Vinyl pressings
by Lene Lovich · 1980
Flex was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1980, 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.
SEEZ-19-A4 < STEVE. CHANGE YOUR MINDSide 1 - Variant 1
SEEZ-19-B1 SA MIND YOUR CHANGESide 2 - Variant 1
SEEZ-19-A1 CHANGE YOUR MIND C9 SA.Side 1 - Variant 2
SEEZ-19-B1 SA MIND YOUR CHANGE SA DSide 2 - Variant 2
AL-36308-1J Lene Is The Leader STERLINGRunout, side A
BL-36308-1J Les Is More STERLINGRunout, side B
AL 36308Center label, side A
BL 36308Center label, side B
AL-36308-1D Lene Is The Leader... A1 STERLING 0 TIRunout, side A, variant 1 [stamped "A" "0"]
BL-36308-1M STERLING B 0 TIRunout, side B, variant 1 [stamped "B 0"]
T1 AL-36308-1C Lene Is The Leader • • STERLING ⁽ ⁾Runout side A, variant 2
T1 BL-36308-1M STERLING ARunout side B, variant 2
AL-36308-1C Lene Is The LeAdeR . . A o STERLING T1Runout, Side A
BL-36308-1M STERLING B o T1Runout, Side B
AL 36308Label, Side A
BL 36308Label, Side B
AL-36308 - 1J Lene is The Leader STERLING C B PSide A runout
BL-36308-1J STERLING L Les Is More E PSide B runout
AL 36308Side A label
BL 36308Side B label
T1 AL-36308-1C Lene IS The LeaderRunout A
T1 BL-36308-1MRunout B
AL 36308Label A
BL 36308Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Stiff Records L 37076First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 940 825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Stiff Records 531002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24228 / Stiff Records 6.24228 AOFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records 6.24228 / Stiff Records 6.24228 AOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records SEEZ 19 / Stiff Records 6.24228 BLFirst yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Germany | Stiff Records SEEZ 19 / Stiff Records 6.24228 BLFirst yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF 15.510 / Stiff Records 15 510First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Stiff Records STIFF 15.510First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Ireland | Stiff Records SEEZ 19First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6713First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Stiff Records VIP-6713 / Stiff Records SEEZ-19First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Stiff Records SEE 19 / Stiff Records SEEZ 19First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Stiff Records SEEZ 19First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Norway | Stiff Records SEEZ 19First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Stiff-Epic JE 36308LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Stiff-Epic PE 36308 / Stiff-Epic JE 36308LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Stiff-Epic PE 36308LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Stiff-Epic PE 36308LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
36 vinyl pressings of Flex are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1980 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Canada, Italy and more. One of them is Stiff Records SEEZ 19, released January 18, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SEEZ 19, NJE 36308, JE 36308, L 37076) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SEEZ-19-A4 < STEVE. CHANGE YOUR MIND and SEEZ-19-B1 SA MIND YOUR CHANGE. 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.
