Vinyl pressings
by Stanley Clarke · 1976
School Days was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 15 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.
ST-NE-763663-A SR/2 △21279 (PR) (MR)A Side runout (Var. 1)
ST-NE-763664-A △21219-X SR/2 (PR) (MR)B Side runout (Var. 1)
ST-NE-763663-AA SR/2 △21279(1) (PR)A Side runout (Var. 2)
ST-NE-763664-AA △21219-X(3) SR/2 (PR)B Side runout (Var. 2)
ST-NE-763663-A SR/2 (PR)Runout A, variant 1
ST-NE-763664-A SR/2 (PR)Runout B, variant 1
ST-NE-763663-C SR/2 (PR)Runout A, variant 2
ST-NE-763664-C SR/2 (PR)Runout B, variant 2
ST-NE-763663-1A-2GRunout A
ST-NE-763664-1A-2GRunout B
ST-NE-763663Label A
ST-NE-763664Label B
ST-NE-763663-A AA-1 SR/2 (PR)Side A runout etched, variant 1
ST-NE-763664-A AA-1-AA SR/2 (PR)Side B runout etched, variant 1
ST-NE-763663-A AA-1 SR/2 PRC (PR)Side A runout etched, variant 2
ST-NE-763664-A AA-1-111 SR/2 (PR) PRCSide B runout etched, variant 2
ST-NE-763663-A AA-1 SR/2 (PR)Side A runout etched, variant 1
ST-NE-763664-A AA-1-AA SR/2 (PR)Side B runout etched, variant 1
ST-NE-763663-A AA-1 SR/2 PRC (PR)Side A runout etched, variant 2
ST-NE-763664-A AA-1-111 SR/2 (PR) PRCSide B runout etched, variant 2
K·50296·A1 12 BRunout side A, stamped
K·50296·B1 32 ΛRunout side B, stamped
K 50296 ALabel side A
K 50296 BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Nemperor Records NE 439First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic NE 439 / Nemperor Records NE 439First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic NE 439 / Nemperor Records NE 439First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Atlantic NE 439 / Nemperor Records NE 439First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Nemperor Records 50296First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | France | Nemperor Records NE 50 296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Nemperor Records NE 50 296First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Nemperor Records NE 50 296First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Greece | Nemperor Records 0123 / ST-NE-763664-PRFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Greece | Nemperor Records 0123 / 763663-4-LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Italy | Nemperor Records W 50296First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | Atlantic P-10239AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Atlantic P-10239AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Atlantic ATL 50.296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Nemperor Records ATL 50.296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | Epic 25·3P-289LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS 31892 / Embassy EMB 31892LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS 31892 / Embassy EMB 31892LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | EPIC EPC 32094 / EPIC EPC 32094 (PR)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | South Korea | Jigu Records KJPL-0594 / CBS PE-36975LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Friday Music FRM 439LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP563LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Friday Music FRM 439 / Epic FRM 439LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32094 / Epic 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic S EPC 32094 / Epic PE 36975LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Nemperor Records NE 50 296 / Nemperor Records NE 439LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Nemperor Records 50296 / Nemperor Records NE439LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Nemperor Records NE 50 296 / Nemperor Records NE 439LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Nemperor Records NE 50 296 / Nemperor Records NE 439LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Nemperor Records NE 50 296 / Nemperor Records NE 439LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Epic EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Nemperor Records K 50296 (NE 439)LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Atlantic K 50296 / Nemperor Records NE 439LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32094 / Epic S EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32094LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
67 vinyl pressings of School Days are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1976 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Nemperor Records NE 439, released October 8, 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NE 439, K 50296, K50296, 50296) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-NE-763663-A SR/2 △21279 (PR) (MR) and ST-NE-763664-A △21219-X SR/2 (PR) (MR). 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.
