Vinyl pressings
by The Specials · 1981
Ghost Town 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.
45 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 15 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.
CHS TT 17 - A1 I DAMONT B JONZrunout side A (variant 1)
CHS TT17 - A2 I DAMONT SOUND CLINICrunout side AA (variant 1)
CHS TT 17 - A1 2 DAMONT AE JONZrunout side A (variant 2)
CHS TT 17 - A2 1 DAMONT SOUND CLINIC AUrunout side AA (variant 2)
CHS TT 17 A // 1 ▽ESC JonzA Side runout
CHSTT 17 B // 1 ▽ ESC 1 Sound ClinicAA Side runout
CHS TT 17 - A1 2 DAMONT D JONZrunout side A
CHS TT17 - A2 I DAMONT SOUND CLINIC Qrunout side AA
CHS TT 17 - A2 A 1Runout side A
CHS TT 17 - B2 A 2Runout side B
CHSTT 1217 A//1▽ESC 1 JonzSide A runout, variant 1
CHSTT 1217 B//1▽ESC 11 Sound ClinicSide B runout, variant 1
CHSTT 1217 A//1▽ESC 1 16 JonzSide A runout, variant 2
CHSTT 1217 B//1▽ESC 11 3 Sound ClinicSide B runout, variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Two-Tone Records X 13075 / Two-Tone Records TT 1217First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1981 | Australia | Two-Tone Records K 8384 / Chrysalis K-8384First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Chrysalis CDS 2525First year12" | 12" |
| 1981 | Colombia | Chrysalis 05(8841)00043First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single |
| 1981 | France | Chrysalis CHS TT17First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | Two-Tone Records 600 395 / Chrysalis 600 395-213First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Germany | Two-Tone Records 103 338 / Two-Tone Records 103 338 - 100First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Two-Tone Records 6198 481 / Chrysalis 6198 481First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 17First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-41007First year12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 103 338 / Two-Tone Records 103 338 - 100First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 600 395 / Two-Tone Records 600 395-213First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 600 395 / Two-Tone Records 600 395-213First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 600 395 / Two-Tone Records 600 395-213First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Two-Tone Records X 13075 / Two-Tone Records CHS TT 1217First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 12 30 / Tone Records CHS TT 12 3012", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1991 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 307", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TTP 177", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 2021 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TTH 1217 / Chrysalis Records Ltd. CHS TTH 121712", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2021 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TTH 17 / Two-Tone Records 50605160967707", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2023 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHS TT 177", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
53 vinyl pressings of Ghost Town are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, South Africa, Japan and more. One of them is Two-Tone Records CHS TT 17, released June 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHS TT 17, CHS TT 1217, CHS TT17, CDS 2525) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHS TT 17 - A1 I DAMONT B JONZ and CHS TT17 - A2 I DAMONT SOUND CLINIC. 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.
