Vinyl pressings
by The Beat · 1979
Tears Of A Clown / Ranking Full Stop was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
CHS TT - 6 A-1 1 TY-CBS D CRunout A etched - Variant 1
CHS TT - 6 A-2 1 TY-CBS D IRunout B etched - Variant 1
CHS TT - 6 A-1 1 TY-CBS D BRunout A etched - Variant 2
CHS TT - 6 A-2 1 TY-CBS D ARunout B etched - Variant 2
TT6 A//2∇EC 11 3 TY-CBSSide A1 runout stamped / etched variant 1
TT 6 B//2∇EC 11 4 TY-CBSSide A runout stamped / etched variant 1
TT6 A//2∇EC 12 5 TY-CBSSide A1 runout stamped / etched variant 2
TT6 B//2∇EC 12 2 TY-CBSSide A runout stamped / etched variant 2
TTR-650/ # CHS TT6 A POLYGRAM A14 TY-CBS 1Runout A, variant 1
650 TTR CHS TT6 B POLYGRAM A15 TY-CBS 1Runout B, variant 1
B TTR 650/ # CHS TT6 A POLYGRAM A2 TY-CBS 1Runout A, variant 2
650 TTR CHS TT 6 B POLYGRAM A B TY-CBS 1Runout B, variant 2
CHSTT-6-A2Runout A etched
CHSTT-6-B2Runout B etched
SRE 49625 XAA 9517•S•LWI• ** AMIGO-PBRunout Groove Stereo Side
SRE49625 XAA9517•DJ•LWI• ** AMIGO:PBRunout Groove Mono Side
XAA9517SLabel Stereo Side
XAA9517DJLabel Mono Side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Chrysalis K7756First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | Chrysalis 6155 277First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Ireland | Chrysalis CHS 2407First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Italy | Chrysalis 6155 277First year7" | 7" |
| 1979 | US | Sire SRE49265First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1979 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 6First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT6First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT6First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT6First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 6First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Europe | Chrysalis 101.2147", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Chrysalis 6172 6887", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 101.214 / Chrysalis 1012147" | 7" |
| 1980 | Portugal | Chrysalis 6155 2777", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | US | Sire PRO-A-87412", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Sire SRE492657", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | US | Sire SRE492657", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 67", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
18 vinyl pressings of Tears Of A Clown / Ranking Full Stop are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1979 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Australia, Germany and more. One of them is Two-Tone Records CHS TT 6, released November 23, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHS TT 6, CHS TT6, SRE49265, K7756) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHS TT - 6 A-1 1 TY-CBS D C and CHS TT - 6 A-2 1 TY-CBS D I. 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.
