Vinyl pressings
by The Pretenders · 1981
Message Of Love was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
W-23 ARE 15 A2 timtom - cbs DAMONTRunout side A
ARE 15 B-1 W 2 TY - cbs DAMONTRunout side B
ARE 15 A*Label side A
ARE 15 B*Label side B
ARE 15 A2 timtom - cbs W-4A-side runout - variant 1
ARE 15 B-1 TY - CBS W-4B-side runout - variant 1
ARE 15 A2 timtom - cbs W-10A-side runout - variant 2
ARE 15 B-1 TY - CBS W-13B-side runout - variant 2
ARE 15 A2 DAMONT timtom - cbsSide A runout, variant 1
ARE 15 B-1 DAMONT TY - CBSSide B runout, variant 1
ARE 15 A2 3 DAMONT timtom - cbs DSide A runout, variant 2
ARE 15 B-1 3 DAMONT TY - CBS DSide B runout, variant 2
ARE-15-A C͟P GERRY-O TimTom-cbs U.K.Runout Side A etched
ARE-15-B CP GERRY-ORunout Side B etched
ARE 15 ALabel Side A
ARE 15 BLabel Side B
ARE 15 A CR TαRunout side A, etched
ARE 15 B CR TαRunout side B, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Real Records ARE 15 / WEA ARE 15First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Benelux | Warner Bros. Records WBN 17.756First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | France | Real Records 2C 008-64.278 / Real Records 2C008-64278First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | Ariola 600 343 / Real Records 600 343First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Germany | Ariola 102 876 / Ariola 102 876-100First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Italy | Real Records ARE 15First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Real Records 7PP-36First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Real Records 7PP-36First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | New Zealand | WEA ARE 15First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Hispavox CP-385First yearFlexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Single Sided · Promo | Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Single Sided · Promo |
| 1981 | Spain | Real Records 45-2064First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | US | Sire PRO-S-942First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Real Records ARE 15First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Italy | Real Records ARE 15First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Real Records ARE-15 / Real Records ARE15First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
19 vinyl pressings of Message Of Love are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Ireland, Scandinavia and more. One of them is Real Records ARE 15, released February 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ARE 15, PRO-S-942, ARE-15, WBN 17.756) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W-23 ARE 15 A2 timtom - cbs DAMONT and ARE 15 B-1 W 2 TY - cbs DAMONT. 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.
