Vinyl pressings
by Nick Lowe · 1979
Cruel To Be Kind 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.
23 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.
ADA.43 A-1 A E.G. A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side A, variant 1
ADA 43 B-1 E.G.. A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side B, variant 1
ADA 43 A-1 A PORKY PRIME CUT E.G.. S-39Runout side A, variant 2
ADA 43 B-1 S-51 E.G.. A PORKY PRIME CUTRunout side B, variant 2
ADA.43 A-1 A E.G. A PORKY PRIME CUT D̲Side A runout, etched variant 1
ADA 43 B-1 E.G.. D̲ A|B A PORKY PRIME CUTSide B runout, etched variant 1
ADA.43 A-1 A PORKY PRIME CUT E.G. D NSide A runout, etched variant 2
ADA 43 B-1 E.G.. D N A PORKY PRIME CUTSide B runout, etched variant 2
T ZSS 166174-1D T1Runout A, etched - variant 1
TI ZSS 166255-1CRunout B, etched - variant 1
TI ZSS 166174-1CRunout A, etched - variant 2
TI ZSS 166255-1CRunout B, etched - variant 2
P ZSS 166174-1AA-Side Runout
ZSS 166255-1AA-Side Runout
ZSS 166174A-Side Label
ZSS 166255B-Side Label
ZSS-166174-1FA-Side Runout
Z SS166255-1AB-Side Runout
ZSS 166174A-Side Label
ZSS 166255B-Side Label
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 | Australia | Radar Records ADA 43First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Brazil | WEA 18.005 / WEA ADA 43First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Canada | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Radar Records 17 440First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Italy | Radar Records K 17 440First year7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Italy | Radar Records K 17440First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Radar Records P-485FFirst year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Radar Records WB.17.440 / Radar Records WB 17440First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Radar Records ADA 43First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBS 331First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | US | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1979 | US | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1979 | US | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1979 | US | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1979 | US | Columbia 3-11018First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Japan | MSI MSIEP 00057", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | US | Yep Roc Records YEP-26667", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Radar Records ADA 437", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
26 vinyl pressings of Cruel To Be Kind are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1979 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Scandinavia, Belgium and more. One of them is Radar Records ADA 43, released August 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ADA 43, 3-11018, TAR 10, WB 17440) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ADA.43 A-1 A E.G. A PORKY PRIME CUT and ADA 43 B-1 E.G.. A PORKY PRIME CUT. 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.
