Vinyl pressings
by Paul Collins' Beat · 1979
The Beat 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.
21 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.
PAL 36195-1B A3 5Runout Groove Side A variant 1
PBL36195-1G A\ 15Runout Groove Side B variant 1
PAL 36195-1CRunout Groove Side A variant 2
PBL 36195-1DRunout Groove Side B variant 2
o T1 PAL 36195-1FRunou A, variant 1
o T1 PBL36195-1FRunou B, variant 1
o T2 PAL 36195-1F A ORunou A, variant 2
o T2 PBL36195-1F A 4Runou B, variant 2
\ S PAL 36195-1A B6Variant 1, runout side A
S1 PBL 36195-1B E2Variant 1, runout side B
\ S PAL 36195-1A B2Variant 2, runout side A
S I PBL 36195-1B A1Variant 2, runout side B
PAL 36195 - IFRunout Groove Side A, Variant 1
PBL 36195 - IFRunout Groove Side B, Variant 1
PAL 36195 - ICRunout Groove Side A, Variant 2
PBL 36195 - ICRunout Groove Side B, Variant 2
\ S PAL 36195-1A B6Side A
S1 PBL 36195-1B E2Side B
AL 36195Side A, label
BL 36195Side B, label
T1 PAL 36195 - IF ΛRunout Groove Side A
T1 PBL 36195 - IF ΛRunout Groove Side B
AL 36195Label Side A
BL 36195Label Side B
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 | CBS SBP 237426First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Columbia JC 36195First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Columbia JC 36195First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 83895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 83895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 83895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 1707First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1707First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1707First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1707First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | CBS SBP237426First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Spain | CBS S 83895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Spain | CBS S 83895LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | UK | CBS S CBS 83895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | CBS CBS 83895 / CBS S CBS 83895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Columbia 20.085 / CBS 20.085LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | US | Sony Music Custom Marketing Group 4P 55064LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | US | Get Hip Recordings P 752444LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Africa | CBS ASF 2482LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia JC 36195LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia JC 36195LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
28 vinyl pressings of The Beat are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1979 and 2009.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia JC 36195.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JC 36195, S CBS 83895, CBS 83895, SBP 237426) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL 36195-1B A3 5 and PBL36195-1G A\ 15. 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.
