Vinyl pressings
by Narada Michael Walden · 1979
The Dance Of Life was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 9 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.
ST-A-794391-C O-1SM2- 3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side A runout, Variant 1
ST-A-794392-B ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. O-1SM1-5Side B runout, Variant 1
ST-A-794391-C O-1SM3-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR)Side A runout, Variant 2
ST-A-794392-B ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. O-1SM1-7 (PR)Side B runout, Variant 2
ST-A-794391-C △24587 (4) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR)Side One Runout
ST-A-794392-B △24587-X (2) (PR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side Two Runout
ST-A-794391-MOSide One Label
ST-A-794392-MOSide Two Label
ST-A-794391-C ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side A Runout
ST-A-794392-B ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side B Runout
ST-A-794391-SPSide A Label
ST-A-794392-SPSide B Label
ST-A-794391-C 0-1-SM2-3Side One Runout
ST-A-794392-B 0-1SM1-1Side Two Runout
ST-A-794391-SPSide One Label
ST-A-794392-SPSide Two Label
W -1 K+50678+A STRAWBERRYA-side runout, etched except Strawberry, stamped
W1KD K50678 B1 1 EG STRAWBERRYB-side runout, etched except Strawberry and 3rd 1, stamped
K 50678 A*A-side label
K 50678 B*B-side label
W -1 K+50678+A STRAWBERRYA-side runout, etched except Strawberry, stamped
W1KD K50678 B1 1 EG STRAWBERRYB-side runout, etched except Strawberry and 3rd 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Canada | Atlantic QSD 19259First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Atlantic ATL 50 678First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Atlantic ATL 50 678 / Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Atlantic ATL 50 678 / Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Atlantic P-10768A / Atlantic SD19259First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Atlantic P-10768A / Atlantic SD19259First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Atlantic ATL 50 678First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Atlantic K 50678First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Atlantic K 50678First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | US | Atlantic SD 19259LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Atlantic 30.129LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Italy | Atlantic W 50678LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | Atlantic S 90.227LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Atlantic SD 19259LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
21 vinyl pressings of The Dance Of Life are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 19259.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 19259, K 50678, QSD 19259, ATL 50 678) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-A-794391-C O-1SM2- 3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. and ST-A-794392-B ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. O-1SM1-5. 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.
