Vinyl pressings
by Randy Crawford · 1981
Secret Combination 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.
42 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 20 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.
BSK-1-3541-WW2 #3 0̶0̶0̶ TML-M • -------◄Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3541-WW2 #2 TML-M • -------◄Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3541-WW2 TML-M • -------◄Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3541-WW2 TML-M • -------◄Side B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3541-LW3• 1 ✲ TML-X T022481Runout A variant 1
BSK-2-3541-LW3• 2 ✲ TML-XRunout B variant 1
BSK-1-3541-LW2• 1 ✲ TML-MRunout A variant 2
BSK-2-3541-LW3• 2 ✲ TML-XRunout B variant 2
BSK-1-3541-JW1 TML-X 0A Side
BSK-2-3541-WW2 #3 TML-M ·̷─̷◁̷ 0B Side
BSK-1-3541-JW1 #4 TML-X ORunout, Etched [O stamped] Side 1
BSK-2-3541-LW5 TML-X T022481Runout, Etched, Side 2
K+56904+A W-62 2ND STRAWBERRYSide A runout variant 1
K+56904+B W-7 STRAWBERRYSide B runout variant 1
K+56904+A W-48 STRAWBERRYSide A runout etched variant 2
K+56904+B W-41 3 STRAWBERRYSide B runout etched variant 2
R / S Alsdorf 56904 A2 XX UK "FS" OSRunout, side A, variant 1
R / S Alsdorf 56904 B4 X PFRunout, side B, variant 1
BB R/S Alsdorf 56904 A2 STRAWBERRY (G)Runout, side A variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 56904 B2 STRAWBERRY (G)Runout, side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK3541 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3541First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records (BSK 3541)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany & Switzerland | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany & Switzerland | Warner Bros. Records WB 56904First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56904First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 904LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 904 / Warner Bros. Records (BSK 3541)LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
53 vinyl pressings of Secret Combination are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1981 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3541.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3541, K 56904, WB 56 904, BSK3541) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3541-WW2 #3 0̶0̶0̶ TML-M • -------◄ and BSK-2-3541-WW2 #2 TML-M • -------◄. 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.
