Vinyl pressings
by The Cars · 1984
Heartbeat City was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
65 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 31 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.
ST-E-60296-A-5 [SRC Logo]Variant 1, side A
ST-E-60296-B-5 [SRC Logo]Variant 1, side B
ST-E-60296-A-6 [SRC Logo]Variant 2, side A
ST-E-60296-B-6 [SRC Logo]Variant 2, side B
STE 60296A-1B GI C1Side A, etched
STE 60296B-1C GI A2Side B, etched
STE 60296A-1B G2 B6Side A, etched, (Variant 2)
STE 60296B-1C GI A8Side B, etched, (Variant 2)
ST-E-60296-1-A-6 1-3 SM1-3Variant 1, Side A, Etched
ST-E-60296-B-5 1~/ SMI-5Variant 1, Side B, Etched
ST-E-60296-1-A-6 1-1 SM1-2Variant 2, Side A, Etched
ST-E-60296-B-5 1~3Variant 2, Side B, Etched
△6327 0-SM1-4 [SRC logo] B-19114-A5 ST-E-60296-A-5 1-2 SPAR STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
△6327-X 0-SM1-2 B-19115-B5 [SRC logo] SPAR ST-E-60296-B-5 1-2 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
△6327 0- [SRC logo] SP-AR B-19114-A6 ST-E-60296-A-6 1-2 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
△6327-X 0-SM1-1 B-19115-B5 [SRC logo] SPAR ST-E-60296-B-5 1-2 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
△ 6327 0-SM1-1 B-19114-A5 ST-E-60296-A-5 1-2 SPAR STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 1
△ 6327-X 0-SM1-1 B-19115-B6 ST-E-60296-B-6 1-2 SPAR STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 1
△ 6327 0-SM1-1 B-19114-A5 ST-E-60296-A-5 1-2 SPAR STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 2
△ 6327-X 0-SM1-1 B-19115-B6 ST-E-60296-B-5 1-2 SPAR STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 2
ST-E-60296-A-5 1-3 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 1
ST-E-60296-B-6 1-1 SM1-2 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 1
ST-E-60296-A-5 1-1 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 2
ST-E-60296-B-5 1-1 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | Elektra SLIN 3514First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia | Elektra 60296-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | Elektra 32.077First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | Elektra 32.077First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Brazil | Elektra 610.7035First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Elektra 96 02961First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Elektra 96 02961First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Colombia | Elektra Ref 6032First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ecuador | Elektra L.P.-85016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Elektra 960 296-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-442LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2016 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-442LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2018 | Europe | Elektra 603497862009LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Elektra 603497862672LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | US | Elektra R1 565284 / Elektra 603497862672LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | USA, Canada & Europe | Elektra R1 565284 / Elektra 603497862672LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Argentina | Elektra 7559-60296-1 / Plaza Independencia Música 7559-60296-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Elektra R2 728203 / Elektra 603497811755CD, Album, Reissue, CD, Compilation, CD, Album, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Deluxe Edition | CD, Album, Reissue, CD, Compilation, CD, Album, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | Chade Records CH-1086LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
86 vinyl pressings of Heartbeat City are listed here, from 35 countries, released between 1984 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Elektra 60296-1, released March 13, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 60296-1, 9 60296-1, 960 296-1, 96 02961) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-E-60296-A-5 [SRC Logo] and ST-E-60296-B-5 [SRC Logo]. 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.
