Vinyl pressings
by Michael Franks · 1985
Skin Dive was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1985, 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.
1-25275-A-SR6 [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
1-25275-B-SR4 [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
1-25275-A-SR6 [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
1-25275-B-SR2 [SRC logo] STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
1-25275-A-SH3 B-20811-SH3 SLM 9045 STERLING SRCRunout side A
1-25275-B-SH3 B-20811-SH3 SLM 9045-X 1-1 STERLING SRCRunout side B
1-25275-A-SH4 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20811-SH4 STERLING SLM △9045 1-1Runout side A, variant 1
1-25275-B-SH4 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20812-SH4 STERLING SLM △9045-X 1-1Runout side B, variant 1
1-25275-A-SH3 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20811-SH3 SLM △9045 1-1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
1-25275-B-SH3 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20811-SH3 SLM △9045-X 1-1 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
SH-SP 1-25275-A-SH6 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-20812-SH6 SLM △9045 SP A _ 1 STERLINGSide 1
1-25275-B-SR2 [SRC logo] 1-1 SM 1-3 STERLINGSide 2
MX210165Side A label
MX210166Side B label
1-252751-A-SH 4 [ring symbol]B-20811-SH4 STERLING 92-52751-A SLM ∆9045 1-3 CANSide A runout
19252751-B-SH 4 [ring symbol]B-20812-SH4 SLM ∆9045-X 1-3 20 STERLING CAN-Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 25275-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 52751First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 925 275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records 925 275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-13105First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-13105First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records 25275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records 759 92-5275-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 925275-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25275-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25275First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25275-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25275First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 W1-25275 / Warner Bros. Records W1 25275LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
18 vinyl pressings of Skin Dive are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1985 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, Australia, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 9 25275-1, released June 29, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 25275-1, 25275-1, 92 52751, 925 275-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1-25275-A-SR6 [SRC logo] STERLING and 1-25275-B-SR4 [SRC logo] STERLING. 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.
