Vinyl pressings
by Petra · 1984
Beat The System was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 6 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.
7-102-05876-5-A MR △ 26679A side run-out etched, Variant 1
7-102-05876-5-B MR △ 26679X Future DiscB side run-out etched, Variant 1
7-102- ̶8̶5̶5̶6̶ -05786-5 A MR △ 26679 ̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶0̶5̶7̶8̶6̶-̶5̶-̶A̶A side run-out etched with strike outs, Variant 2
7-102-05786-5-B MR △ 26679 ̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶0̶5̶7̶8̶6̶-̶5̶-̶B̶ FUTURE DISCB side run-out etched with strike out, Variant 2
̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶5̶8̶7̶6̶-̶5̶-̶A̶ ̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶5̶8̶7̶6̶-̶5̶-̶A̶ SP-5067-A MR △ 26679Side A Runout, Etched
̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶5̶8̶7̶6̶-̶5̶-̶B̶ Future Disc SP-5067-B ̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶5̶8̶7̶6̶-̶5̶-̶B̶ MR △ 26679XSide B Runout, Etched
7-102-0̶5̶5̶6̶-̶05786-5 A MR Δ 26679 7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶0̶5̶7̶8̶6̶-̶5̶-̶A̶ 2Runout etched side A
7-102-05786-5-B MR Δ 26679X 7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶5̶7̶8̶6̶ ̶7̶-̶1̶0̶2̶-̶0̶0̶5̶7̶8̶8̶8̶6̶-̶5̶-̶B̶ Future DiscRunout etched side B
710 2057865 A-2Side A
710 2057865 BSide B
7-10-257865-ASide A runout - variant 1
7-10-257865-BSide B runout - variant 1
LZ 7-10-257865-ASide A runout, hand-etched - variant 2
7-10-257865-BSide B runout, hand-etched - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia | Star Song 7-102-05786-5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Star Song 7-102-05786-5First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5 / Star Song SPCN 710 2057 865First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia & New Zealand | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Brazil | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5 / Bompastor BPI 201First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Star Song SSR 0057 / Star Song SSR-0057First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | A&M Records SP 5067First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | South Africa | Grace Music JCC 141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | A&M Records SP-5067First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5 / Star Song 7-10-205686-5LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1984 | US | Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | New Zealand | A&M Records L 38383 / A&M Records SPCN 7-102-05786-5LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | Kingsway Music KMR448 / Star Song KMR448LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | Star Song SRR 448LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Girder Records GR1094LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
19 vinyl pressings of Beat The System are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1984 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, Australia, Australia & New Zealand, Brazil and more. One of them is Star Song SPCN 7-102-05786-5.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SPCN 7-102-05786-5, SP-5067, 7-102-05786-5, SSR 0057) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7-102-05876-5-A MR △ 26679 and 7-102-05876-5-B MR △ 26679X Future Disc. 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.
