Vinyl pressings
by Styx · 1981
Paradise Theatre was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
47 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 30 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.
SP 03719 A EUR 2 MJB I EDP PM2 SF1 SM6 AID STERLING TJRunout A
SP 03719 B EUR8 MTB EDP PM2 SF1 SM10 I AID STERLING TJRunout B
SP 03719 A P9 A STERLING A&MSide A runout - variant 1
SP 03719 B EUR 7 MJB [EDP logo] PM2 SF1SM11 STERLING TJSide B runout - variant 1
SP 03719 A P10 A STERLING PSide A runout - variant 2
SP 03719 B EUR 7 MJBXXX [EDP logo] PM2 SF1 SM4 STERLING TJSide B runout - variant 2
T1 SP 03719 A T1 STERLINGA side runout, variant 1
T2 SP 03719 B EUR 2 [EDP logo] STERLING TJB side runout, variant 1
T1 SP 03719 A T2 4 22 STERLINGA side runout, variant 2
SP 03719 B EUR 5 MJB [EDP logo] PM2 SF1 SMG STERLING TJB side runout, variant 2
T1 SP 0 3719 A T1 A STERLINGSide A runout
SP 03179 B EUR 4 EDP PM-1 SM 8 STERLING RLSide B runout
1S SP 03719 A S1 B2 STERLINGRunout A variant 1
SP 03719 B EUR 3 MJB [EDP logo] PM 2 SF1 SM5 STERLING TJRunout B variant 1
C 5 SP 03719 A S2 STERLINGRunout A variant 2
SP 03719 B EUR 8 MJB [EDP logo] PM2 SF1 SM4 STERLING TJRunout B variant 2
SP 03719 A EUR2 A [EDP logo] PM1SF1SM1 STERLING TJSide A runout, var. 1
SP03719 B EUR1 [EDP logo] PM1 A STERLING TJSide B runout, var. 1
SP 03719A EUR 4 [EDP logo] PM1 STERLING TJSide A runout, var. 2
SP 03719 B EUR 7 MJBXX PM2 SF1 SM5 [EDP logo] STERLING TJSide B runout, var. 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | A&M Records 120.148First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | A&M Records L 37525First yearLP, Etched, Album | LP, Etched, Album |
| 1981 | Bolivia | A&M Records 20275 / A&M Records SLP 20275First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | A&M Records 270004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3719First yearLP, Album, Etched | LP, Album, Etched |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3719LP, Album, Club Edition, Etched · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Etched · Club edition |
| 1981 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3719 / A&M Records SP 3719LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Colombia | A&M Records 106-0007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 1113 2900 / A&M Records 1113 2900First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | A&M Records Sp-03719First yearLP, Album, Etched | LP, Album, Etched |
| 1981 | Germany | A&M Records 320614LP, Club Edition, Etched · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Etched · Club edition |
| 1981 | Greece | A&M Records AMLK 63719First yearLP, Album, Etched, Stereo | LP, Album, Etched, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | CBS AMLK 63719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | India | A&M Records SP-3719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | A&M Records B0022047-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Lmlr 783 222 / A&M Records SP-3719LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | A&M Records 9995733655LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | A&M Records 393 240-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3719LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3240LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3240 / A&M Records SP-3719LP, Album, Etched, Reissue | LP, Album, Etched, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3240LP, Album, Etched, Stereo | LP, Album, Etched, Stereo |
77 vinyl pressings of Paradise Theatre are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1981 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Canada, Japan and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-3719, released January 16, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-3719, AMLK 63719, SPJ-3719, AMP-28022) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP 03719 A EUR 2 MJB I EDP PM2 SF1 SM6 AID STERLING TJ and SP 03719 B EUR8 MTB EDP PM2 SF1 SM10 I AID STERLING TJ. 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.
