Vinyl pressings
by Roger Daltrey · 1984
Parting Should Be Painless 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.
23 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 18 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.
R / S Alsdorf 250298-1 A 3 45 1- </ STA- 835371-C [SRC logo] STERLINGSide A
R / S Alsdorf 250298-1 B 3 49 STA- 835372-H STERLING [SRC logo] FSide B
25-298-1Side A, label
25-298-2Side B, label
STA- 835371-C [SRC logo] STERLING B-18970-C △6087 0- SPAR. 1-2Side A runout
STA- 8353 72-H STERLING [SRC logo] 1-2 SPAR. △6087-X 0- B-18971-HSide B runout
ST-A-835371-ARSide A label
ST-A-835372-ARSide B label
SRC [Logo] STA-835371-B 1-1Side A runout, Variant 1
STERLING STA-835372-E 1-2Side B runout, Variant 1
SRC [Logo] STERLING STA-835371-C 1-1Side A runout, Variant 2
SRC [Logo] STERLING STA-835372-E 1-2Side B runout, Variant 2
SRC [Logo] STA-835371-B 1-1Side A runout
STERLING STA-835372-E 1-2Side B runout
ST-A-835371-SPSide A label
ST-A-835372-SPSide B label
(1-4 13 STA- 835371 - C) [RC STERLING R/S Alsdorf 250298-1 A3]Side A Runout, (etched) & [stamped]
(STA- 835372 - H 5) [STERLING RC] (F GB) [R/S Alsdorf 250298-1 B3]Side B Runout, (etched) & [stamped]
(25-0298-1)Side A Label, printed
(25-0298-2)Side B Label, printed
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 | Argentina | WEA 250.298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | WEA 28.094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | WEA 25 02981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | WEA 250 298-1 / WEA 25-0298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Germany | WEA 250 298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | WEA 250 298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | WEA 250 298-1LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1984 | Ireland | WEA 250298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Italy | WEA 250 298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Mexico | WEA LWI-6234First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Netherlands | WEA 250 298-1 / WEA 25-0298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Netherlands | WEA 250 298-1 / WEA 25-0298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Portugal | WEA 229 25 0298-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | WEA 250 298-1 / WEA 25-0298-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | South Africa | WEA WIC 5065First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | WEA 250 298-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of Parting Should Be Painless are listed here, from 20 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in Germany, US, UK, France and more. One of them is WEA 250 298-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 250 298-1, 80128-1, P-11448, 250.298-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R / S Alsdorf 250298-1 A 3 45 1- </ STA- 835371-C [SRC logo] STERLING and R / S Alsdorf 250298-1 B 3 49 STA- 835372-H STERLING [SRC logo] F. 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.
