Vinyl pressings
by Saxon · 1980
Strong Arm Of The Law 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.
23 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 12 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.
CAL 120 - A1 [Lyre symbol]Runout side A, hand-etched, variant 1
CAL 120 - B3 [Lyre symbol]Runout side B, hand-etched, variant 1
CAL 120 - A1 [Lyre symbol]Runout side A, hand-etched, variant 2
CAL 120 - B1 [Lyre symbol]Runout side B, hand-etched, variant 2
CAL 120 - A1 2 [Utopia lyre symbol]Side A runout
CAL 120 - B1 2 [Utopia lyre symbol]Side B runout
CAL 120 A*Side A label
CAL 120 B*Side B label
CAL 120 - A1URunout, A-side, hand etched
CAL 120 - B1URunout, B-side, hand etched
CAL 120 A-1U-1-1-Side A, stamped
CAL 120 B-1U-2-1-Side B. stamped
W-24 CAL 120 - A1 3 [Lyre symbol]Side A runout, variant 1
W-11 CAL 120 - B1 3 [Lyre symbol]Side B runout, variant 1
W-5 KD CAL 120 - A1 3 [Lyre symbol]Side A runout, variant 2
W-2 CAL 120 - B1 3 [Lyre symbol]Side B runout, variant 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 | Australia | Parlophone EME260880First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Carrere FZ 37679First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 6529First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Carrere 67.621First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Carrere 67.621First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Carrere 67.621First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Carrere 67.621First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 28 383-8LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 2934 129First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | EMI 062-2608801 / Parlophone 062-2608801First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | Carrere CAL 120First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Carrere ILS 9070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Carrere P-10971GFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Carrere P-10971GFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Parlophone EMC 281First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | UK | Back On Black BOBV011PDLP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | UK | Back On Black BOBV302LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT160LP / Union Square Music BMGCAT160LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Italy | BMGLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | EMI 1A 052-26 0880 1 / Parlophone 1A 052-26 0880 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Carrere 2934 129LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | EMI 54 2608801LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 052-26 0880 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Fame FA 3176LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue |
| ? | US | Carrere ARZ 37679LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
48 vinyl pressings of Strong Arm Of The Law are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1980 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is Carrere CAL 120.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CAL 120, EME260880, FZ 37679, ST 6529) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CAL 120 - A1 [Lyre symbol] and CAL 120 - B3 [Lyre symbol]. 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.
