US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire PRO-A-930
- Format
- 12", 45 RPM, Promo
- Runout / matrix
STERLING PRO-A-1-930-A1-AR B-15462A-Side Runout Etching
STERLING PRO-A-2-930-A1-AR B-15463B-Side Runout Etching
Vinyl pressings
Once In A Lifetime
by Talking Heads · 1980
30 pressings11 countriesNew WaveElectronicRockFunk / Soul
Once In A Lifetime was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Once In A Lifetime
10 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 7 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.
US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire SRE49649
- Format
- 7", Promo, Stereo, Mono
- Runout / matrix
SRE 49649-YAA-9692-S LW1 ✲ ✲ STERLINGRunout, stereo side
SRE 49649-YAA-9692-DJ-LW1 ✲ ✲ STERLINGRunout, mono side
YAA 9692SLabel, stereo side
YAA 9692 DJLabel, mono side
Australia
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire SRE 49649
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM
- Runout / matrix
MX197431
MX197432
D MX194̶1̶7̶2̶ 74321 SRE 49649-1
D MX19474322 SRE 49649-2
Benelux
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire 17.743Sire WBN 17.743
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
WBN-17.743-A 2Runout side A, variant 1
WBN-17.743-B 2Runout side B, variant 1
WBN-17.743-A 1Runout side A, variant 2
WBN-17.743-B 1Runout side B, variant 2
Canada
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire SRE 49649
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single
- Runout / matrix
SRE-49649-A-1A-2HZ: DM 7A etched
SRE-49649-B-1A-2HZ: DM 7B etched
49649 AA label
49649 BB label
France
1980- Label and catalog number
- Sire 2 C 008-64199Sire 2C 008-64.199
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM
- Runout / matrix
64199 A 21 M3 334582 1Stamped on runout area side A
64199 B 21 M3 334583 1Stamped on runout area side B
C 008-64.199 ALabel side A
C 008-64.199 BLabel side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 30 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s19 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Sire SRE 49649First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Benelux | Sire 17.743 / Sire WBN 17.743First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire SRE 49649First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire SRE 49649First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | France | Sire 2 C 008-64199 / Sire 2C 008-64.199First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Germany | Sire 102 872First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1980 | Portugal | Sire SRE 49649First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Portugal | Sire SRE 49649 / Sire SRE 49649 NPFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Sire PRO-A-930First year12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Sire SRE49649First year7", Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1981 | Ireland | Sire SIR 40487", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Spain | Sire 45-2069 / Hispavox 45-2069 (SN)7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | UK | Sire SIR 4048T / Sire SIR 4048(T)12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Sire SIR 40487", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Sire SIR 40487", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
2000s8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | US | Radar RAD 0000 P12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| 2001 | Germany | Sire W571T12", Maxi-Single | 12", Maxi-Single |
| 2001 | Italy | M.O.D.A. - Music Fashion MD 00312" | 12" |
| 2001 | UK | Sire W571T / Eternal W571T12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 2001 | UK | Release The Groove Records RTG 0112", White Label | 12", White Label |
| 2001 | UK | Radar TH001T / Release The Groove Records TH001T12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo |
| 2001 | US | Radar PRO2749 / Release The Groove Records PRO274912", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 2005 | UK | Sire SIR 4048(T)12", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
2010s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UK | KK Editions KKED00212", Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label, Stereo · Unofficial, Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label, Stereo · Unofficial, Test pressing |
| 2017 | UK | KK Editions KKED00212", Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
Year unknown1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Sire SIR 40487", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
Tracklist
- AOnce In A Lifetime3:29
- BSeen And Not Seen3:25
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Once In A Lifetime are there?
30 vinyl pressings of Once In A Lifetime are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1980 and 2017.
When was Once In A Lifetime first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, Australia, Benelux, Canada and more. One of them is Sire PRO-A-930.
How do I tell if my copy of Once In A Lifetime is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PRO-A-930, SRE49649, SRE 49649, 17.743) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STERLING PRO-A-1-930-A1-AR B-15462 and STERLING PRO-A-2-930-A1-AR B-15463. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Once In A Lifetime on vinyl worth?
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.
