Vinyl pressings
by Red Hot Chili Peppers · 1984
The Red Hot Chili Peppers was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
5 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year. 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.
ST-1-17128-Z-4 [Artisan logo] —◁Side 1 etched, except Artisan stamp
ST-2-17128-Z-4 [Artisan logo] —◁ PAY ANDYSide 2 etched, except Artisan stamp
ST-1-17128-Z-5 #2 [Artisan logo] 0A side runout, variant 1
ST-2-17128-Z-1 #1 [Artisan logo] PAY ANDY 0B side runout, variant 1
ST-17128-Z-5 #1 [Artisan logo] 0A side runout, variant 2
ST-2-17128-Z-1 [Artisan logo] PAY ANDY 0B side runout, variant 2
ST-1-17128-P-7 [Artisan logo] —◁ M-M MASTERED BY EMIRunout side A stamped [ST-1-17128-P-7 —◁ M-M etched]
ST-2-17128-P-5 [Artisan logo] —◁ M-M MASTERED BY EMIRunout side B stamped [ST-2-17128-P-5 —◁ M-M etched]
ST-1-17128-P-7 M-M 1 -1 [Specialty logo] MASTERED BY EMI/ARunout side A, stamped [ST-1-17128-P-7 M-M 1 -1 etched]
ST-2-17128-P-5 M-M 1 -1 [Specialty logo] MASTERED BY EMI/ARunout side B, stamped [ST-1-17128-P-5 M-M 1 -1 etched]
ST-1-17128-P-1 MM MASTERED BY EMI/A [Specialty logo] 1-1Side 1 etched, except Specialty and Mastered by EMI stamp
ST-2-17128-P-5 [Specialty logo] MM MASTERED BY EMI/A 1-1Side 2 etched, except Specialty and Mastered by EMI stamp
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma ST-17128First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma ST-17128First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma ST-17128First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma ST-17128First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma ST-17128First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | EMI-Manhattan Records ST-17128 / EMI America ST-17128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | EMI USA MTL 1056LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1990 | UK | EMI USA MTL 1056LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1999 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 156 / EMI SVLP 156LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1999 | Europe | EMI SVLP 156LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1999 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 156LP, Album, Reissue, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label 16778LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Unknown | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | EMI America ST-17128 / Enigma Records ST-17128LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
18 vinyl pressings of The Red Hot Chili Peppers are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1984 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US. One of them is EMI America ST-17128.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST-17128) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-17128-Z-4 [Artisan logo] —◁ and ST-2-17128-Z-4 [Artisan logo] —◁ PAY ANDY. 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.
