Vinyl pressings
by The Rolling Stones · 1981
Waiting On A Friend 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.
23 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
ST·RS·40313 · 1 SRC ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ ʀʟ 1-2 SM 1-1Run-out A etched (ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ SRC stamps)
SRC ST-RS - 40307 · 1 ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ 1-1Run-out B etched (ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ SRC stamps)
ST-RS-40313-SPLabel A
ST-RS-40307-SPLabel B
ST-RS-40313-3-R-8447-3Runout A
ST-RS-40307-3-R-8442-3Runout B
ST-RS-40313-SPA side label
ST-RS-40307-SPB side label
ST-RS-40313-4 MASTERDISK RL R-8447-ASide A runout, variant 1
ST-RS-40307-3 R-8442-3Side B runout, variant 1
ST-RS-40313-4 MASTERDISK RL R-8447-4 [Allied "ɑ" logo]Side A runout, variant 2
ST-RS- 40307-3 R-8442-3 [Allied "ɑ" logo]Side B runout, variant 2
ST-RS-40313-1 RL 1-1Etched, Side A, variant 1
ST-RS-40307-1 1-2Etched, Side B, variant 1
MASTERDISKStamped (Both Sides), variant 1
ST-RS-40313-1 [SRC] MASTERDISK RL 1-3A side runout, variant 2
RS-40561-ARA side label
ST-RS-40561-ARAA side label
RS-40561-1 MASTERDISK RL 1-1 [SRC logo]A side etched, except MASTERDISK stamped
ST-RS-40561-1 MASTERDISK RL 1-2 [SRC logo]AA side etched, except MASTERDISK stamped
RS-40561-SPA side label
ST-RS-40561-SPAA side label
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 | Rolling Stones Records RSR-637First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Benelux | Rolling Stones Records 1A 006-64659First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Brazil | Rolling Stones Records 00664659First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Rolling Stones Records RS 21004First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Canada | Rolling Stones Records GS 45835First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Rolling Stones Records RS 21004First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Europe | Rolling Stones Records 1C 006-64659First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | Rolling Stones Records RSR 109First year7", Single, Misprint | 7", Single, Misprint |
| 1981 | Japan | Rolling Stones Records ESS-17228First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Rolling Stones Records ESS-17228First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Rolling Stones Records 1A 006-64659 / EMI PRH 30First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, White Label · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Rolling Stones Records RSR 109First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | South Africa | EMI EMIJ 4373First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Rolling Stones Records 10C 006-064659First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | Rolling Stones Records 10C 006-064659First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Rolling Stones Records RS 132387", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue |
28 vinyl pressings of Waiting On A Friend are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Benelux and more. One of them is Rolling Stones Records RS 21004, released November 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RS 21004, RSR 109, RSR 109 DJ, RSR-637) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST·RS·40313 · 1 SRC ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ ʀʟ 1-2 SM 1-1 and SRC ST-RS - 40307 · 1 ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴅɪsᴋ 1-1. 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.
