Vinyl pressings
by The Alan Parsons Project · 1980
The Turn Of A Friendly Card 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.
62 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 28 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.
DLART 1 A//1▽EARRunout side A, stamped, variant 1
DLART 1 B//1▽EARRunout side B, stamped, variant 1
DLART 1 A//1▽EAR 13 3Runout Side A, stamped, variant 2
DLART 1 B//1▽EAR 11 1 3Runout Side B, stamped, variant 2
DLART-1-A MANUFACTURED IN GERMANYSide A runout groove
DLART-1-B MANUFACTURED IN GERMANYSide B runout groove
AL9518 SA K2 STERLING TJ B-1 ⊲(with dot inside)Side A - Etched [STERLING ⊲(with dot inside) - Stamped]
AL 9518 SB K2 STERLING TJ B-1 ⊲(with dot inside)Side B - Etched [STERLING ⊲(with dot inside) - Stamped]
AL 9518 SA K1 STERLING TJ A-2Side A - Etched [STERLING ⊲(with dot inside) - Stamped]
AL 9518 SB K1 STERLING TJ A-2Side B - Etched [STERLING ⊲(with dot inside) - Stamped]
AL 9518 SA CP1 ꟼ STERLING TJRun out, side A / etched [except ꟼ and STERLING]
AL 9518 SB CP4 STERLING PRun out, side B / etched [except STERLING and P]
AL 9518 SALabel, side A
AL 9518 SBLabel, side B
AL 9518 SA HI HUB STERLING TJSide A Runout
AL 9518 SB HI HUB STERLING TJSide B Runout
AL 9518 SASide A Label
AL 9518 SBSide B Label
AL 9518 SA CP1 ꟼ STERLING TJRun out, side A / etched [except ꟼ and STERLING]
AL-9518-SB-1A CRun out, side B / Stamped
AL 9518 SALabel, side A
AL 9518 SBLabel, side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Arista 2511-SUP-80121 / Arista SUP-80121First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Arista L 37241 / Arista L-37241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Arista VPL1 7517LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Brazil | Arista 203.000First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 509518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 509518LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 9518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Colombia | Arista 18(0931)00143First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Arista 203-000 / Arista 203 000First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Arista 203000First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | US | Classic Records AR 9518LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2005 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records AL 9518 / Arista AL 9518LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2005 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records AL 9518 / Arista AL 9518LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2006 | US | Classic Records AR 8226-200GLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP403 / Arista MOVLP403LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP844LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP844XX12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP844LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP844LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2026 | Germany | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP844LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Arista AL 9518LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Artista arl.37241LP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| ? | Brazil | Arista 104.8332 / RCA 104.8332LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista ALB6-8315LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista XLB6-8315LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Arista 203 000LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Arista 203 000 / Arista 203-000LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Mexico | Arista MLM-5392LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | New Zealand | Arista DLART 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Portugal | Arista 203 000 / Arista 203-000LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Portugal | Arista 203-000 / Dacapo 203-000LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Arista I-203000LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Jj Record JJB-6311LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Arista AL 8-8043LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista ALB6-8315LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
124 vinyl pressings of The Turn Of A Friendly Card are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1980 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Germany, Philippines and more. One of them is Arista DLART1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DLART1, AL 9518, 203 000, AR-1062) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DLART 1 A//1▽EAR and DLART 1 B//1▽EAR. 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.
