-822-943-1-AS-HRM2. 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.
