Vinyl pressings
by Sarah Dash · 1978
Sinner Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
p 2Z8-4279-3-AA TM/JR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ BA-Side Runout Etching/Stamp
p 2Z8-4279-4-AB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ DB-Side Runout Etching/Stamp
AA-AF 2Z8 4279-3A-Side Label
AA-AF 2Z8 4279-4B-Side Label
p ZS8-4278-3-A TM/JR STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching
p ZS8-4278-4-AA STERLING 2B-Side Runout Etching
AA-AF ZS8 4278-3A-Side Label
AA-AF ZS8 4278-4B-Side Label
/ S 2Z8-4279-3-AE TM/JR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ A 3A-Side, variant 1
I S 2Z8-4279-4-AE sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ A 3B-Side, variant 1
\ S 2Z8-4279-3-AF TM/JR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ A 2A-Side, variant 2
\ S 2Z8-4279-4-AF sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ A 2B-Side, variant 2
Z58-4278-3-AD TM/JR (Sterling) TIIIRunout Side A
T Z58-4278-4-AC (Sterling) TIRunout Side B
AA-AF Z58 4278-3Label Side A
AA-AF Z58 4278-4Label Side B
ZS8-4278-1-AB p TM/JR STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching
p ZS8-4278-3-AB TM/JR STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching
AA-AF ZS8 4278-1A-Side Label
AA-AF ZS8 4278-3B-Side Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Epic ES 318First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Australia | Epic ES 318 / Kirshner ES 318First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Bolivia | CBS 30206 / Discos CBS 30206First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Brazil | Epic 2Z8-4279-3First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1978 | Japan | Kirshner 06SP 312First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Mexico | Epic SCL-45,005 / Kirshner SCL-45,005First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner 2Z8-4279First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner ZS8 4278First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner 2Z8-4279First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner ZS8 4278First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner 2Z8-4279First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Kirshner 2Z8-4278First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Kirshner S KIR 69737", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | Kirshner KIR 12-6973 / Kirshner S KIR 12 697312", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1979 | UK | Kirshner S KIR 69737", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Sinner Man are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil and more. One of them is Kirshner 2Z8-4279.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2Z8-4279, ZS8 4278, 2Z8-4278, ES 318) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p 2Z8-4279-3-AA TM/JR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ B and p 2Z8-4279-4-AB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ D. 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.
