Vinyl pressings
by The Cars · 1980
Panorama 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.
37 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 22 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.
STERLINGRunout, Stamped, Sides A & B
5E-514-A-3-AR RTB-4 B-15184-2Runout, Etched, Side A, Variant 1
5E-514-B-4-AR RTB-5 B-15200 ①-2Runout, Etched, Side B, Variant 1
5E-514-A-3-AR RTB-4 B-15184Runout, Etched, Side A, Variant 2
5E-514-A-7-SP 1-1SM2-2 RTB-8 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 1
5E-514-B-2-SP 1-1SM1-2 RTB-3 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 1
5E-514-A-1-SP 1-1 SM1-1 RTB-2 STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 2
5E-514-B-SP-1 1-1 SM1-4 RTB-2STERLING [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 2
5E 514 ARunout (Stamped), Side A
5E 514 BRunout (Stamped), Side B
5E 514-ALabel, Side A
5E 514-BLabel, Side B
P 5E-514A-1E ISide A runout etched / P I stamped
P 5E-514-B-1C ↃSide B runout stamped
5E-514-ASide A label
5E-514-BSide B label
STERLINGRunout, Stamped, Sides A & B
5E-514-A- 4-AR △24844 ① MR RTB-5 B-15184 ① -5Runout, etched, Side A
5E-514-B-3-AR △24844X MR ① RTB-4 B-15200-5Runout, etched, Side B
5E-514-A (AR)Label, Side A
5E-514-A-6-SP 1-1 RTB-7 STERLING [SRC logo]Side A runout
5E-514-B-SP-1 1-1 RTB-2 STERLING [SRC logo]Side B runout
5E-514-A (SP)Side A label
5E-514-B (SP)Side B label
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 | Elektra 5E 514First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Elektra 5E 514First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Elektra 32.061First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Elektra X5E-514 / Elektra X5E 514First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Elektra X5E-514First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Elektra X5E-514First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Colombia | Elektra 23(4031)00219First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra 5E-514First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra 5E-514First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra ELK 52240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra 5E-514LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Greece | Elektra 52240LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Italy | Elektra W 52240First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Elektra P-10885EFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Elektra P-10885EFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Elektra 081227938307 / Rhino Records 081227938307LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Remastered |
| 2017 | US | Elektra R1 560030 / Rhino Records R1 560030LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Etched, All Media, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Etched, All Media, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | Elektra RCV1 514 / Elektra 603497842599LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra K 52 240LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra K 52 240LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra K 52 240LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 240 / Elektra 5E-514LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 240LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Elektra 960304-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Elektra 5E-514LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Elektra 5E-514LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
58 vinyl pressings of Panorama are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1980 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Ireland, Greece and more. One of them is Elektra 5E-514, released August 15, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5E-514, K52240, 52240, 5E 514) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STERLING and 5E-514-A-3-AR RTB-4 B-15184-2. 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.
