Vinyl pressings
by Lee Ritenour · 1981
Rit was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 14 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-331-A4-SH-SP + SLM + ∆ 579 B-15483 SP 0-1 SMA-4A side runout
6E-331-B4-SH-SP + SLM + ∆ 579-X B-15484 SP 0-1 SM[scratched through entries] 5-1B side runout
6E-331-A SPSide A label
6E-331-B SPSide B label
6E-331-A5-SH-AR+ △579 B-15483 A5 SLMVariant 1 A side runout
6E-331-B5-SH-AR+ + △579-X (2) B-15484 B5 SLMVariant 1 B side runout
6E-331-A5-SH-AR + SLM + ꔰ ꔰ ꔰ ꔰ ꔰ△579 B-15483 A5Variant 2 A side runout
6E-331-B3 B-15484 B3Variant 2 B side runout
0-1 SM2-2 6E-331-A4-SH-SP + SLM + △579 B-15483 SPSide One Etched
0-1 SM1-1 E-331-B4-SH-SP + SLM + SP △579-X B-15484Side Two Etched
6E-331-A SPLabel Side A
6E-331-B SPLabel Side B
0-1 SM2-1- 6E-331-A4-SH-SP + SLM + △579 B-15483 SPSide One Etched
0-1 SM1-2 6E-331-B4-SH-SP + SLM + SP △579-X B-15484Side Two Etched
6E-331-A SPLabel Side A
6E-331-B SPLabel Side B
6E-331-A5-SH-AR+ SLM △579 B-15483Runout A
6E-331-B5-SH-AR+ SLM △579-X (2) B-15484 B5Runout B
6E-331-A ARLabel A
6E-331-B ARLabel B
6E-331-A SPMatrix Side A
6E-331-B SPMatrix 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Elektra 6E-331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Elektra 22.025First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Elektra X6E-331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Elektra X6E-331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Elektra ELK 52273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Elektra ELK 52273 / Elektra K 52 273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Elektra ELK 52273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52273First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Elektra ELK 52273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-10973EFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-10973EFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Elektra ELK 52 273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Philippines | Elektra 6E-331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Elektra ELK 52 273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Elektra EKC6114First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | US | Discovery Records 79006-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1529LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1529LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Elektra K 52 273 / Elektra ELK 52 273LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra K 52 273 / Elektra ELK 52 273LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 273LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra K 52 273 / Elektra K 52273LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 273 / Elektra K 52 273LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 273LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Nautilus Recordings NR 41 / Elektra NR 41LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Elektra 6E-331LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
40 vinyl pressings of Rit are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Elektra 6E-331.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6E-331, K 52273, 22.025, X6E-331) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6E-331-A4-SH-SP + SLM + ∆ 579 B-15483 SP 0-1 SMA-4 and 6E-331-B4-SH-SP + SLM + ∆ 579-X B-15484 SP 0-1 SM[scratched through entries] 5-1. 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.
