Vinyl pressings
by The Cars · 1979
It's All I Can Do 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.
13 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.
ES-46546-A-2-PRC - I - II RTB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢRun-out A, etched (STERLING stamped)
ES-46546-B-2-PRC - II - I RTB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢRun-out B, etched (STERLING stamped)
E-46546-ALabel A
E-46546-BLabel B
ES-46546-A-1-AR R-4927 RTB STERLINGSide A runout etch variety 2
ES-46546-B-1-AR R-4928 RTB STERLINGSide B runout etch variety 2
E-46546-A
E-46546-B
E-46546-ALabel A
E-46546-BLabel B
ES-46546-A-SP [Specialty symbol] RTB STERLINGA runout, etched except Sterling
ES-46546-B-SP [Specialty symbol] RTB STERLINGB runout, etched except Sterling
E-46546-A
E-46546-B
EM-46546-A-3-SP I-I sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ SRCRun-out A (mono), etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ SRC stamped)
ES-46546-A-3-SP SRC RTB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ 1-2Run-out B (stereo), etched (sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ SRC stamped)
ES-46546-A-1-AR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ RTB
EEM-46546-A-1-AR sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ RTB
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 | Elektra E 46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Elektra E 46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Elektra E 46546First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | El Salvador | Elektra CA-10856First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Elektra P-495EFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Elektra P-495EFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Peru | Elektra F-ELK 0046546.7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546-AFirst year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Elektra E-46546-AFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | New Zealand | Elektra E 46 5467", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | UK | Elektra K 124167", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
15 vinyl pressings of It's All I Can Do are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, Australia, Canada, El Salvador and more. One of them is Elektra E-46546, released September 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use E-46546, E-46546-A, E 46546, CA-10856) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ES-46546-A-2-PRC - I - II RTB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ and ES-46546-B-2-PRC - II - I RTB sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ. 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.
