Vinyl pressings
by Talking Heads · 1981
Houses In Motion 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.
10 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 5 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.
SIR+4050+A STRAWBERRY W-24Runout, variant 1, side A
SIR+4050+B STRAWBERRY W-21Runout, variant 1, side B
SIR+4050+A STRAWBERRY W-17 KDRunout, variant 2, side A, etched, STRAWBERRY stamped
SIR+4050+B STRAWBERRY W-19 KDRunout, variant 2, side B, etched, STRAWBERRY stamped
SIR+4050T+A W-310 STRAWBERRYRun-out side A, variant 1
SIR+4050T+B W-5Run-out side B, variant 2
SIR+4050T+A W-9 STRAWBERRYRun-out side A, variant 3
SIR+4050+T+B W-9Run-out side B, variant 3
R-7312 SRE 49734-YAA-9693-S-LW1 067 ✶Scribed Side A
R-7313 SRE 49734-YAA-9696-S-LW1 067 ✶Scribed Side B
STERLINGStamped Sides A & B
YAA 9693SLabel Side A
SRE-49734-YAA-9693-S-WW1.— —< ⃒Runouts Side A (etched)
SRE-49734-YAA-9696-S-WW1..— —< ⃒Runouts Side B (etched)
STERLING GCStamped Side A & B (GC etched)
YAA 9693SLabel Side A
STERLINGStamped Sides A & B
R-7312 SRE 49734-YAA-9693-S-LW1 067 ✶Scribed Side A Stereo
R-7311 SRE 49734-YAA-9693-DJ-LW1 067 ✶Scribed Side B Mono
YAA 9693SLabel Side A Stereo
YAA 9693SLabel Side A Stereo
YAA 9693 DJLabel Side B Mono
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 | Australia | Sire SRE 0466First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | Sire SIR 4050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Sire WBN 26182First year12", 45 RPM, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Sire SIR 4050 (T) / Sire SIR 4050TFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WBN 17820First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | UK | Sire SIR 4050First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Sire SRE49734First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1981 | US | Sire SRE49734First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Sire SRE49734First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Sire SRE49734First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
10 vinyl pressings of Houses In Motion are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is Sire SIR 4050, released May 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SIR 4050, SIR 4050 (T), SRE49734, WBN 17820) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SIR+4050+A STRAWBERRY W-24 and SIR+4050+B STRAWBERRY W-21. 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.
