Vinyl pressings
by The Jam · 1983
Snap! was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 12 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.
S N A P 1 A // 2 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 2 4Side A runout, variant 1
S N A P 1 B // 2 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 2 4Side B runout, variant 1
S NA P 1C // 2 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 2 2 DSide C runout, variant 1
S N A P 1 D // 1 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 1 5Side D runout, variant 1
SNAP 1 A//2▽420 R 1 1 4Runout side A, variant 1
SNAP 1 B//2▽420 R 1 2 6Runout side B, variant 1
SNAP 1 C//2▽420 R 1 2 22Runout side C, variant 1
SNAP 1 D//2▽420 R 12 3Runout side D, variant 1
SNAP 1 A//2▽420 R 1 1 1 3Stamped Runout, Side A, Variants 1 & 3
SNAP 1 B//1▽420 R 13 3Stamped Runout, Side B, Variants 1 & 3
S NAP 1 C//2▽420 R 1 2 12Stamped Runout, Side C, Variant 1
SNAP 1 D//2▽420 R 12 2Stamped Runout, Side D, Variant 1
STERLING ⚾︎ A-2 ⟷ 422 815537∙1∙AS-HRMRunout side A
A-2 ⟷ STERLING ⚾︎ 422-815∙537-1-BS-HRMRunout side B
A-2 ⟷ STERLING 422 815 537-1-CS-HRMRunout side C
STERLING ⚾︎ A-1 ⟷ 422 815 537-1-DS-HRMRunout side D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australasia | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation, 7", EP | LP, Compilation, 7", EP |
| 1983 | Canada | Polydor PDS-2-6382First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | France | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | France | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Greece | Polydor 815537-1 / Polydor 815537/1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Greece | Polydor 815537-1 / Polydor 815537/1First yearLP, Compilation, White Label | LP, Compilation, White Label |
| 1983 | Japan | Polydor 38MM 0316/7First yearLP, Compilation, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Compilation, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | New Zealand | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | New Zealand | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation, 7", EP, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Compilation, 7", EP, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1983 | Spain | Polydor 815 537-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor SNAPL45First year7", 45 RPM, EP | 7", 45 RPM, EP |
| 1983 | US | Polydor 422-815 537-1 Y-2First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Germany | Metronome 815 537-1MEFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | UK | Polydor SNAP 1First yearLP, Compilation, 7", 45 RPM, EP, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Compilation, 7", 45 RPM, EP, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Polydor 815 537-1 / Polydor 815-537-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Polydor SNAP 1 / Polydor 775 270-2LP, Compilation, 7", EP, All Media, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, 7", EP, All Media, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Polydor 815 537-1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australasia | Polydor 815 537-1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Polydor 422-815 537-1 Y-2LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
27 vinyl pressings of Snap! are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1983 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Germany, Ireland and more. One of them is Polydor SNAP 1, released September 7, 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SNAP 1, SNAPL45, 422-815 537-1 Y-2, 815 537-1ME) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S N A P 1 A // 2 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 2 4 and S N A P 1 B // 2 ▽ 4 2 0 R 1 2 4. 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.
