Vinyl pressings
by Michael Jackson · 1983
Beat It was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
50 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 19 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.
NL 11-3184-1A-1 CRunout Side A, Variant 1
NL 11-3184-1B-1 ARunout Side B, Variant 1
NL 12-3184-1A-1 BRunout Side A, Variant 2
NL 11-3184-1B-1 ARunout Side B, Variant 2
NL 01-3184-1A-1 AA side, variant 1
NL 01-3184-1B-1 BB side, variant 1
NL 01-3184-1A-1 AA side, variant 2
NL 01-3184-1B-1 CB side, variant 2
[AGI logo] 83_4 EPC 3184 AA side runout
[AGI logo] 83_4 EPC 3184 BB side runout
NL 01-3184-1A-1 ARunout side A
NL 01-3184-1B-1 DRunout side B
P ZSS-169232-1B ❀ MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIFSide A, on runout, hand-etched (except: ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴢᴇɴᴛᴢ stamp) - variant 1
P ZSS-169233-1A ⁀⁀ MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIFSide B, on runout, hand-etched (except: ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴢᴇɴᴛᴢ stamp) - variant 1
P ZSS-169232-1A ❀ MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIFSide A, on runout, hand-etched (except: ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴢᴇɴᴛᴢ stamp) - variant 2
P ZSS-169233-1B ⁀⁀ MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIFSide B, on runout, hand-etched (except: ᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴢᴇɴᴛᴢ stamp) - variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia | Epic ES 849First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1983 | Australia | Epic ES 12061First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1983 | Australia | Epic ES 12061First year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Australia | Epic ES 849First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Brazil | Epic 46.570 / Epic 46570First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | Epic 34 03759First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Costa Rica | Epic 7045410First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPCA 12-3184 / Epic EPC A-12.3184First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPCA 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPCA 3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPC A 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Epic EPC A 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | France | Epic EPC A 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | France | Epic EPCA 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | France | Epic EPC A 3184 / Epic A-3184First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | UK | Epic XPR 182712", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1997 | US | Epic 49 7858112", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Epic A-3184 / Epic EPC A 31847", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Jamaica | Columbia 34-037597", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
57 vinyl pressings of Beat It are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1983 and 1997.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in Europe, US, UK, Australia and more. One of them is Epic EPCA 12-3184.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EPCA 12-3184, EPCA 3184, EPC A 3184, 34-03759) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NL 11-3184-1A-1 C and NL 11-3184-1B-1 A. 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.
