Vinyl pressings
by The Jam · 1979
Setting Sons 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.
24 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 11 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.
POLD 5028 A//2▼ESTR 1 2 1 STRAWBERRYSide A - stamped - variant 1
POLD 5028 B//3▼E STR 1 2 4 STRAWBERRYSide B - stamped - variant 1
POLD 5028 A//2▼ESTR 1 1 1 1 STRAWBERRYSide A - stamped - variant 2
POLD 5028 B//3▼E STR 1 2 9 STRAWBERRYSide B - stamped - variant 2
POLD 5028 A//1▼ESTR 1 3 2, STRAWBERRYSide A, stamped, variation 1
POLD 5028 B//4▼ESTR 1 6 1, STRAWBERRYSide B, stamped, variation 1
POLD 5028 A//2▼ESTR 1 3 4, STRAWBERRYSide A, stamped, variation 2
POLD 5028 B//3▼E STR 1 5 1, STRAWBERRYSide B, stamped, variation 2
POLD 5028 A // 1 ∇ E STR 1 1 2 1 STRAWBERRYVariant 1 Runout, A-side, stamped
POLD 5028 B // 3 ∇ E STR 1 1 3 STRAWBERRYVariant 1 Runout, B-side, stamped
POLD 5028 A // 2 ∇ E STR 14 3 STRAWBERRYVariant 2 Runout, A-side, stamped
POLD 5028 B // 3 ∇ E STR 19 STRAWBERRYVariant 2 Runout, B-side, stamped
POLD 5028 A//1▼ESTR 1 1 1 1 STRAWBERRYSide A - Stamped
POLD 5028 B//3▼E STR 1 7 8 STRAWBERRYSide B - Stamped
PD.1.6249-AS.K STERLING A-1 ᐉRunout A
PD.1.6249-BS.K STERLING A-1 ᐉRunout B
PD∙1∙6249-AS-PRC-C-1-1-1 STERLING GCSide A, runout
PD∙1∙6249-BS-PRC-C-1∙1-1 STERLINGSide B, runout
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 | Canada | Polydor PD-1-6249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Polydor PD-1-6249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Polydor PD-1-6249First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Metronome 0060.257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Ireland | Polydor POLD 5028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1278First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1278First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Polydor 2383 559First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2383 559 / Polydor 2383.559First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Spain | Polydor 23 83 559First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Polydor POLD 5028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Polydor POLD 5028First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1979 | US | Polydor PD-1-6249 / Polydor 2383 562First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Polydor PD-1-6249 / Polydor 2383 562First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Polydor PD-1-6249 / Polydor 2383 562First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Polydor 2383 562LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Polydor 2383 559 / Polydor POLD 5028LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Italy | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Polydor 2383 559LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Yugoslavia | ZKP RTVL LL 0783 / Polydor LL 0783LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 18MM 0544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 209LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Polydor 0602537459117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Scandinavia | Polydor 2383 559 / Polydor 2383.559LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Polydor PD-1-6249LP, Album | LP, Album |
41 vinyl pressings of Setting Sons are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1979 and 2014.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, France, Netherlands and more. One of them is Polydor POLD 5028, released November 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLD 5028, PD-1-6249, 2442 168, MPF 1278) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLD 5028 A//2▼ESTR 1 2 1 STRAWBERRY and POLD 5028 B//3▼E STR 1 2 4 STRAWBERRY. 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.
