Vinyl pressings
by Sugarhill Gang · 1979
Rapper's Delight 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.
63 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
VID-152-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79Side A runout, variant 1
VID-153-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79Side B runout, variant 1
VID-152-RE TR Pa. 9-79 M1Side A runout, variant 2
VID-153-RE-2 M-6 TR Pa. 9-79Side B runout, variant 2
VID-152-RE pa. 9-79Runout Groove Etchings Side A [Variant 1]
VID-153-RE-2 pa. 9-79Runout Groove Etchings Side B [Variant 1]
VID-152-RE TR (circled) pa. 9-79Side A runout [Variant 2]
VID-153-RE-2 TR (circled) pa. 9-79Side B runout [Variant 2]
VID-152-RE TR Pa. 9-79A Side Runout Groove
VID-153-RE TR Pa. 9-79 XB Side Runout Groove
VID-152-RE - 3 TR Pa. 9-79A Side Runout Groove, Variant 2
VID-153-Re #3 TR Pa. 9-79 XB Side Runout Groove, Variant 2
VID-152-RExx Trutone Pa-9-79Runout side A, etched, variant 1
VID-153-RE Trutone Pa-9-79Runout side B, etched, variant 1
VID-152-RExx Trutone Pa-9-79Runout side A, etched, variant 2
VID-153-RE-2 M-3 Trutone Pa 9-79Runout side B, etched, variant 2
VID-152-RE TR Pa. 9-79Runout A Side Etching
VID-153-RE TR Pa. 9-79Runout B Side Etching
VID-152RELabel A Side
VID-153RELabel B Side
VID-152-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79 S-7185(4)A Side Runout Groove
VID-153-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79 S-7186(4)B Side Runout Groove
VID-152REA Side Label
VID-153REB Side Label
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 | RCA Victor TDS-061First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Australia | RCA Victor 103492First year7" | 7" |
| 1979 | Australia | RCA TDS-061 / Sugar Hill Records SH-542First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Quality QDC 1912", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1979 | Canada | Quality Q 2357X7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Quality QDC 19First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Quality Q 2357XFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Teen 41000-1First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Sugar Hill Records 310816 / Vogue 310816First year12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1979 | France | Vogue 101260First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Sugar Hill Records 101260 / Vogue 101260First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Vogue 310816First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | France | Vogue 310816First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | France | Vogue 310816First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | Vogue 101260First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | RCA APG-150312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo |
| 1980 | Argentina | RCA APG-150312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Austria | Metronome 30 232 / Metronome 0030.2327", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 100.804512", Single · Colored vinyl | 12", Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 100.804512" · Colored vinyl | 12" · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 100.804512" · Colored vinyl | 12" · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA 101.8161 / Sugar Hill Records 101.81617", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Colombia | Top Hits S S 100012", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1980 | Costa Rica | Sugar Hill Records SH-50112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Ecuador | Teen Internacional 41000-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Ecuador | Teen Internacional 41000-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Vogue 1012607", Single | 7", Single |
| 1980 | Japan | Sugar Hill Records SP06-47", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Peru | Top Hits 01.31.16277", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Poland | Tonpress R-1018Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Picture Disc · Picture disc | Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Italy | 12 Inch Stars TIX 10712", Reissue | 12", Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | UK | Sugar Hill Records CMNT96512", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2005 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-54212", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Sugar Hill Records 964184671 / BMG 96418467112", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Quality GC 340X7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Quality QGT 340X7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Hollywood Records SH 542 / Hollywood Records VID 152RE12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Jamaica | Dagger Productions7", 45 RPM, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Poland | Tonpress R-1018Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Picture Disc · Picture disc | Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | UK | Sugar Hill Records SH 1017", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Sugar Hill Records SH 1017", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
115 vinyl pressings of Rapper's Delight are listed here, from 30 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Sugar Hill Records SH-542.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SH-542, SH 752, SH-752, SH 101) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VID-152-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79 and VID-153-RE-2 TR Pa. 9-79. 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.
