Vinyl pressings
by The Doobie Brothers · 1978
What A Fool Believes was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
39 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 15 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.
WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S M1 MR ∆105678Side A runout, etched
WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S M1 MR ∆105678-XSide B runout, etched
(WCA 7799S)Side A label
(WCA 7800S)Side B label
WBSD-8778-WCA-7799-V1-S-SR1Runout Etchings A-side
WBSD-8778 WCA-7800-S SR1 1-2Runout Etchings B-side
SRC STERLINGRunout Both Sides, Machine Stamp
WCA7799V1SLabel A-side
WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S PRC-R-1-1-11Side A Runout [Hand-etched]
WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S PRC-R2-111-1Side B Runout [Hand-etched]
WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S PRC-R-2 PRCSide A Runout [Hand-etched], variant 2
WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S PRC-R2 PRCSide B Runout [Hand-etched], variant 2
WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S SR1 1 - 5 SRCRunout Side A, Variant 1
WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S SR 1 1 - 5 SRCRunout Side B, Variant 1
WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S SR1 1-5 SRCRunout Side A, Variant 2
WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S SR 1 1-2 SRCRunout Side B, Variant 2
WBS-8725-WCA-7799-S-WW1 —◁Runout, Side A, Etched, variant 1
WBS-8725-WCA-7800-S-WW1 —◁Runout, Side B, Etched, variant 1
WBS-8725-WCA-7799-S-WW1 —◁ #2Runout, Side A, Etched, variant 2
WBS-8725-WCA-7800-S-WW1 —◁ #2Runout, Side B, Etched, variant 2
WBSD-8778-WCA-7799-V1-S-M1 STERLING MR [in circle] △24165 ①Side A runout, etched; "STERLING" and "MR" stamped
WBSD-8778 WCA-7800-S M1 MR [in circle] △24165-X ①Side B runout, etched; "MR" stamped
WCA7799V1SSide A label
WCA7800SSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 200081First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 200081First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1978 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Barbados | Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Belgium | Warner Bros. Records WB 17 314First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBSD 8778First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | El Salvador | Warner Bros. Records CA-10680First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-363WFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 17.314 / Warner Bros. Records WB. 17.314First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 17 314 / Warner Bros. Records WB 17314First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WB 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Philippines | Warner Bros. Records WB-77-138 / Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBS 311First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Benelux | Warner Bros. Records WB 17 314 / Warner Bros. Records WB.17.3147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 920 508-012", 45 RPM, Repress, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Repress, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Warner Bros. Records W8451 T / Warner Bros. Records W 8451 (T)12", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Warner Bros. Records W84517", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1987 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 928 451-77", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
53 vinyl pressings of What A Fool Believes are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1978 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Germany, Argentina and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WBS 8725.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WBS 8725, WBSD 8778, K 17314, WB 17 314) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WBS-8725 WCA-7799-S M1 MR ∆105678 and WBS-8725 WCA-7800-S M1 MR ∆105678-X. 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.
