Vinyl pressings
by The Bus Boys · 1980
Minimum Wage Rock & Roll 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.
15 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 5 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.
AB-4280-SA RE-F8 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side A, variant 1
AB-4280-SB-RE-F8 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout, side B, variant 1
AB-4280·SA·SM·2 TML-M F I S SXTRunout, side A, variant 2
AB-4280 SB RE F2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL A ST SXT S IRunout, side B, variant 2
A-2 ᐉ AB-4280-SA TML-SSide A runout
A-1 ᐉ AB-4280-SB TML-MSide B runout
ALB68324SA-F2 wally mastered by capitol 1 A1QRunout, side A
ALB68324SB-F1 wally mastered by capitol 1 A1Runout, side B
ALB6-8324 SALabel, side A
ALB6-8324 SBLabel, side B
AL5 82325A-F2 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side A
AL5 82325B-F1 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side B
AL 5-8232 (AL 5-8232 SA)Label side A
AL 5-8232 (AL 5-8232 SB)Label 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 | Australia | Arista L 37499 / Arista L-37499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Arista 203031First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Arista AL 5-8232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Arista 203 209-320 / Arista 203 209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista ABDJ 4280First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista ALB6-8324First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AL 8 8054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | Arista AL 5-8232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Arista AB 4280LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Arista AL5-8232 / Arista ALB6-8324LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Minimum Wage Rock & Roll are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, Australia, Brazil, Canada and more. One of them is Arista AB 4280.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AB 4280, ALB6-8324, AL 8 8054, AL 5-8232) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AB-4280-SA RE-F8 MASTERED BY CAPITOL and AB-4280-SB-RE-F8 MASTERED BY CAPITOL. 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.
