Vinyl pressings
by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock · 1988
It Takes Two was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 6 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.
ᐉBoth sides, runout, Hauppauge stamp
MASTERDISK HWBoth sides, runout, stamp and initials
A-1 PRO· 7186-AA-side run-out etchings - variation 1
A-1 PRO· 7186-BB-side run-out etchings - variation 1
PRO-5186-A 1-1 SRC MASTERDISKA-Side Runout Etching
MASTERDISK SRC PRO-5186-B 1-1B-Side Runout Etching
PRO-5186AA-Side Label
PRO-5186BB-Side Label
B- PRO-7186-A 1-2 MASTERDISKA side Runout
PRO-7186-B MASTERDISKB side Runout
PRO-7186AA side label
PRO-7186BB side label
PRO-7186-A 1-2 2̶-̶1̶ B- X̶X̶X̶ MASTERDISKRunout side A
PRO·7186-B MASTERDISK Hw A-4 o̶o̶o̶ SP 0-1Runout side B
PRO-7186AA-side label
PRO-7186BB-side label
PRO. 7186- A MASTERDISK A-1Runout side A, variant 1
PRO. 7186- A MASTERDISK B-1Runout side B, variant 1
A-1 [triangle with a dot] PRO-7186-A MASTERDISK HwRunout side A, variant 2
A-1 [triangle with a dot] PRO-7186-B MASTERDISK HwRunout side B, variant 2
PRO-5186A 1-1A
PRO-5186A 1-1B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Canada | Mercury 888 799-1First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Germany | BCM Records B.C. 7-2090-41First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records B.C. 12-2090-R / BCM Records BC 12-2090-RFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records BCM 14077 / BCM Records BC 12-2090-RFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records B.C. 12-2090-40 / BCM Records BC 12-2090-40First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Panama | Rob Base & D.J. E.Z. RockFirst year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1988 | UK | City Beat CBE 1224First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | City Beat CBE 724First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK | City Beat CBX 1224First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | City Beat CBE 724First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records PRO-7186First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records PRO-5186First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records PRO-7186-DJFirst year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records PRO-718612", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records PRO-7186First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Europe | Profile Records 0004640FIL / Profile Records PROFT 46412", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | Europe | Profile Records PROFT464 DJ12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1997 | Germany | Profile Records PROFT 464 DJ12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo |
| 1997 | UK | Profile Records PROFT 46412", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | US | Sm:)e Communications SM-9072-0 DJ12", Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1997 | US | Sm:)e Communications SM-9072-012", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | UK | S12 S12DJ12312", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2004 | US | Profile Records 8287666704112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | BCM Records 12077 / BCM Records BC 12-2090-4012", 45 RPM, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Profile Records PRO-718612", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mispress | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mispress |
| ? | US | Profile Records PRO-718612", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of It Takes Two are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1988 and 2004.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Germany, Austria, & Switzerland, Canada and more. One of them is Profile Records PRO-7186.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PRO-7186, PRO-5186, PRO-7186-DJ, CBE 1224) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ᐉ and MASTERDISK HW. 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.
