Vinyl pressings
by Rush · 1981
Exit...Stage Left 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.
35 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
ANR-4-1035-A-1③ MASTERDISK RLSide A, variant 1
ANR-4-1035-B-1① MASTERDISK RLSide B, variant 1
ANR-4-1035-C-1① MASTERDISK RLSide C, variant 1
ANR-4-1035-D-1 MASTERDISK RLSide D, variant 1
DM 3 ANR-1035/1-A 1A2HZ .Side A, Variant 1
DM 13 ANR-1035/1-B 1A2HZ ANR4-1035-B ASide B, Variant 1
DM 3 ANR-2-41035-3 1C2HZ:Side C, Variant 1
DM 3 ANR-2-41035-4 1C2HZ:Side D, Variant 1
C-5 <-> SRM-2-7001-AS-HRM-2 MASTERDISKSide A runout, variant 1
C-3 <-> SRM-2-7001-BS-HRM-2 MASTERDISKSide B runout, variant 1
A-5 <-> SRM-2-7001-CS-HRM MASTERDISKSide C runout, variant 1
D-1 <-> SRM-2-7001-DS-HRM-3 MASTERDISKSide D runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-AS-HRM-2 MASTERDISK BK C-2 ↔A-side runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-BS-HRM-1 MASTERDISK RL B-2 ↔B-side runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-CS-HRM-2 MASTERDISK BK C-2 ↔C-side runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-DS-HRM-1 MASTERDISK RL B-2 ↔D-side runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7001A-1BRunout side A, variant 1
SRM 2-7001B-1A T1 DRunout side B, variant 1
SRM-2-7001C-1B CRunout side C, variant 1
SRM 2-7001D-1A T1 DRunout side D, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-AS-PRC-C-1-1-1 MASTERDISKRunout side A, variant 1
SRM 2-7001-BS-PRC C-2-1-1 (7)Runout side B, variant 1
SRM-2-7001-CS-PRC-C 2-1-1 (31)Runout side C, variant 1
SRM 2-7001-DS-PRC-C-2-1-1 MASTERDISK-BK (F1)Runout side D, variant 1
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 | Australasia | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australasia | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Anthem ANR-4-1035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Anthem ANR-4-1035 / Anthem ANR 41035LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Canada | Anthem ANR-4-1035LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Canada | Anthem ANR-4-1035 / Anthem ANR 41035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Mercury 6619 053 / Mercury 6619 053..40First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Israel | Mercury 6619 053 / Mercury 6337 194First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Mercury 6619 053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Epic 36 3P-325~6 / Epic/Sony 36 3P-325~6First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Epic/Sony 36 3P-325~6First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Mercury B0022381-01 / Anthem B0022381-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2015 | US | Mercury B0022381-01 / Anthem B0022381-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | Europe | Mercury 00602547118097 / Anthem 00602547118097LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | US | Mercury B0022381-01 / Anthem B0022381-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | US | Mercury B0022381-01 / Anthem B0022381-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Mercury 6619 053LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Scandinavia | Mercury 6619 053LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM-2-7001 / Mercury 422-822 551-1 M-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
56 vinyl pressings of Exit...Stage Left are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Canada, US, UK, Germany and more. One of them is Anthem ANR-4-1035.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ANR-4-1035, SRM-2-7001, 6619 053, 36 3P-325~6) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ANR-4-1035-A-1③ MASTERDISK RL and ANR-4-1035-B-1① MASTERDISK RL. 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.
