Vinyl pressings
by Lee Oskar · 1978
Before The Rain 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.
14 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 6 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.
6E-150-A RE-SP 1-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout side A, etched [MASTERED BY CAPITOL stamped]
6E-150-B SP [SRC logo] 1-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout side B, etched [[SRC logo] MASTERED BY CAPITOL stamped]
6E-150-A SPA-side label
6E-150-B SPB-side label
6E-150 A-2 RE PRC-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally PRCA-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
6E-150 B-1PRCW-1-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyB-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
6E-150 A-1 RE PRCW-1-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyA-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
6E-150 B-1 PRCW-1-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyB-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
6E-150-A (PRC)Label A
6E-150-B (PRC)Label B
6-E-150 A-2 RE PRC-11-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally PRCA-Side Runout
6E-150 -B-2-11-PRC-111 MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyB-Side Runout
6E-150-AA-Side Label
6E-150-BB-Side Label
MCF 2870 - A - 1Runout etching side A
MCF 2870 - B - 1Runout etching side B
MCF.2870ASide A label
MCF.2870BSide 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 | Australia | LAX Records LA 150First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | LAX Records 0060.172First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | LAX Records LAX 150First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | LAX Records AW-1021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | LAX Records AW-1021First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records MCF 2870 / MCA Records 0C 062-62 606First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Elektra 6E-150LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Mexico | Gamma GX 01-1323LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Nigeria | WEA 6E-150LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | South Korea | Elektra/Asylum Records 6E-150LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Mexico | NGS NGS-2003LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | South Korea | Hee Jee Records & Trading Co., Ltd. HJLR-P-0037LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCF 2870LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
23 vinyl pressings of Before The Rain are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1978 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Elektra 6E-150.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6E-150, MCF 2870, LA 150, 0060.172) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6E-150-A RE-SP 1-2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally and 6E-150-B SP [SRC logo] 1-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally. 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.
