Vinyl pressings
by The Smiths · 1984
William, It Was Really Nothing was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. 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 1984, the album's first year, in 8 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.
A-1U-1-K-3Runout side A, variant 1
B-1U-1-2-7Runout side B, variant 1
RT 166 A-1 U-1-213 THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTRunout side A, variant 2
RT 166 B-1 U-1- 216 ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARERunout side B, variant 2
A-1U-1-1-2 THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTRunout side A, variant 1
B-1U-1-1-4 ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARERunout side B, variant 1
RTT·166 ·A1 7 THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST AVariant 1, side A runout
RTT 166 ·B2 4 ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE AVariant 1, side B runout
RTT·166 ·A1 THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTVariant 2, side A runout
RTT 166 ·B2 ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWAREVariant 2, side B runout
RT 166 A-1U-1-Side A, stamped
THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTSide A, hand-etched
RT 166 B-1U-1-Side B, stamped
ROMANTIC AND IS HIP N'AWARESide B, hand-etched
RTT 166 A-2U-1-1⇀3 THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTSide A runout
RTT 166 B-3U-1-1- ROMANTIC AND □ is hip n` awareSide B runout
THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNESTA-Side runout, etched
ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWAREB-Side runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | France | Virgin 80 130 / Virgin 80130First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1984 | Germany | Intercord INT 110.169First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Germany | Intercord INT 125.219First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Greece | Virgin VG 2023-Z / Virgin 062-VG 2023ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Italy | Virgin VIN 45123 / Rough Trade VIN 45123First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Italy | Rough Trade VINX 71 / Virgin VINX 71First year12", 45 RPM, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1984 | Philippines | Rough Trade EP-RTR-1 / Rough Trade RTT-166First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | UK | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1984 | UK | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1984 | UK | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | UK | Rough TradeFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
| 1984 | UK | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | UK | Rough Trade RT 166First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Ireland | Rough Trade RTT 166First year12", Single, 45 RPM | 12", Single, 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Rhino Records RHN 1667", Single, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | UK | Rhino Records RHN 1667", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited |
26 vinyl pressings of William, It Was Really Nothing are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1984 and 2008.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Ireland, France, Germany and more. One of them is Rough Trade RT 166, released August 20, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RT 166, RTT 166, 80 130, INT 110.169) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A-1U-1-K-3 and B-1U-1-2-7. 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.
