Vinyl pressings
by Talking Heads · 1978
Take Me To The River was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 6 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.
SRE-1032-WAA-7976-V1-S-WW2 . --◁Side A runout, Etched
SRE-1032-WAA-8226-S-WW1 . --◁Side B runout, Etched
MASTERDISKSide A and Side B runout, Stamped
(WAA7976)VISSide A Label
SRE-1032-WAA-7976-VI-S-JW1 #2 MASTERDISK e 0Side A runout, etched except MASTERDISK & "0" stamped
SRE-1032-WAA-8226-S-JW2 #2 MASTERDISK e 0Side B runout, etched except MASTERDISK & "0" stamped
(WAA7976)VISSide A label
(WAA8226)SSide B label
SRE-1032-WAA-7976-VI·S-LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCA Side Runout
SRE-1032-WAA-8226·S·LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCB Side Runout
(WAA 7976)VISA Side Label
(WAA 8226)SB Side Label
SRE-1032-WAA-7976-VI·S-LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCA side runout
SRE-1032-WAA-8226·S·LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCB side runout
(WAA 7976)VISA side label
(WAA 8226)SB side label
SRE-1032-WAA-1976-VI-S-LW1 • • ✲ MASTERDISK DCSide A
SRE-1032-WAA-1976-VI-DJ-LW1 • • ✲ MASTERDISK DCSide B
SRE-1032-WAA-7976-VI·S-LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCA Side Runout
SRE-1032-WAA-8226·S·LW1·· I ✶ MASTERDISK DCB Side Runout
(WAA 7976)VISA Side Label
(WAA 8226)SB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Canada | Sire 1147-1032First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | Japan | Sire SFL-2383First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Sire SFL-2383First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Sire SRE 1032First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | UK | Sire SIR 4004First year7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1978 | UK | Sire SIR 4004First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | UK | Sire SIR 4004 PROFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | UK | Sire SIR 4004First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | US | Sire SRE 1032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Sire GSRE 04527", Single | 7", Single |
| ? | US | Sire GSRE 04527", Single | 7", Single |
19 vinyl pressings of Take Me To The River are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Sire SRE 1032.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRE 1032, SIR 4004, SIR 4004 PRO, 1147-1032) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SRE-1032-WAA-7976-V1-S-WW2 . --◁ and SRE-1032-WAA-8226-S-WW1 . --◁. 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.
