Vinyl pressings
by Quincy Jones · 1981
The Dude was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
44 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 25 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.
T1 A&M SP03721A-T2 A4Side A runout, Var 1
T2 A&M SP03721B-T1 A5Side B runout, Var 1
T1 A&M SP03721A-T1 H24Side A runout, Var 2
T1 A&M SP03721B-T4 H8Side B runout, Var 2
A&M SP03721A MON 3 MR △ 25427Side A Runout
A&M SP03721B MON 2 MR △ 25427XSide B Runout
SP-03721-ASide A Label
SP-03721-BSide B Label
PVariant 1 both sides stamped
A+M SP03721A P3Variant 1 side 1 runout etched
A+M SP03721B P3Variant 1 side 2 runout etched
B PVariant 2 both sides stamped
A&M SP 03721-A-S1Side A run out, variant 1
A&M SP 03721-B-S3Side B run out, variant 1
A&M SP 03721A-S3 A1 1SSide A run out, variant 2
A&M SP 03721B-S3 B1 1SSide B run out, variant 2
SP03721ASide 1 runout
SP03721BSide 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | A&M Records 20.178First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records L 37569 / A&M Records SP-3721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Barbados | A&M Records SP-3271First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | A&M Records 170054 / A&M Records 170.054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-03721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Colombia | A&M Records 106-0018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 63721 / A&M Records AMLK 63721First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | A&M Records AMLH 63721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | A&M Records AMLH 63721First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | A&M Records AMLK 63721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | A&M Records AMLK 63721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | A&M Records AMLH 63721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Mexico | A&M Records AMLS-48034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | New Zealand | A&M Records L 37569 / A&M Records SP-3721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Philippines | A&M Records SP-3721First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | A&M Records 4776658 / A&M Records 00602547766588LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | US | A&M Records 4776658LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | A&M Records 00602435261164 / UMe 00602435261164LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2021 | US | A&M Records B0032996-01 / UMe B0032996-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2021 | US | A&M Records B0032997-01 / UMe B0032997-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | UMe 00602465936704 / A&M Records 00602465936704LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | A&M Records 170.054LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-03721LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3248LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
59 vinyl pressings of The Dude are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1981 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Japan, South Korea and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-3721, released March 26, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-3721, SP-3248, AMLH 63721, AMLK 63721) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 A&M SP03721A-T2 A4 and T2 A&M SP03721B-T1 A5. 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.
