Vinyl pressings
by Prince · 1989
Partyman was first pressed on vinyl in 1989. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1989, the album's first year, in 10 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.
MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-A-SR2 1-1Runout side A, variant 1
MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-B-SRI 1-1Runout side B, variant 1
MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-A-SRI 1-2Runout side A, variant 2
MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-B-SRI 1-2Runout side B, variant 2
7-22814-A-SR1 MASTERDISK HW 1-1 SRCRunout side A
7-22814-B-SR1 1-1 MASTERDISK HW SRCRunout side B
7-22814-A-SR1 HW 1-1A-side runout, etched
7-22814-A-SR1 HW 1-1B-side runout, etched
MASTERDISKSide A & B Stamped with SRC logo & text
W 2814 (T) A2 PR.P DSide A runout, etched
W 2814 (T) B2 PR.P DSide B runout, etched
W 2814 (T) A*Side A label
W 2814 (T) B*Side B label
W2814 A2 MTSide A runout, etched
W2814-B-2 MTSide B runout, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 7-22814First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1989 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 7-22814First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1989 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 13700First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1989 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 28147First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1989 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records W 2814 / Warner Bros. Records W2814First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1989 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records W 2814T / Warner Bros. Records 921 330-0First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1989 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 921 370-0 / Warner Bros. Records W 2814 TXFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1989 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records W2814 / Warner Bros. Records 922 814-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1989 | France | Warner Bros. Records W 2814 / Warner Bros. Records 7599-22814-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1989 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records PRO-391First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1989 | Philippines | Warner Bros. Records WB77-678 / Warner Bros. Records 7-22814First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1989 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 1.145First year7", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1989 | UK | Warner Bros. Records W2814TP / Warner Bros. Records 759 921 344-0First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1989 | UK | Warner Bros. Records SAM 571First year12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Promo · Promo |
| 1989 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 21370-0 / Warner Bros. Records 0-21370First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 7599-21370-0 / Warner Bros. Records 0-2137012", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Warner Bros. Records 21370-012", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue |
28 vinyl pressings of Partyman are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1989 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1989, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 9 21370-0.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 21370-0, 7-22814, PRO-A-3705, W2814T) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-A-SR2 1-1 and MASTERDISK HW [SRC logo] 0-21370-B-SRI 1-1. 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.
