Vinyl pressings
by Mr. Mister · 1984
I Wear The Face was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1984, 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.
AFL1-4864-A-2S FUTURE DISC I A1ESide A runout, variant 1
AFL1-4864-B-2S I A1ESide B runout, variant 1
AFL1-4864-A-2S FUTURE DISC I A1BSide A runout, variant 2
AFL1-4864-B-2S I A1BSide B runout, variant 2
DM B-0973 A-1/84 S III Made in GermanySide A runout
DM B-0973 B-1/84 S III Made in GermanySide B runout
20310 A FRunout side A, stamped
20310 B FRunout side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL14864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | RCA AFL1-4864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | RCA PL 84864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20310First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Mexico | RCA MILS•4667First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | RCA PL84864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | RCA Victor AFL1-4864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Japan | RCA RPL-8247First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | RCA RPL-8247First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL14864LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL 84864LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1986 | Germany | RCA PL 84864LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Germany | RCA NL90 093LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Mexico | RCA MILS-4734LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Mexico | RCA Victor MILS•4734LP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of I Wear The Face are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1984 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, Japan, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor AFL1-4864.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AFL1-4864, RPL-8247, APL14864, PL 84864) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AFL1-4864-A-2S FUTURE DISC I A1E and AFL1-4864-B-2S I A1E. 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.
