Vinyl pressings
by The B-52's · 1983
Legal Tender was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. 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 1983, the album's first year, in 8 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.
7 29579 AAA 1968 S JW 1 #2 STERLING 0Run-out A etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 0 stamps)
7 29579 BNY 3196 S JW 1 #2 STERLING 0Run-out B etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 0 stamps)
AAA 1968SA-Side Label
BNY 3196SB-Side Label
7 29579 AAA 1968 S WW1 ─◁ STERLINGRun-out A etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamp)
7 29579 BNY 3196 S WW 1 ─◁ STERLINGRun-out B etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamp)
AAA 1968SA-Side Label
BNY 3196SB-Side Label
STERLING SRC 7 29579 AAA 1968 S SP1 1-2A-Side Runout Etching
STERLING SRC 7 29579 BNY 3196 S SR1 1-2B-Side Runout Etching
AAA 1968SA-Side Label
BNY 3196SB-Side Label
7 29579 AAA 1968 S SH1 R-11420-SH1 SLM △4567 1-1A-Side Runout Etching
7 29579 BNY 3196 S SH1 R-11421-SH1 SLM △4568 1-1B-Side Runout Etching
STERLINGStamped Both Sides
Allied Record Co. "a" stampEtched Both Sides
7 29579 AAA 1968 M DJ SH1 ɑ R-11419-SH1 SLM SLM STERLING △4566 1-1Run-out A mono, etched (ɑ stamp)
7 29579 AAA 1968 S SH1 ɑ R-11420-SH1 SLM STERLING △4567 1-1Run-out B stereo, etched (ɑ stamp)
AAA 1968DJMLabel A
AAA 1968SLabel B
PRO-A1-2045-SH1 [Allied 'a' Logo] B-18170-SH1 SLM △4540 1-1 STERLINGSide A runout etched (Allied 'a' Logo, STERLING Stamped
PRO-A2-2045-SH1 [Allied 'a' Logo] B-18171-SH1 SLM △4540-X 1-1 STERLINGSide B runout etched (Allied 'a' Logo, STERLING Stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.104First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Guatemala | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records PRO-032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Island Records 105.569First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0029579.6First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0029579.6First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records PRO-A-2045First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579First year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579 / Warner Bros. Records 9 29579-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579 / Warner Bros. Records 9 29579-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579 / Warner Bros. Records 9 29579-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 7-29579First year7", Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 29579-7 / Warner Bros. Records 7-29579First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Japan | Island Records 7S-93 / Polystar 7S-93First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Japan | Island Records 7S-93 / Polystar 7S-93First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
16 vinyl pressings of Legal Tender are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, Japan, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 7-29579, released June 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7-29579, 9 29579-7, PRO-A-2045, 7S-93) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7 29579 AAA 1968 S JW 1 #2 STERLING 0 and 7 29579 BNY 3196 S JW 1 #2 STERLING 0. 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.
