Vinyl pressings
by Meat Loaf · 1981
Dead Ringer 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.
38 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 20 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.
1 T AL-36007-1D RL REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN E ○ MASTERDISKRunout side A etched, variant 1
1 T BL-36007-1C RL CHICKEN OUT OF HELL EH ○ MASTERDISKRunout side B etched, variant 1
AL 36007-1A RL REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN ○ MASTERDISKRunout side A etched, variant 2
I T BL-36007 -1C RL CHICKEN OUT OF HELL E ○ MASTERDISKRunout side B etched, variant 2
0 P (P) AL-36007-IAK I MASTERDISK ΛEtched/Stamped, Runout Side A
0 P (A) BL-36007-IAJ I ΛEtched/Stamped, Runout Side B
P O AL•36007-4A I MASTERDISK REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKENEtched/Stamped, Runout Side A
P O BL•36007-4B MASTERDISK CHICKEN OUT OF HELLEtched/Stamped, Runout Side B
(Label, Side A, Matrix): AL 36007
(Label, Side B, Matrix): BL 36007
1S AL-36007-1J RL REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN E ○ MASTERDISKRunout side A etched, variant 1
1S BL-36007-1JRL CHICKEN OUT OF HELL EH ○ MASTERDISKRunout side B etched, variant 1
AL 36007Label side A
BL 36007Label side B
A B̶L-36007-KM REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN KM-6990-A2 + KM+Side A runout, one KM stamped, two etched
₳ BL-36007-KM MASTERDISK RL CHICKEN OUT OF HELL KM-6990-B1 + KM+Side A runout, one KM's stamped, three etched
AL 36007Side A label
BL 36007Side B label
MASTERDISK HW P O REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN AL 36007-5AA-Side Runout Etching
MASTERDISK CHICKEN OUT OF HELL p O BL-36007-4BB-Side Runout Etching
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 | Argentina | Epic 47.262First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Argentina | Epic 47.262First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3981 / Cleveland International Records ELPS 3981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3981 / Cleveland International Records ELPS 3981First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Brazil | Epic 144.719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Epic FEX 36007 / Cleveland International Records FEX 36007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 83645 / Epic 83645First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 11 83645 / Cleveland International Records EPC 11 83645First yearLP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic 91406-9LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Europe | Epic EPC 83645 / Cleveland International Records 83645First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Epic EPC 83645First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25.3P 309First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Epic EPC 83645First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | Epic CBS 83645First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Epic EPC 83645First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP 1398 / Epic MOVLP 1398LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP 1398 / Epic MOVLP 1398LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | Europe | Epic 88985438441 / Cleveland International Records 88985438441LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | Germany | Epic 94398018119LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK & Ireland | Epic 19439801811 / Cleveland International Records 19439801811LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Epic EPC 11 83645 / Cleveland International Records EPC 11 83645LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | Greece | Epic EPC 83645 / Epic EPIC 83645LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32692 / Cleveland International Records EPC 32692LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
51 vinyl pressings of Dead Ringer are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1981 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Cleveland International Records FE 36007.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FE 36007, PE 36007, CRI 36007, EPC 83645) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1 T AL-36007-1D RL REEKS OF CLASSIC CHICKEN E ○ MASTERDISK and 1 T BL-36007-1C RL CHICKEN OUT OF HELL EH ○ MASTERDISK. 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.
