Vinyl pressings
by Sheila E. · 1985
Romance 1600 was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 18 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.
1-25317-A-SH4 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21278-SH4 SLM △ 9710 1-1Runout side A
1-25317-B-RE1-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21779-Re1-SH1 △ 9710-X 1-1Runout side B
1-25317-A-SR3 [SRC logo]Side A, Variant 1
1-25317-B-REI-SRI [SRC logo] ⊦2Side B, Variant 1
1-25317-AS-SR4 [SRC logo] I-2Side A, Variant 2
1-25317-B-REI-SR2 [SRC logo] I-ISide B, Variant 2
GER 1-2̶3̶5̶3̶ 25317-A-SH3 [ARC logo] B-21278-SH3 SLM ∆ 9710 1-2 R/S Alsdorf 925317-1 A BERunout, side A, variant 1
GER 1-25317-B-RE1-SH1 [ARC logo] B-21279-Re1-SH1 SLM ∆ 9710-X B̶E̶ 1-2 R/S Alsdorf 925317-1 BRunout, side B, variant 1
GER 1-2̶3̶5̶3̶ 25317-A-SH3 [ARC logo] B-21278-SH3 SLM ∆ 9710 1-2 R/S Alsdorf 925317-1 A DRunout, side A, variant 2
GER 1-25317-B-RE1-SH1 [ARC logo] B-21279-Re1-SH1 SLM ∆ 9710-X 1-2 R/S Alsdorf 925317-1 BRunout, side B, variant 2
P-13142-1 TO 5-8 1-A-3 〄Runout, side A, stamped
P-13142-2 TO 1-A-21-3 〄Runout, side B, stamped
25317-A IRunout, side A, etched
25317-B IRunout, side B, etched
25317 ALabel, side A
25317 BLabel, side B
MX210519Label, side A
MX210520Label, side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Argentina | WEA 25317 / Warner Bros. Records 83952First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australia | Paisley Park 25317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 25317-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 604.7151First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Paisley Park 92 53171 / Warner Bros. Records 92 53171First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records W1 25317LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Europe | Paisley Park 925 317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 925 317-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Guatemala | Warner Bros. Records 25317-1First yearLP | LP |
| 1985 | Ireland | Paisley Park 925317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 925317-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Italy | Paisley Park 92 5317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 92 5317-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Jamaica | Paisley Park 9 25317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25317First yearLP | LP |
| 1985 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records LWB-6434First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | New Zealand | Paisley Park 25317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 25317-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Philippines | Paisley Park 9 25317-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25317First yearLP | LP |
| 1985 | South Africa | Paisley Park WBC 1610 / Warner Bros. Records WBC 1610First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Paisley Park 925 317-1 / Warner Bros. Records L 92 5317-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
26 vinyl pressings of Romance 1600 are listed here, from 18 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, Europe, Japan, Argentina and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 9 25317-1, released August 26, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 25317-1, 925 317-1, P-13142, 25317) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1-25317-A-SH4 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21278-SH4 SLM △ 9710 1-1 and 1-25317-B-RE1-SH1 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21779-Re1-SH1 △ 9710-X 1-1. 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.
