Vinyl pressings
by Oingo Boingo · 1981
Only A Lad was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 5 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.
SP0-4863-A-RE2-CS1 STERLING 1SRunout Side A, etched ("STERLING" stamped)
SP0-4863-B-RE2-CS2 STERLING 1SRunout Side B, etched ("STERLING" stamped)
SP-04863-ALabel Side A
SP-04863-BLabel Side B
SP0-4863-A-RE2-CP3 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
SP0-4863-B-RE2-CP1 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
SP0-4863-A-RE2-CP3 STERLING A PRunout side A, variant 2
SP0-4863-B-RE2-CP1 A STERLING PRunout side B, variant 2
T 1 SPO-4863-A-RE2-CT1Variant 1, Side A, etched, except "STERLING" stamped
T 1 SPO-4863-B-RE2-CT1Variant 1, Side B, etched, except "STERLING" stamped
T1 SPO-4863-A-RE2-CT2 D3Variant 2, Side A, etched, except "STERLING" stamped
T1 SPO-4863-B-RE2-CT1 D2Variant 2, Side B, etched, except "STERLING" stamped
AM SP 04863-A"' ES MW1Side A runout, variant 1, Circle with 2 dots inside
AM SP 04863-B ES MW1Side B runout, variant 1, Circle with 2 dots inside
AM SP 04863-A ES MW1. ⚇ EMWSide A runout, variant 2 etched
AM SP 04863-B ES MW1. ⚇ EMWSide B runout, variant 2 etched
AMSP 04863-A PE2-M1 • (••) MR ∆ 25416Runout Side A
AM SP 04863-B RE•2 MI •• (••) MR ∆ 25416-XRunout Side B
SP-04863-ALabel Side A
SP-04863-BLabel Side B
T1-SPO-4863-T-A-1 CRITERIA MFSide A runout, etched, 'CRITERIA' stamped
T1-SPO-4863-B-RE2-CT1 STERLINGSide B runout, etched, 'STERLING' stamped.
SP-04863-ASide A, label
SP-04863-BSide B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records L 37626 / I.R.S. Records L 37626First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | A&M Records AMLH 64863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64863LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP-4863 / I.R.S. Records SP-4863First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1982 | US | A&M Records SP-3250LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Numbered, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered |
| 2021 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2022 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2023 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Numbered, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Numbered |
| 2023 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Rubellan Remasters RUBY20LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3250LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Only A Lad are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1981 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4863.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4863, AMLH 64863, L 37626) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP0-4863-A-RE2-CS1 STERLING 1S and SP0-4863-B-RE2-CS2 STERLING 1S. 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.
