Vinyl pressings
by Prince · 1987
Sign "O" The Times was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
65 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 21 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.
[SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
[SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
[SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR1Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
[SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
7-28399-A-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] R-17373-.SH1 △15707 1-1Side A runout, etched
7-28399-B-SH2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] R-17374-.SH2 △15707 1-1Side B runout, etched
[SRC logo] 0-20648-A-SR2 1-1Side A runout, etched/stamped
[SRC logo] 0-20648-B-SR2 1-1Side B runout, etched/stamped
[SRC logo] 0-20648-A-SR1 1-1Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
[SRC logo] 0-20648-B-SR1 1-4Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
[SRC logo] 0-20648-A-SRIVariant 1, Side A Runout
[SRC logo] 0-20648-B-SRIVariant 1, Side B Runout
[SRC logo] 0-20648-A-SRI l-2Variant 2, Side A Runout
[SRC logo] 0-20648-A-SRI l-2 ƧM l-lVariant 2, Side B Runout
P-PRO-A-SHI [Artisan logo] [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-27155-SHI △16197 I-ISide A runout
P-PRO-B-SHI [Artisan logo] [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-27156-SHI △16197-X I-ISide B runout
0-20648-A-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-26723-SHI △15743Variant 1, Side A Runout
0-20648-B-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-26724-SHI △15743-XVariant 1, Side B Runout
0-20648-A-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-26723-SHI △15743 1-1Variant 2, Side A Runout
0-20648-B-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-26724-SHI △15743-X 1-1Variant 2, Side B Runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | Paisley Park 0-20648First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Australia | Paisley Park 7-28399First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Paisley Park 92 06480First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Paisley Park 92 83997First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Canada | Paisley Park 9 28399-7First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 / Paisley Park 928 399-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park 920 648-0First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park 920 648-0 / Paisley Park W 8399 (T)First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 / Paisley Park 928 399-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park 928 399-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 (T) / Paisley Park 920 648-0First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 / Paisley Park 928 399-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 (T) / Paisley Park 920 648-0First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 (T) / Paisley Park 920 648-0First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 / Paisley Park 928 399-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | UK & Europe | Paisley Park W 8399 (T) / Paisley Park 920 648-012", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Paisley Park 0-2064812", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2017 | Europe | Paisley Park 7599-20648-0 / Paisley Park 0-2064812", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Paisley Park 0-2064812", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Record Store Day, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Paisley Park 7-283997", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Poland | B+H Records PUR 000 8087", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Limited |
74 vinyl pressings of Sign "O" The Times are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1987 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, UK, Panama, Japan and more. One of them is Paisley Park 9 28399-7, released February 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 28399-7, 9 20648-0 A, PRO-A-2687, 7-28399-A) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3 and [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1. 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.
