Vinyl pressings
by Saxon · 1980
Wheels Of Steel 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.
31 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 14 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 115 A1 2 W-3 [lyre symbol] kSide A runout, etched
CAL 115 B1 W-1KD [lyre symbol] k.Side B runout, etched
CAL 115 A1 R W-1KD [lyre symbol] kSide A, etched, variant 1
CAL 115 B1 W-5 [lyre symbol] kSide B, etched, variant 1
CAL 115 A1 [Lyre symbol] KSide A runout
CAL 115 B2 1 •STRAWBERRY• 8/8Side B runout, "•STRAWBERRY•" stamped
CAL 115 A-1USide One
CAL 115 B-1USide Two
CAL 115 A1 W-6 [lyre symbol]Side A runout, etched
CAL 115 B1 W-1 [lyre symbol]Side B runout, etched
W-9 [lyre symbol] CAL 115 A1Side A runout, etched (Variant 2)
W-4 [lyre symbol] CAL 115 B1Side B runout, etched (Variant 2)
Ʊ K CAL 115 A1 3Side A, etched with Ʊ lyre symbol
STRAWBERRY 8/8 CAL 115 B2 1Side B, etched with stamped Strawberry
CAL 115 A1 W-8 [lyre symbol]Side A runout, etched
CAL 115 B1 W-2 [lyre symbol]Side B runout, etched
Variant 1 W-5[lyre symbol] CAL 115 A1Side A etched
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 | EMI CAR 1005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Carrere 504.7141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Carrere XCAR 38-126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 6538LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Carrere 67.484First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 2934 124First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 2934 124First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 2934 124First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Carrere 2934 124First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Greece | Carrere 67.484 / Carrere 67484First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | Carrere CAL 115First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Carrere ILS 9067First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Carrere PS-165First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Carrere P-10870GFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | EMI EMC 166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | UK | Back On Black BOBV010PDLP, 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 BOBV301LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2018 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT159LP / Union Square Music BMGCAT159LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Italy | BMG BMGCAT159LP / Union Square Music BMGCAT159LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Italy | BMGLP, Album, Club Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Club edition, Picture disc | LP, Album, Club Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Club edition, Picture disc |
| 2023 | Italy | BMG BMGCAT159LP / Union Square Music BMGCAT159LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | Europe | BMG 964129131LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Reissue, All Media, Record Store Day · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Reissue, All Media, Record Store Day · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Parlophone 1C 038 15 7642 1 / Fame 1C 038 15 7642 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | EMI 056-4131431LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Dragon DG-1032LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Fame FA 4131431 / Fame FA 41 3143 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Carrere CAL 115LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
54 vinyl pressings of Wheels Of Steel are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1980 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Carrere CAL 115.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CAL 115, CAR 38-126, SQ-12502, P-10870G) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CAL 115 A1 2 W-3 [lyre symbol] k and CAL 115 B1 W-1KD [lyre symbol] k.. 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.
