Vinyl pressings
by Prince · 1979
I Wanna Be Your Lover 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.
24 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 13 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.
WBS-49050 XCA-8887VI-S-WW2 ─◁Runout Side A, etched, variant 1
WBS-49050 XCA-7650-S-WWI #5 ─◁Runout Side B, etched, variant 1
WBS-49050 XCA-8887VI-S-WW2 #2 ─◁Runout Side A, etched, variant 2
WBS-49050 XCA-7650-S-WWI #7 ─◁Runout Side B, etched, variant 2
WBS-49050 XCA-8887-VI-S-JW2 0Runout A, etched, Variant 1
WBS-49050 VCA-7650-S-JWI #9 0Runout B, etched, Variant 1
WBS-49050 XCA-8887-VI-S-JWl #4Runout A, etched, Variant 2
WBS-49050 VCA-7650-S-JWI #5 0Runout B, etched, Variant 2
WBS-49050 XCA-8887-V1-S-LWI • ⥛ ✲Runout A
WBS-49050 XCA-7650-S LWI • ⥛ ✲Runout B
XCA8887V1SLabel A
VCA 7650SLabel B
WBS-49050 XCA8887 VI-S-SRI SPRunout A, var. 1
WBS-49050 VCA-7650-S-SRI SPRunout B, var. 1
WBS-49050 XCA8887 VI-S-SR2 1-1 [SRC logo]Runout A, var. 2
WBS-49050 VCA-7650-S· SR2 [SRC logo] 1-1Runout B, var. 2
B-14393 PRO-A1-832-S-AISide A
B-14394 PRO-A2-832-S-AISide B
WBS-49050-XCA-8887-V1-DJ-LW1 ✲Runout side A
WBS-49050-XCA-8887-V1-S-LW1 ✲Runout side B
XCA8887V1Label side A
XCA8887V1SLabel 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 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 200101First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 200101First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Barbados | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records 45-80024 / Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records 45-80024 / Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 17537 / Warner Bros. Records W 17537First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Jamaica | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1979 | Panama | Warner Bros. Records WBS-49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Panama | Warner Bros. Records WBS-49050First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Rhodesia | Warner Bros. Records WBS 334First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 16.1487", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 46.143 / Wea International 46.1437", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Chile | Warner Bros. Records WBS-490507", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 175377", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Jamaica | Warner Bros. Records WBS 490507", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records G-22717", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 26.126 / Warner Bros. Records WB 2612612", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo |
| 1980 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0049050.47", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 45-19297", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WBS 490507", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 175377", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Warner Bros. Records 17 5717", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-531W7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-531W7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 17 537 / Warner Bros. Records WB 175377", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | UK | Not On Label (Prince) Prince A212", 45 RPM, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing |
| 2007 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 17537(T)12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 2007 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 17537(T)12", 45 RPM, Misprint, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Misprint, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records PRO-A-83212", Promo, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo | 12", Promo, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) WANNA-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
48 vinyl pressings of I Wanna Be Your Lover are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1979 and 2007.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Argentina, Barbados and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050, released August 24, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WBS 49050, PRO-A-832, K 17537(T), 200101) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WBS-49050 XCA-8887VI-S-WW2 ─◁ and WBS-49050 XCA-7650-S-WWI #5 ─◁. 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.
