Vinyl pressings
by The Police · 1979
Message In A Bottle 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.
55 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
AMS•7474•A5 tone A CRunout side A variant 1
AMS-7474-B2 MBπ A 1 3Runout side B variant 1
AMS•7474•A6 tone 6 ARunout side A variant 2
AMS-7474-B2 MBπ 8 BRunout side B variant 2
AMS-7474-A3 MBπRunout side A, variant 1
AMS-7474-B2 MBπRunout side B, variant 1
AMS-7474-A2 2 5 A MBπRunout side A, variant 2
AMS-7474-B6 1 8 ARunout side B, variant 2
AMS•7474•A 5 tone A 6Runout side A, variant 1
AMS•7474•B 6 A 1 0Runout side B, variant 1
AMS-7474-A 6 tone 1 2 ARunout side A, variant 2
AMS-7474-B 5 1 2 ARunout side B, variant 2
7474-A toneRunout, Side A
7474-BRunout, Side B
AMS 7474 A-6U ToneRunout side A, variant 1
AMS 7474 B6URunout side B, variant 1
AMS 7474 A-6U ToneRunout side A, variant 2
AMS 7474 B-7URunout side B, variant 2
AMS-7474-A5 toneRunout side A - variant 1
AMS-7474-B5Runout side B - variant 1
AMS-7474-A6 tone 17Runout side A - variant 2
AMS-7474-B5 14Runout side B - variant 2
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 | Brazil | A&M Records 31C 006 63575First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2190First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1979 | Canada | A&M Records AM-2190First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Europe | A&M Records AMS 7632 / A&M Records AM 7474First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | A&M Records AMS 7632First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | A&M Records AMS 7632First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | A&M Records AMS 7632First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Guatemala | A&M Records 2190 - SFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Ireland | A&M Records AMS 7474First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-1052First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-1052First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-1052First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Panama | A&M Records 2190-SFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Philippines | A&M Records AM-70519 / A&M Records 2190-SFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Philippines | A&M Records AM-70519 / A&M Records 2190-SFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | A&M Records AMS 76327", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| 1980 | Italy | A&M Records 12PRM 00612", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Mexico | A&M Records 420067", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Rhodesia | A&M Records AMRS 12957", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | South Africa | A&M Records AMRS 1295 / A&M Records AMS 74747", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | A&M Records AMS 7642 / A&M Records AMS-76427", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | A&M Records AMS 76427", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records SP-1712212", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records PR 44007", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | 7", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records PR 44007", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | 7", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records PR 44007", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc, Colored vinyl | 7", Shape, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc, Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records7", Single Sided, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc | 7", Single Sided, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records12", Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc | 12", Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc |
| 1980 | US | Pic-Veu Clocks12", Picture Disc · Picture disc | 12", Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1981 | UK | A&M Records AMS 74747", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UK | Polydor 772 025-1 / UMC 772 025-17", Single, Reissue, White Label, 7", Single, All Media, Remastered | 7", Single, Reissue, White Label, 7", Single, All Media, Remastered |
| 2019 | UK, Europe & US | Polydor 772 025-1 / UMC 772 025-17", Single, Reissue, 7", Single, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Reissue, 7", Single, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | A&M Records AMS 74747", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
79 vinyl pressings of Message In A Bottle are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1979 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Italy, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records AMS 7474, released September 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AMS 7474, 2190-S, AMS 7632, K7639) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AMS•7474•A5 tone A C and AMS-7474-B2 MBπ A 1 3. 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.
