Vinyl pressings
by The Police · 1983
Every Breath You Take 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.
57 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 23 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.
AM 117 A1 A&M-2542 - A-1 INT-1 MASTERDISK RL ARunout side A, variant 1
AM 117 A1 A&M-2542 - B2 INT-2 A 8Runout side B, variant 1
AM ✲ 01 A2 NOEL ARunout side C, variant 1
AM ✲ 01-B1 COME QUIETLY ARunout side D, variant 1
AM 117 A3 Tone ARunout side A
AM 117 B4 20 ARunout side B
AM ✲ 01 A2 NOEL ARunout side C
AM ✲ 01-B1 COME QUIETLY ARunout side D
AM 117 A4 ToneRunout side A, etched - Variant 1
A 1 0Runout side A, stamped - Variant 1
AM 117 B1 A&M-2542-B-1 INT-1Runout side B, etched - Variant 1
A 1 6Runout side B, stamped - Variant 1
AM 117 A1 A&M 2542-A-1 INT-1 RLRunout side A, etched variant 1
MASTERDISK BRunout side A, stamped variant 1
AM 117 B4Runout side B, etched variant 1
A 3 0Runout side B, stamped variant 1
AM 117 A4 Tone A 1 0Runout side A, variant 1
AM 117 B1 A&M-2542-B-1 INT-1 A 1 6Runout side B, variant 1
AM 117 A4 D ToneRunout side A, variant 2
AM 117 B2 D A&M-2542-B2 INT-2Runout side B, variant 2
AMX-117-A ORLAKERunout side A
AMX-117-B ORLAKERunout side B
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 | Argentina | Discos CBS DEP 288First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Australia | A&M Records K 9104First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Australia | A&M Records K 9104 / A&M Records AM-2542First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1983 | Barbados | A&M Records AM 2542First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1983 | Barbados | A&M Records AM 2542First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1983 | Brazil | A&M Records 54.003First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Brazil | A&M Records AM 47.063First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2542First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2542First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2542First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records AM 9287First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records SP-17230 / A&M Records SP 17230First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1983 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2542First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | Costa Rica | A&M Records 7065049First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Costa Rica | A&M Records 7065049First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | A&M Records AM 1177", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | A&M Records 487 142-2 / A&M Records AM 1177", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Stereo, All Media, Record Store Day, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Stereo, All Media, Record Store Day, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records AM 86407", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
64 vinyl pressings of Every Breath You Take are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1983 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Europe, Ireland and more. One of them is A&M Records AM 117, released May 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AM 117, AMX 117, AM-2542, SP-17230) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AM 117 A1 A&M-2542 - A-1 INT-1 MASTERDISK RL A and AM 117 A1 A&M-2542 - B2 INT-2 A 8. 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.
