Vinyl pressings
by Pete Townshend · 1982
All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1982, 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.
XSD 38149-A2 TOWNSHEND A 2 TY (CR)Side A, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 1
XSD 38149-B2 TOWNSHEND B 2 TY (CR)Side B, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 1
TOWNSHEND A XSD 38149-A TY (CR)Side A, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 2
TOWNSHEND B2 XSD 38149-B2 TY (CR)Side B, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 2
XSD 38149-A2 TOWNSHEND A 2 TY (CR)Side A, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 1
XSD 38149-B2 TOWNSHEND B 2 TY (CR)Side B, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 1
TOWNSHEND A XSD 38149-A TY (CR)Side A, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 2
TOWNSHEND B2 XSD 38149-B2 TY (CR)Side B, etched [CR stamped in circle ], variant 2
ST-C-824953-A 0̶-̶2̶ SP EDP M1 SP1 SM4 TY 0-4Side A runout, variant 1
ST-C-824954-C SP0-1 SM2-1 EDP M1 TYSide B runout, variant 1
ST-C-824953-A 0-1SM1-2 EDP M1 SP TYSide A runout, variant 2
ST-C-824954-C SP0-1 SM2-1 EDP M1 TYSide B runout, variant 2
ST-C-824953-A [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-16846-A [EDP logo] M1SF1SM8 TY + △1793-(1)Runout A, variant 1
ST-C-824954-A [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-16847-A [EDP logo] M1SF1SM9 + TY △1793X (3)Runout B, variant 1
ST-C-824953-A [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-16846-A [EDP logo] M1SF1SM9 TY + △1793-(3)Runout A, variant 2
ST-C-824954-A [Allied "ɑ" logo] B-16847-A [EDP logo] M1SF1SM9 + TY △1793X (3)Runout B, variant 2
ST-C-824953-A 0-1 SM2-2 [EDP logo] M1 SP TYSide A runout, variant 1
ST-C-824954-A 0-1 SM1-2 [EDP logo] M1 SPSide B runout, variant 1
ST-C-824953-A 0-3 SP [EDP logo] M1 SF 1SM1 TYSide A runout, variant 2
ST-C-824954-C SP 0-1 SM2-1 [EDP logo] M1 TYSide B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Argentina | ATCO Records 3320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia | ATCO Records SD 38149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Brazil | Atlantic 20.089First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | ATCO Records XSD 38149 / ATCO Records XSD 38-149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Atlantic LDWA 6124First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | ATCO Records XSD 38149 / ATCO Records XSD 38-149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Colombia | Sonolux 23(7931)000333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Ecuador | Atlantic LP-73033First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | ATCO Records ATC K 50 889 / ATCO Records ATC 50 889First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | France | ATCO Records ATC K 50 889 / ATCO Records ATC 50 889First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | ATCO Records ATC K 50 889 / ATCO Records ATC 50 889First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | ATCO Records 50889First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | ATCO Records 50889First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1982 | Ireland | WEA K 50889First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Ireland | Atco K 50889First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | UMC 4780148LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Netherlands | Universal Music Recordings 4868198LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | ATCO Records 38-149LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | ATCO Records SD 38-149LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | ATCO Records sd38-149LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
38 vinyl pressings of All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1982 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in Canada, US, UK, Argentina and more. One of them is ATCO Records XSD 38149.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use XSD 38149, LDWA 6124, SD 38-149, K 50889) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XSD 38149-A2 TOWNSHEND A 2 TY (CR) and XSD 38149-B2 TOWNSHEND B 2 TY (CR). 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.
