Vinyl pressings
by Rush · 1980
Permanent Waves was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
41 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 21 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-1-1021-A(2) TRIDENT U.K.Side A [variant 1]
ANR-1-1021-B(2) RAYSSide B [variant 1]
ANR-1-1021-A(1) RAYSSide A [variant 2]
ANR-1-1021-B RAYSSide B [variant 2]
ANR-1-1021-A-1 ◎Side A Runout, Variant 1
ANR-1-1021-B-2 ◎Side B Runout, Variant 1
ANR-1-1021-A➁ ◎ TRIDENT U.K.Side A Runout, Variant 2
ANR-1-1021-B-2 ◎Side B Runout, Variant 2
Side A (Etched) ANR-1-1021-A-1C-𝓛HDZSide A, variant 1
Side B (Etched) ANR-1-1021-B-1C-𝓛HDZ:Side B, variant 1
ANR-1-1021-A-1C- (1A scratched out) 2HDZ DM-3Side A, variant 2
ANR-1-1021-B-1C-2HDZ: DM-8Side B, variant 2
ANR-1-1021-A-2 SA. [Capitol "target" logo]Side A runout
ANR-1-1021-B② RAYS [Capitol "target" logo]Side B runout
SRM-4001-A R*CT-1Side A Etched, Variant 1
SRM-4001-BSide B Etched, Variant 1
A-1 [triangle w/dot] SRM-1-4001-BSide A, Etched, Variant 2
B-2 [triangle w/dot] SRM-1-4001-A RAY'S CcT.Side B, Etched, Variant 2
SRM-1-4001-A-PRC-R-2-1-1111 MASTERDISK HWSide A runout, var. 1
SRM-1-4001-B-PRC-R-3-1-11 MASTERDISK HWSide B runout, var. 1
SRM-1-4001-A-PRC-R-1-1-111 MASTERDISK HWSide A runout, var. 2
SRM-1-4001-B-PRC-R-2-11-11 MASTERDISK HWSide B runout, var. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Mercury 9111065First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Mercury 9111 065First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Mercury 9111 065First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Anthem ANR-1-1021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Anthem ANR-1-1021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Mercury 9100 071First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Mercury 9111 065 / Mercury 9111 065..26First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Mercury 9111 065 / Mercury 9111 065..26First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Mercury 9111 065First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Israel | Mercury 9100 071First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Mercury 9111 065First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-221 / Anthem 25·3P-221First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-221 / Anthem 25·3P-221First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-221First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Mercury 9111 065 / Mercury LPR 19039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Brazil | Mercury 9111 065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-302 / Mercury MFSL 1-302LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered |
| 2007 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-302LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue, Special Edition · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue, Special Edition · Promo, Limited |
| 2007 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-302LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | USA & Canada | UMe B0022379-01 / Mercury B0022379-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2015 | USA & Canada | Mercury B0022379-01 / Anthem B0022379-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2015 | Europe | Mercury 00602547118073 / Universal Music Group International 00602547118073LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | Europe | Mercury 00602547118073 / Universal Music Group International 00602547118073LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | USA & Canada | UMe B0022379-01 / Mercury B0022379-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | USA & Canada | Mercury B0022379-01 / Anthem B0022379-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Mercury 00602508607257 / Anthem 00602508607257LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| 2020 | Europe | Mercury 00602508607158 / Anthem 00602508607158Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo · Limited | Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, CD, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo · Limited |
| 2020 | US | Mercury B0031582-01 / Anthem B0031582-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| 2020 | US | Mercury B0031581-00 / Anthem B0031581-00Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Mercury 9111 065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 9111 065LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Not On Label 9111 065LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Israel | Mercury 9111 065LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Mercury 9111 065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Life Studio 54 Life 92LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9100 071LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9100 071LP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9100 071LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9100 071LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9100 071LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Mercury 422-822 548-1 M-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM 1-4001LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM-1-4001LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM-1-4001LP, Album | LP, Album |
85 vinyl pressings of Permanent Waves are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1980 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in Canada, US, UK, Colombia and more. One of them is Anthem ANR-1-1021, released January 14, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ANR-1-1021, SRM-1-4001, 9100 071, SRM 1-4001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ANR-1-1021-A(2) TRIDENT U.K. and ANR-1-1021-B(2) RAYS. 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.
