Vinyl pressings
by Talking Heads · 1985
Road To Nowhere was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
36 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 13 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.
[SRC logo] 7-28987 - DNY - 3657 - S SR1Runout side A, etched
[SRC logo] 7-28987 - DNY - 3658 - A S SR1Runout side B, etched
DNY 3657SLabel side A
DNY 3658SLabel side B
7-28987-DNY 3657-S SH1 SLM △9707 1-1 R-14373-SH1Runout side A, variant 1
7-28987-DNY 3658-S SH1 SLM △9707 1-1 R-14374-SH1Runout side B, variant 1
7-28987-DNY 3657-S SH1 SLM △9707 1-1 R-14373-SH1Runout side A, variant 2
7-28987-DNY 3658-S -SH1 [Allied "ɑ" logo] R-14374-SH1 SLM △9707-X 1-1Runout side B, variant 2
PRO-A1- 2305 SHI [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21276 SLM∆9705 I-ISide A runout
PRO-A2- 2305 SHI [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-21277 SLM ∆9705-X I-ISide B runout
7-28987-DNY 3657-S SH1 SLM ∆9707 1-1 R-14373-SH1Runout, side A, etched
7-28987-DNY 3657-S SH1 SLM ∆9707 1-1 R-14373-SH1Runout, side B, etched
DNY 3657SLabel, side A
DNY 3657SLabel, side B
SRC 7-28987-DNY 3657-S SR1A and B Runouts Identical
DNY 3657SA and B Labels Identical
EMI 5530 A-2-1-2-5 DSide A, stamped, variant 1
EMI 5530 B-2-1-2-X1 DSide B, stamped, variant 1
EMI 5530 A-2-1-2-2 DSide A, stamped, variant 2
EMI 5530 B-2-1-1- 1 DSide B, stamped, variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMI-1576First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMI-1576First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI ED-141First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMI-1576First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Australia | EMI EMI-1576First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Canada | Sire 92 89877First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Canada | Sire 92 89877First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1C K 060 20 0841 6 / EMI 060 20 0841 6First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | EMI 1A 006-20 0771 7 / EMI 006 20 0771 7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1985 | France | EMI 1564806First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1985 | Germany | EMI7", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Ireland | EMI EMI 5530First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1985 | Italy | EMI Italiana S.p.A. 06 2007717First year7" | 7" |
| 1985 | Italy | EMI 14 2008416First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1985 | Japan | EMI EMS-17592First year7" | 7" |
37 vinyl pressings of Road To Nowhere are listed here, from 14 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, UK, France, Europe and more. One of them is Sire 7-28987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7-28987, 9 28987-7, PRO-A-2305, EMI 5530) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [SRC logo] 7-28987 - DNY - 3657 - S SR1 and [SRC logo] 7-28987 - DNY - 3658 - A S SR1. 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.
