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Wave by Patti Smith Group, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Wave

by Patti Smith Group · 1979

69 pressings26 countriesPunkRock

Wave 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.

How to spot a first pressing of Wave

37 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 22 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.

US

April 1979
Label and catalog number
Arista AB 4221
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Hub-Servall Pressing
Runout / matrix

AB 4221-SA-CTI 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD STERLINGSide A, variant 1

AB 4221-SB-TV2 STERLING HUBSide B, variant 1

AB4221-SA-CT1 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD STERLING gcSide A, variant 2

AB 4221-SB-TV2 STERLING HUBSide B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

May 1979
Label and catalog number
Arista AB 4221
Format
LP, Album · Pitman Pressing
Runout / matrix

AB 4221-SA-CP1 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1

AB 4221-SB-CP3 PS 6 WAVESHI STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1

AB 4221-SA-CP1 1 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD P STERLING gc.Side A runout, variant 2

AB-4221-SB-CP3 1 PS 6 WAVESH1 STERLING gc PSide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1979
Label and catalog number
Arista AB 4221
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Santa Maria Pressing
Runout / matrix

AB 4221-SA-CS3 A3 STERLING gC 1SSide A, variant 1

AB 4221-SB-CS2 PSG WAVES HI A8 STERLING gC 1SSide B, variant 1

AB 4221-SA-TV1 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD A3 STERLING gC 1SSide A, variant 2

AB 4221-SB-CS1 PSG WAVES HI STERLING gC A6 1SSide B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1979
Label and catalog number
Arista AB 4221
Format
LP, Album · Terre Haute Press
Runout / matrix

AB 4221-SA-CTI 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD STERLING GC TI B(etched)Runout Side A, variant 1

AB 4221-SB-CTI PSG WAVES HI STERLING TIRunout Side B, variant 1

AB 4221-SA-TVI 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD E3 STERLING GC . I5Runout Side A, variant 2

AB 4221-SB-CT2 PSG WAVES HI STERLING TIRunout Side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

April 27, 1979
Label and catalog number
Arista SPART 1086
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · PRS Ltd. Pressing, Red & Blue Printing
Runout / matrix

SPARTY 1086 A//1▽E TO 11 A BILBORun-out side A, variant 1

SPARTY 1086 B//1▽E TO 11 BILBORun-out side B, variant 1

SPARTY 1086 A//1▽E TO 11 8 BILBORun-out side A, variant 2

SPARTY 1086 B//1▽E TO 13 2 BILBORun-out side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1979
Label and catalog number
Arista SPART 1086
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Blue Printing
Runout / matrix

SPARTY 1086 A//1▽E TO 13 5 BiLBoSide A runout variant 1

SPARTY 1086 B//1▽E TO 11 4 BiLBoSide B runout variant 1

SPARTY 1086 A//1▽E TO 11 8 BiLBoSide A runout variant 2

SPARTY 1086 B//1▽E TO 11 1 9 BiLBoSide B runout variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 69 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s43 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1979AustraliaArista AL.4221 / Arista AL-4221First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979AustraliaArista AL-4221 / Arista AL.4221First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979AustriaArista 38 444 / Arista 1C 064-62 516LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition
1979BelgiumArista 4C 064-62516 / Arista 4C064-62516First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979BelgiumArista 4C 064-62516LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1979BrazilArista 31C 064 62516First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979CanadaArista AB 4221First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceArista 2C 070 62516 / Arista 2C 070 - 62.516First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceArista 2C 070 62516 / Arista 2C 070-62.516First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979FranceArista 201139First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1979FranceArista 62516LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing
1979GermanyArista 38 444 6 / EMI Electrola 38 444 6First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyArista SPART 1086First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1979GermanyArista 064 62516LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing
1979GreeceArista 14C 062-62516First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 43 pressings from the 1970s
1980s13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980AustraliaArista L 37218 / Arista L-37218LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980GermanyArista 201 139LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980ItalyArista ARS 25012LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980SpainArista I-201.139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981ColombiaSonolux 18(0931)00148LP, AlbumLP, Album
1981EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981GermanyArista 201 139LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1982SpainArista I-201139 / Arista I-201.139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983SpainArista I-201139 / Arista I-201.139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983SpainArista I-201139 / Arista I-201.139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984ItalyArista ARS 1135LP, AlbumLP, Album
1988EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2010s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2011EuropeMusic On Vinyl MOVLP351LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2019EuropeArista 88985438491 / Sony Music 88985438491LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
Year unknown11 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?CanadaArista AL-8546LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
?EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?EuropeArista 201 139LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?GreeceArista 74028LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?NetherlandsArista 201 139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?SpainArista I-201.139 / Arista 5B 201139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?SpainArista I-201139LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?TaiwanLiming Record LM-2987LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?USArista AL-8546LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered

Tracklist

  1. A1Frederick3:01
  2. A2Dancing Barefoot4:18
  3. A3So You Want To Be (A Rock`N`Roll Star)4:18
  4. A4Hymn1:10
  5. A5Revenge5:06
  6. B1Citizen Ship5:09
  7. B2Seven Ways Of Going5:12
  8. B3Broken Flag4:55
  9. B4Wave4:36

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Wave are there?

69 vinyl pressings of Wave are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1979 and 2019.

When was Wave first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Germany, Italy and more. One of them is Arista AB 4221, released April 1979.

How do I tell if my copy of Wave is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AB 4221, SPART 1086, 1C 064-62 516, ARS 39001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AB 4221-SA-CTI 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD STERLING and AB 4221-SB-TV2 STERLING HUB. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Wave on vinyl worth?

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.

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