Vinyl pressings
by Muddy Waters · 1977
Hard Again was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. 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 1977, the album's first year, in 7 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.
o T1 AL 34449.-1A STERLINGSide A etch / o, Sterling stamp, variant 1
o T1 BL 34449-1B STERLING ESide B etch / o, Sterling, E stamp, variant 1
o T1 AL 34449-1A STERLINGSide A etch / o, Sterling stamp, variant 2
T1 o BL 34449-1A STERLING /\ 2Side B etch / o, Sterling, /\ stamp, variant 2
o STERLING AL 34449 - 1MSide A runout, etched ["o" and "STERLING" are stamped]
STERLING o BL 34449 - 1OSide B runout, etched ["o" and "STERLING" are stamped
AL 34449-RE-1X STERLING D BSide A runout variant 1, etched [STERLING, D, B stamped]
P B34449-RE-1 STERLINGSide B runout variant 1, etched [STERLING stamped]
AL 34449-RE-1X STERLINGSide 1 runout, variant 1
TI o BL 34449-1B STERLING CSide 2 runout, variant 1
C TI AL 34449 - 1A D3 STERLINGSide 1 runout, variant 2
TI BL 34449 - 1B STERLING D4Side 2 runout, variant 2
P AL34449-RE-1X STERLING 1ASide A runout
P BL34449-RE-1 1 STERLINGSide B runout
AL 34449Side A label
BL 34449Side B label
T1 o AL 34449-1A STERLING CSide 1 runout
T1 o BL 34449-1A STERLING CSide 2 runout
SKY-81853-A-1Side A Etched
SKY-81853-B-1Side B Etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | CBS SBP 234953First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Australia | Blue Sky SBP234953First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Brazil | Epic 144202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Columbia PZ 34449 / Blue Sky PZ 34449First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 81853First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 234 953 / Blue Sky PZ 34449First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 81853First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 81853First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 81853First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 81853 / Blue Sky S SKY 81853First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Blue Sky 34449 / Blue Sky PZ 34449First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Friday Music FRM 34449 / Epic P 763899LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2010 | US | Friday Music FRM 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2012 | Netherlands | Blue Sky MOVLP565 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP565LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Italy | Blue Sky PZ 34449LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Netherlands | Blue Sky MOVLP565 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP565LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP565 / Blue Sky MOVLP565LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Epic 184.005/1-032357 / Sony Music Marketing Especial 184.005/1-032357LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Epic PZ 34449 / Blue Sky PZ 34449LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Epic PZ 34449 / Blue Sky PZ 34449LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 81853LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP565 / Blue Sky MOVLP565LP, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 81853LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Italy | Blue Sky PZ 34449LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Blue Sky SKY 32357LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Blue Sky SKY 32357LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Blue Sky SKY 81853LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34449 / Blue Sky 34449LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
38 vinyl pressings of Hard Again are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1977 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Blue Sky PZ 34449, released January 10, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PZ 34449, 34449, SKY 81853, SBP 234953) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o T1 AL 34449.-1A STERLING and o T1 BL 34449-1B STERLING E. 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.
