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Mean Business by The Firm, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Mean Business

by The Firm · 1986

28 pressings17 countriesHard RockRock

Mean Business was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Mean Business

24 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 17 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.

Europe

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic WX 43Atlantic 781 628-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

R/SA 781628-1 A3 ST A 855905 C [SRC logo] 1-2 SP-GER. 8 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1

R/S Alsdorf 781628-1 B3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS DK 6 STA 855906 -J 1.2 SPGER. [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 1

R/SA 781628-1 A3 ST A 855905 C [SRC logo] 1-2 SP-GER. 8 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 2

R/S Alsdorf 781628-1 B3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS DK. STA 855906-J 1-2 SPGER 8 DM [SRC logo]Runout side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic 81628-1-EAtlantic 7 81628-1E
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · SP - Specialty Pressing
Runout / matrix

ST A 855905 B 1-1 SM1-2 TOWNHOUSE SRCRunout side A, etched, variant 1

ST A 855906 B 1-1 SM1-1 TOWNHOUSE SRCRunout side B, etched, variant 1

ST A 855905 B 1-1 SRC TOWNHOUSERunout side A, etched, variant 2

ST A 855906 B 1-1 SRC TOWNHOUSERunout side B, etched, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic 81628-1-EAtlantic 7 81628-1E
Format
LP, Album · Allied Pressing
Runout / matrix

ST A 855905 B SPAR SRC 1-1 ɑ B-22506 0- △11468 TOWNHOUSEVar. 1 - Side A Runout Etched, Stamped SRC

ST A 855905 B SRC 1-3 SPAR B-22507-B △11468-X 0- TOWNHOUSEVar. 1 - Side B Runout Etched, Stamped SRC

ST A 855905 B SPAR SRC 1-3 ɑ B-22506-B △11468 0- TOWNHOUSEVar. 2 - Side A Runout Etched, Stamped SRC

ST A 855906 B SRC 1-3 SPAR B-22507-B △11468-X 0- TOWNHOUSEVar. 2 - Side B Runout Etched, Stamped SRC

Full details of this pressing

US

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic 81628-1-EAtlantic 7 81628-1E
Format
LP, Album · SP - Specialty Pressing
Runout / matrix

ST A 855905 B 1-1 TOWNHOUSE [etched] SRC [stamped]Runout Side A, var. 1

ST A 855906-J I-I [etched] ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SRC [stamped]Runout Side B, var. 1

ST A 855905 B (SRC) 1-1 sm 1-1 TOWNHOUSERunout Side A, var. 2, etched, (stamped)

ST A 855906-J 1-1 (SRC) (ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.)Runout Side B, var. 2, etched, (stamped)

Full details of this pressing

US

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic 81628-1-EAtlantic 7 81628-1E
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

ST A 855905 BSide A

ST A 855906 BSide B

Full details of this pressing

US

1986
Label and catalog number
Atlantic 81628-1-EAtlantic 7 81628-1E
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · SP - Specialty Pressing
Runout / matrix

ST A 855905 B 1-1 [SRC logo] 1-1sm1-2 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 1

ST A 855906 B 1-1 [SRC logo] 1-1 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1

ST A 855905 B [SRC logo] 1-2 TOWNHOUSESide A runout, variant 2

ST A 855906 B [SRC logo] 1-2 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 28 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1980s28 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1986ArgentinaAtlantic 83018First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986ArgentinaAtlantic 83018First yearLP, Album, Promo · PromoLP, Album, Promo · Promo
1986AustraliaAtlantic 81628-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986BrazilAtlantic 610.7064First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1986CanadaAtlantic 78 16281First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986EcuadorAtlantic LP-73059First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986EuropeAtlantic WX 43 / Atlantic 781 628-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1986IrelandAtlantic WX 43 / Atlantic 781 628-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1986IsraelAtlantic BAN 781628-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1986ItalyAtlantic 78 1628-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986MexicoAtlantic LWA-6483First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986MexicoAtlantic LWA-6483First yearLP, Album · Colored vinylLP, Album · Colored vinyl
1986PhilippinesAtlantic 81 628-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986PortugalAtlantic 1590351First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1986SpainAtlantic 781 628-1 / Atlantic 781628·1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 28 pressings from the 1980s

Tracklist

  1. A1Fortune Hunter5:00
  2. A2Cadillac5:57
  3. A3All The Kings Horses3:16
  4. A4Live In Peace5:05
  5. B1Tear Down The Walls4:43
  6. B2Dreaming6:00
  7. B3Free To Live4:13
  8. B4Spirit Of Love5:06

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Mean Business are there?

28 vinyl pressings of Mean Business are listed here, from 17 countries.

When was Mean Business first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1986, in Europe, US, Japan, South Korea and more. One of them is Atlantic WX 43.

How do I tell if my copy of Mean Business is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WX 43, 81628-1-E, VIL-28022, 81628-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R/SA 781628-1 A3 ST A 855905 C [SRC logo] 1-2 SP-GER. 8 TOWNHOUSE and R/S Alsdorf 781628-1 B3 ATLANTIC STUDIOS DK 6 STA 855906 -J 1.2 SPGER. [SRC logo]. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Mean Business on vinyl worth?

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.

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