Vinyl pressings
by The Soup Dragons · 1990
I'm Free was first pressed on vinyl in 1990. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1990, 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.
RTV-9-A1 ADRENALIN POUNDA CUTMISTER PEACH-E.A-Side run-out, hand-etched
RTV-9-B1 ADRENALIN CHAMPION-EB-Side run-out, hand-etched
RTV-9-A2 JA CHAMPION-E !A-Side run-out, etched
RTV-9-B2 MEGA !B-Side run-out, etched
RTV-9-A2 JA CHAMPION-EA-Side run-out, hand-etched
RTV-9-B1 ADRENALIN CHAMPION-EB-Side run-out, hand-etched
RTV-9T-A₂ JA BELLS HILL, MOTHERWELL!Side A etched
RTV-9T-B₂ BEARSDEN, GOVAN!Side B etched
RTV 9 R A¹ DAMONT JAA Side
RTV 9 R AA¹ DAMONT KAA Side
RTV-9-A1 ADRENALIN POUNDA CUTMISTER PEACH-E.A-side run-out, hand-etched
RTV-9-B1 ADRENALIN CHAMPION-EB-side run-out, hand-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Canada | Polydor SPP 1014First year12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo |
| 1990 | Canada | Big Life SPP 1021 / Polydor SPP 1021First year12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo |
| 1990 | Europe | Big Life 877 569-1 / Raw TV Products 877 569-1First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1990 | France | Big Life 877 568-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1990 | UK | Big Life RTV 9T / Raw TV Products RTV 9TFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1990 | UK | Raw TV Products RTV 9 R / Big Life RTV 9 RFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1990 | UK | Raw TV Products RTV PROMO 9 / Big Life RTV PROMO 9First year12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1990 | UK | Raw TV Products RTV9 (T)First year12", 45 RPM, Promo, White Label · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1990 | UK | Big Life Records RTV 9First year7", 45 RPM, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, White Label |
| 1990 | UK | Big Life RTV 9T / Raw TV Products RTV 9TFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1990 | UK & Europe | Raw TV Products RTV 9R / Big Life RTV 9RFirst year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1990 | US | Big Life 877 843-1First year12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1990 | US | Big Life PRO 893-1First year12", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1990 | US | Polygram 877 843-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1990 | UK | Raw TV Products RTV 9 / Big Life RTV 9First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
19 vinyl pressings of I'm Free are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1990, in UK, US, Europe, Australasia and more. One of them is Raw TV Products RTV 9, released July 2, 1990.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RTV 9, RTV 9T, RTV 9 R, RTV PROMO 9) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RTV-9-A1 ADRENALIN POUNDA CUTMISTER PEACH-E. and RTV-9-B1 ADRENALIN CHAMPION-E. 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.
