Vinyl pressings
by The Specials · 1980
More Specials was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
28 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 17 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.
CHR TT 5003 A // 3 ▽ E C R S TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 1 1 1 3 CHR TT - 5003 A 3 √ANOSSide A, stamped / etched, variant 1
CHRTT5003 B // 4 ▽ E C 1 1 1 timtom-cbsSide B, stamped / etched, variant 1
TT 999 A 1 1 timtom-cbsSide C, etched/stamped - variant 1
TT 999 A 2 1 TY-cbsSide D, etched/stamped - variant 1
CHR TT 5003 A // 1 ∇ E CRS 11 9 √ANOS CHR TT-5003A1 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERNSide A runout, stamped, etched - √ANOS CHR TT-5003A1 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
CHRTT5003 B // 5 ∇ E C 11 9 timtom cbsSide B runout, stamped, etched - timtom cbs
CHR 1303AS-RE1-1C SXSide 1
CHR-1303-RE1-BS-1B SXSide 2
CHR 1303AS-REI-1C S2 C6Side A, variant 1
CHR-1303-REI-BS-1B S1 A6Side B, variant 1
CHR 1303AS-REI-1C S2 C8Side A, variant 2
CHR-1303-REI-BS-1B S1 A3Side B, variant 2
CHR-1303-REI-AS-1B S2 SXT ARunout A, variant 1
CHR-1303-REI-BS-1B S2 SXT CRunout B, variant 1
CHR-1303-REI-AS-1B S 2 SXT CRunout A, variant 2
CHR-1303-REI-BS-1B S 2 SXT BRunout B, variant 2
CHR-1303-RE1-AS-1B S2 B8A-Side runout, variant 1
CHR-1303-RE1-BS-1B S1 A5B-Side runout, variant 1
CHR-1303-RE1-AS-1B S2 B2A-Side runout, variant 2
CHR-1303-RE1-BS-1A S1 A1B-Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Unknown | Two-Tone Records CHR TT5003 / Chrysalis CHR 1303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Festival Records L 37391 / Two-Tone Records TT 5003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1303 / Two-Tone Records CHR 1303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR-501303LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHM 41303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Europe | Two-Tone Records 202.848 / Chrysalis 202.848First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Two-Tone Records CHR TT 5003 / RCA CHR TT 5003First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1980 | Germany | Chrysalis 202 848 / Two-Tone Records 202 848First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Chrysalis 202 848 / Two-Tone Records 202 848First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Two-Tone Records 6399 104 / Chrysalis 6399 104First yearLP, Album, 7", Single | LP, Album, 7", Single |
| 1980 | Greece | Two-Tone Records 6399 104 / Chrysalis 6399 104First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Greece | Two-Tone Records 6399 104 / Chrysalis 6399 104LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Greece | Two-Tone Records 6399 104 / Chrysalis 6399 104First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | Two-Tone Records CHR TT 5003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Two-Tone Records CHR TT 5003 / Chrysalis CHR TT 5003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Two-Tone Records CHRTTX 5003 / Chrysalis CHRTTX 5003LP, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2014 | US | Two-Tone Records RPI-463360 / Chrysalis RPI-463360LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | UK | Two-Tone Records CHRTTX 5003LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label |
| 2017 | USA & Europe | Two-Tone Records CHRTTX 5003 / Chrysalis CHRTTX 5003LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | Europe | Chrysalis 5060516090747LP, Reissue, Remastered, LP, 7", Album, Single, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Reissue, Remastered, LP, 7", Album, Single, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Worldwide | Two-Tone Records CHR TTH 500312", 45 RPM, Album, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Reissue, Remastered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2020 | Worldwide | Two-Tone Records CHR TTH 5003 / Two-Tone Records TTH 99912", 45 RPM, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Album, Misprint, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Reissue, Remastered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, 12", 45 RPM, Album, Misprint, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | Europe | Two-Tone Records CHRTTZ 5003 / Chrysalis CHRTTZ 5003LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Chrysalis 202 848 / Two-Tone Records 202 848LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Two-Tone Records 202 848-270 / Chrysalis 202 848LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 1C 038-3 25003 1 DMMLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 202 848 / Two-Tone Records 202 848LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Two-Tone Records CHR TT 5003LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Chrysalis PV 41303 / Two-Tone Records PV 41303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chrysalis PV 41303 / Two-Tone Records PV 41303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chrysalis PV 41303 / Two-Tone Records PV 41303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chrysalis CHR 1303 / Two-Tone Records CHR 1303LP, Album | LP, Album |
51 vinyl pressings of More Specials are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1980 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, France, Australia and more. One of them is Two-Tone Records CHR TT 5003.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHR TT 5003, CHR TT5003, CHR 1303, CHRTT5003) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHR TT 5003 A // 3 ▽ E C R S TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 1 1 1 3 CHR TT - 5003 A 3 √ANOS and CHRTT5003 B // 4 ▽ E C 1 1 1 timtom-cbs. 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.
