Vinyl pressings
by The Smiths · 1985
Shakespeare's Sister was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 7 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.
DAMONT. C RTT 181 A1 1 HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISVariant 1 - runout side A
DAMONT K RTT181 B1 2Variant 1 - runout side B
C RTT 181 A1 1 HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS "Damont"Variant 2 - runout side A
K RTT181 B1 2 "Damont"Variant 2 - runout side B
HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISSide A runout - hand-etched; all variants
RT 181 A-1U-1- 1⇀ x 1Side A runout - stamped; variant 1
RT 181 B-1U-1- 1⇀ x 1 (etched) timtomSide B runout - stamped; variant 1
RT 181 A-1U-1-1⇀ 7Side A runout - stamped; variant 2
RT 181 A-1U-1- 11 1 HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISSide A Runouts Variant 1
RT 181 B-1U-1- 11 1 TimTomSide B Runouts Variant 1
RT 181 A-1U-1- 11 x1 HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISSide A Runouts Variant 2
RT 181 B-1U-1- 11 x1 TimTomSide B Runouts Variant 2
RTT-181-A LYN-15657-1C .Z. HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISSide A runout, variant 1
RTT-181-B LYN-15658-1C .Z. TIMTOMSide B runout, variant 1
HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS 15657-2C LYN- 15657-2C ·P· RTT-181-A ➁ 1Side A runout, variant 2
RTT-181-B LYN- 15658-1C ·Z· ➁ TIMTOMSide B runout, variant 2
RT-181-A LYN-15655-1C Z HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISSide A runout
RT-181-B LYN-15656-1C Z TimTomSide B runout
HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS RTT-181-A LYN-15657-2CSide A runout
RTT-181-B LYN-15658-1C TIMTOMSide B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Greece | Virgin VG2035-Z / Virgin 062-VG 2035ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Greece | Virgin 062-VG 2035Z / Rough Trade 062-VG 2035ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Megadisc MD 125298 / Megadisc MD 125297First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Netherlands | Megadisc MD 5297First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Portugal | Rough Trade RTT 181.30First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Scandinavia | Rough Trade RT 181First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Scandinavia | Rough Trade RTT 181First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Spain | Nuevos Medios 41 136 MFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade RTT 181First year12", Single, White Label | 12", Single, White Label |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade RT181First year7", 45 RPM, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, White Label |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade RTT 181First year12", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade RT 181First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1985 | Ireland | Rough Trade RTT 181First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Ireland | Rough Trade RT 181First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1985 | Ireland | Rough Trade RT 181First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Rhino Records RT 1817", Single, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | UK | Rhino Records RHN 1817", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered, Repress · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered, Repress · Limited |
24 vinyl pressings of Shakespeare's Sister are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1985 and 2008.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, Ireland, Greece, Netherlands and more. One of them is Rough Trade RTT 181, released March 18, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RTT 181, RT 181, RT181, VG2035-Z) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DAMONT. C RTT 181 A1 1 HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS and DAMONT K RTT181 B1 2. 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.
