Vinyl pressings
by Miquel Brown · 1985
Close To Perfection 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.
17 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 8 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.
SOHOT-48-A1. 1 MT. NOELRunout Side A [Etched] variant 1
SOHOT-48-B1. 1 MT.Runout Side B [Etched] variant 1
SOHOT-48-A1. 1 2 MT. NOEL DAMONTRunout Side A [Etched] variant 2
SOHOT-48 B1. 1 0 S MT. DAMONTRunout Side B [Etched] variant 2
SOHORT [crossed: SOHOT]-48-A1 MT.1 Noel DAMONT PSide A runout groove, etched
SOHORT-48-B1 MT.1 DAMONT DSide B runout groove, etched
SOHORT 48ASide A label
SOHORT 48BSide B label
SOHO-48-A1 NOEL 1 MTRunout side A
SOHO-48-B1 MTRunout side B
SOHO 48ALabel side A
SOHO 48BLabel side B
SOHO-48-A1 NOEL 1 MT. DAMONT FRunout side A
SOHO-48-B1 2 MT. DAMONT IRunout side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Finland | Record Shack Records SOHOT 48 / Record Shack Records SOHO T48First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1985 | Germany | Record Shack Records SOHOT 48 / Record Shack Records SOHO T48First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1985 | Germany | Record Shack Records Soho 48First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1985 | Italy | Record Shack Records RSNP 48First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Italy | Record Shack Records RSX 48First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Break Records 1851030First year12", 45 RPM, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Break Records 1851037First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1985 | Philippines | New York Records OC-EP-17064 / Record Shack Records SOHORT 48First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | Scandinavia | Record Shack Records SOHO 48First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Spain | Zafiro OOS-801First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1985 | Spain | Zafiro P 113First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | UK | Record Shack Records SOHORT 48First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1985 | UK | Record Shack Records SOHO 48First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK | Record Shack Records SOHORT 48First year12", White Label | 12", White Label |
| 1985 | UK | Record Shack Records SOHOT 48First year12", 45 RPM, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, White Label |
20 vinyl pressings of Close To Perfection are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1985 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, Finland, Germany, Italy and more. One of them is Record Shack Records SOHOT 48, released August 5, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SOHOT 48, SOHORT 48, SOHO 48, Soho 48) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SOHOT-48-A1. 1 MT. NOEL and SOHOT-48-B1. 1 MT.. 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.
