Vinyl pressings
by Ry Cooder · 1982
The Slide Area was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. 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 1982, the album's first year, in 15 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.
BSK-1-3651-S4 #2 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291A side runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3651-S5 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291-XB side runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3651-S6 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291A side runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3651-S4 #2 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291-XB side runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3651-S3 = + SLM △1291 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16656Runout side A, variant 1
BSK-2-3651-S3 = + SLM △1291-X [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-16657Runout side B, variant 1
BSK-1-3651-S2 - + SLM △1291 B-16656Runout side A, variant 2
BSK-2-3651-S4 ̶+̶ 1-3 SLM △1291-X B16657Runout side B, variant 2
K 56976 A⋅3 F2 W-L W 7Runout, etched, side A variant 1
K 56976 B2 F1 W-L W 3 5Runout, etched, side B variant 1
K 56976 A⋅3 F1 W-L W-1Runout, etched, side A variant 2
K 56976 B2 F1 W-L W 5Runout, etched, side B variant 2
K56976 A1 STRAWBERRY F/I W-LRunoff A
K 56976 B1 STRAWBERRY F/I W-L WEA T2Runoff B
K 56976 A·3 F1 W-L W 3 2 STRAWBERRYSide A etched, STRAWBERRY stamped
K 56976 B2 STRAWBERRY F1 W-L W 4 5Side B etched, STRAWBERRY stamped
K 56976 A*Label side A
K 56976 B*Label side B
R/S Alsdorf 56976 A2 XX UKRunout, etched, side A
R/S Alsdorf 56976 B2 XRunout, etched, side B variant 1
STRAWBERRY (G)Runout, stamped, sides A & B
K 56 976Label, side A
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3651First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1982 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 976First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 976First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56976 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 976First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Ireland | Warner Bros. Records K 56976 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 976First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56976First yearLP | LP |
| 1982 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11136First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11136First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records BSK3651First yearLP | LP |
| 1982 | Norway | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 976LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 976LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 976 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 976LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651LP, Album | LP, Album |
32 vinyl pressings of The Slide Area are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1982 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3651, released May 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3651, K 56976, XBS 3651, WB K 56 976) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3651-S4 #2 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291 and BSK-2-3651-S5 ꔰ —◁ SLM △1291-X. 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.
