Vinyl pressings
by The Pretenders · 1980
Pretenders was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
60 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 21 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.
RAL 3-A3 TimTom W-21Runout side A, variant 1
RAL 3-B3 TTY W-21Runout side B, variant 1
RAL 3 A3 TimTomRunout side A, variant 2
RAL 3 B.4 TY-CBSRunout side B, variant 2
RAL 3 A3 TimTom wA-side runout, variant 1
RAL 3 B3 TTY D HB-side runout, variant 1
RAL 3 A3 TimTom PA-side runout, variant 2
RAL 3 B3 TTY D ANB-side runout, variant 2
RAL 3 A3 2 TimTom ACSide A runout
RAL 3 B3 2 TTY AZSide B runout
RAL 3 ALabel side A
RAL 3 BLabel side B
W 1 RAL 3 A3 4 TimTomSide A runout [variant 1]
W-3 RAL 3 B-4 2 TY-CBSSide B runout [variant 1]
W-15 RAL 3 A3 TimTomSide A runout [variant 2]
W-10 RAL 3 B3 4 TYSide B runout [variant 2]
LB W-10 RAL 3 A3 4 timtomSide A runout
W-14 RAL 3 B3 4 TTYSide B runout
RAL 3 ASide A label
RAL 3 BSide B label
SRK-1-6083-S7 1Runout Side A (Variant 1)
SRK-2-6083-S7 3 **Runout Side B (Variant 1)
SRK-1-6083-S7 . 1 (stamped sideways) **Runout Side A (variant 2)
SRK-2-6083-S7. 2 (Stamped sideways) **Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Music Hall 50-14.515-0 / Sire 50-14.515-0First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | WEA RAL 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Austria | Ariola 201 560 / Sire 201 560First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | WEA 38.040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire QSR 6083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire QSR 6083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Sire QSR 6083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Real Records 2C 070 63609 / Real Records 2C 070-63.609First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Real Records 56 774First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Ariola 201 560 / Sire 201 560First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Ariola 201 560 / Ariola 201 560-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK | Demon Records DEMREC101LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-372LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-372LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Worldwide | Real Records 0190295165093LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Real Records 0190295165093LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-372LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2024 | Argentina | Real Records 7599-27430-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Australia | Real Records RAL 3 / WEA RAL 3LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Sire QSR 6083LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Sire QSR 6083LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Real Records RAL 56 774 / Real Records 56 774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Real Records RAL 56 774 / Real Records 56 774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Real Records RAL 56 774 / Real Records 56 774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Real Records 56 774 / Real Records RAL 3LP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| ? | Europe | Real Records 56 774 / Real Records RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Real Records RAL 56 774 / Real Records 56 774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Real Records 56 774 / Real Records RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Real Records 56 774 / Real Records RAL 3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Real Records RAL 3 / Real Records RAL 56 774LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Real Records RAL 3LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Real Records RAL 56 774 / Real Records 56 774LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
117 vinyl pressings of Pretenders are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1980 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Canada, Israel and more. One of them is Real Records RAL 3, released January 4, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RAL 3, SRK 6083, QSR 6083, 50-14.515-0) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RAL 3-A3 TimTom W-21 and RAL 3-B3 TTY W-21. 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.
