Vinyl pressings
by Marianne Faithfull · 1979
The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. 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 1979, 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.
600191 A-1/80S Made in GermanyRunout side A
600191 B-1/80S Made in GermanyRunout side B
S 600 191 ALabel side A
S 600 191 BLabel side B
101038 A-1/79S II Made in GermanyRunout side A, variant 1
101038 B-1/79S II Made in GermanyRunout side B, variant 1
101038 A-2/80S II Made in GermanyRunout side A, variant 2
101038 B-1/79S II Made in GermanyRunout side B, variant 2
W̶ WIP 6491 A-1U GP JONZ 2Runout side A, variant 1
WIP 6491 B-1U GL 1 SOUND CLINICRunout side B, variant 1
W̶ WIP 6491 A-1U GH JONZ 4Runout side A, variant 2
WIP 6491 B-1U AR SOUND CLINIC 1Runout side B, variant 2
W̶ WIP 6491 A-1U JONZSide A runout, variant 1
WIP 6491 B-1U UK SOUND CLINICSide B runout, variant 1
W̶ WIP 6491 A-1U R JONZ 3Side A runout, variant 2
WIP 6491 B-1U GT SOUND CLINIC 1Side B runout, variant 2
101038 A-1/79SRunout A, stamped
101038 B-1/79SRunout B, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Austria | Island Records 101 038 / Island Records 101038-100First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Brazil | Island Records 101 038First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Island Records 6172 872First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Island Records 600 191 / Island Records 600 191-213First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Island Records 101 038 / Island Records 101 038-100First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Ireland | Island Records WIP 6491First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Island Records 101 038 / Island Records 101 038-100First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Island Records 101038-100 / Island Records 101 038First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Island Records K 7683First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | South Africa | Island Records PD 1795First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Spain | Island Records 101038-A / Island Records 101.038-AFirst year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Island Records WIP 6491First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | Island Records WIP 6491First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | UK | Island Records WIP 6491First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Rhodesia | Gallo PD 17957", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Australia | Island Records K76837", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | France | Island Records 6010 4777", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Netherlands | Island Records 114 960 / Island Records 114.9607", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
18 vinyl pressings of The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1979 and 1991.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in Germany, UK, Austria, Brazil and more. One of them is Island Records 600 191.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 600 191, 101 038, WIP 6491, 6172 872) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 600191 A-1/80S Made in Germany and 600191 B-1/80S Made in Germany. 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.
