Vinyl pressings
by Steve Vai · 1984
Flex-Able was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 2 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.
UR777 Flex L-11549 (scratched initials) "In God I trust" L-19208Side A etched
UR777 Able L-11550 (scratched initials) "With love to Pia" L-19208-XSide B etched
UR777-FLEX S-11549 JM "IN GOD I TRUST"Side A etched
UR777-ABLE S-11550 JM "FIRST DISC 1-31-84 WITH LOVE TO PIA"Side B etched
UR777 Flex L-11549 jm "In God I trust" L-19208Side A etched
UR777 Able L-11550 jm "With love to Pia" L-19208-XSide B etched
UR 777-FLEX S-II549 jm "IN GOD I TRUST"A Side Etched
UR777-ABLE S-II550 jm "FIRST DISK I-31-84 WITH LOVE TO PIA"B Side Etched
UR 777-FLEX S-11549 jm "IN GOD I TRUST"A Side Etched
UR777-ABLE S-11550 jm "FIRST DISK I-31-84 WITH LOVE TO PIA"B Side Etched
UR 777A EmwSide A (Flex), etched
UR 777B EmwSide B (Able), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 3LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK | Food For Thought GRUB 3 / Urantia Records GRUB 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Urantia Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Akashic Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Akashic Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Urantia Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Akashic Records UR777First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Akashic Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Urantia Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Akashic Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Urantia Records UR777First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Argentina | Radio Tripoli Discos CPP 75811LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1991 | Argentina | Continental CPP 811LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1991 | South Korea | Munhwa Records Co., Ltd MHRL-7007LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat LWH1012-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat UR-777LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat LWH10121SGLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat LWH1012-1LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat Enterprises LWH1012-10LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Light Without Heat LWH10121-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
26 vinyl pressings of Flex-Able are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1984 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK. One of them is Urantia Records UR777.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UR777, GRUB 3) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UR777 Flex L-11549 (scratched initials) "In God I trust" L-19208 and UR777 Able L-11550 (scratched initials) "With love to Pia" L-19208-X. 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.
