Vinyl pressings
by The Saints · 1988
Prodigal Son was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 4 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.
DMX 69353 Ⓡ2 A "Dedicated to Art and his brother Luigi" Ⓡ2 ARunout A, variant 1
DMX 69354 Ⓡ2 A [doodle of a saint]Runout B, variant 1
DMX 69353 Ⓡ2 A 2+ "Dedicated to Art and his brother Luigi" Ⓡ2 ARunout A, variant 2
DMX 69354 Ⓡ2 A [doodle of a saint]Runout B, variant 2
DMX 69353 Ⓡ2 A "Dedicated to Art and his brother Luigi" {Ⓡ}2 Arunout A etched
DMX 69354 Ⓡ2 A 0oKrunout B etched
SMX-69353on label 1
SMX-69354on label 2
DMX 69353 Ⓡ2 A "Dedicated to Art and his brother Luigi" {Ⓡ}2 Arunout A etched
DMX 69354 Ⓡ2 A 0oKrunout B etched
SMX-69353on label 1
SMX-69354on label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia & New Zealand | Mushroom L 38890First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | Attic LAT 1260First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Scandinavia | Mushroom L 38890 / Mushroom L-38890First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | TVT Records TVT 2121First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia & New Zealand | Mushroom L 38890 / Mushroom L-38890First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia & New Zealand | Mushroom L 38890 / Mushroom L-38890First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia & New Zealand | Mushroom L 38890 / Mushroom L-38890First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Germany | Teldec 246071-1 ASLP | LP |
| 1989 | UK | Mushroom MRILP001LP | LP |
| 1989 | UK | Mushroom Records International BV MRILP001LP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Greece | Three Eggs THREE EGGS 6074LP | LP |
11 vinyl pressings of Prodigal Son are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1988 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in Australia & New Zealand, US, Canada, Scandinavia. One of them is Mushroom L 38890, released April 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use L 38890, TVT 2121, LAT 1260) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DMX 69353 Ⓡ2 A "Dedicated to Art and his brother Luigi" Ⓡ2 A and DMX 69354 Ⓡ2 A [doodle of a saint]. 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.
