Vinyl pressings
by Stanley Clarke · 1979
I Wanna Play For You was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 10 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.
AL 35681.-2B C STERLING GCSide A runout, variant 1
B₳L 35681-2A S-1 STERLING GCSide B runout, variant 1
AL 35682-2A 3B STERLING PSide C runout, variant 1
BL 35682-2H 1 1 STERLINGSide D runout, variant 1
T1 AL-35681-2E̶̶̶C Λ8 o STERLING GCSide A runout, variant 1
T1 BL 35681-2D A12 STERLING oSide B runout, variant 1
T1 AL 35682-2D E2 STERLING oSide C runout, variant 1
T1 BL 35682-2D H5 STERLING oSide D runout, variant 1
XSM 166228Label side A
XSM 166229Label side B
EPC-S-83314-A1 88331-AA-side
EPC-S-83314-B1 88331-BB-side
EPC-S-83315-A3 88331-CC-side
EPC-S-83315-B1 88331-DD-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Epic 2ELPS 0024First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | Epic EPC 88331 / Nemperor Records EPC 88331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Epic EPC 88331 / Nemperor Records EPC 88331First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Nemperor Records 40AP 1198~99First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Epic 2ELPS 0024 / Nemperor Records 2ELPS 0024First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | CBS AGP59/60First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 88331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Epic EPC 83315First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Epic EPC 22133LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Epic EPC 88331 / Nemperor Records EPC 88331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Epic EPC 88331 / Nemperor Records EPC 88331First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1979 | UK | Epic EPC 88331 / Epic 88331First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Nemperor Records KZ2 35680First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Nemperor Records KZ2 35680First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Nemperor Records AS 614First yearLP, Promo, Sampler · Promo | LP, Promo, Sampler · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 88331LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 22133LP, Repress, Album | LP, Repress, Album |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 22133LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
20 vinyl pressings of I Wanna Play For You are listed here, from 10 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Nemperor Records KZ2 35680.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KZ2 35680, AS 614, EPC 83315, EPC 88331) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL 35681.-2B C STERLING GC and B₳L 35681-2A S-1 STERLING GC. 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.
