Vinyl pressings
by The Specials · 1979
Specials was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.
CDL5001 A // 1 ▽ E C 1 1 TY-CBSVariant 1 Runout A
CDL5001 B // 5 ▽ E C 1 2 2 TY-CBSVariant 1 Runout B
CDL5001 A // 2 ▽ E C 1 1 TY-CBSVariant 2 Runout A
CDL5001 B // 6 ▽ E C 1 L TY-CBSVariant 2 Runout B
CDL5001 A//2▽E C 11 6 TY-CBSRunout, side A, variant 1
CDL5001 B//5▽E C 13 1 TY-CBSRunout, side B, variant 1
CDL5001 A//2▽E C 11 3 TY-CBSRunout, side A, variant 2
CDL5001 B//5▽E C 12 4 TY-CBSRunout, side B, variant 2
CDL5001 A//1▽E C 11 6 TY-CBSA-Side runout
CDL5001 B//5▽E C 13 1 TY-CBSB-Side runout
3\ ·SMX· 55389 W2ASide A runout variant 1
·SMX 55390 W2A2Side B runout variant 1
8 ·SMX· 55389 W2ASide A runout variant 2
8 ·SMX 55390 W2ASide B runout variant 2
SMX 55389 W2ASide A runout, etched
SMX 55390 W2ASide B runout, etched
SMX-55389Side A label
SMX-55390Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Chrysalis L 37121 / Chrysalis CDL TT 5001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Chrysalis L37121 / Chrysalis CDL TT 5001First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | Australia | Chrysalis L 37121 / Chrysalis L37121First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | Ecuador | Chrysalis 85001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Chrysalis 511265 / Chrysalis 51.1265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Chrysalis 6307 687First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Chrysalis 6307 687First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Chrysalis 6307687First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | Two-Tone Records CDL 1265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | Chrysalis CDL 1265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | Two-Tone Records CDL 1265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Israel | Chrysalis CDL 5001 / Chrysalis CDL TT5001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Chrysalis 6307 687First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Chrysalis 202 685 / Chrysalis 202 685-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Panama | Chrysalis CHR-1265First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Chrysalis 104.8165LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1265LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1265LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1265LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 501265LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1265LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Colombia | Chrysalis 05(8831)01713LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Chrysalis 202 685 / Chrysalis 202 685-320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Greece | Chrysalis 6307 687LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Chrysalis CDL TT 5001 / Chrysalis WWS-81288LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Chrysalis L 37121 / Two-Tone Records L 37121LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Chrysalis L 37121 / Chrysalis CDL-TT5001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Chrysalis CDL TT 5001 / Two-Tone Records CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | Chrysalis I-200.819LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Chrysalis CHR 1265LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | Two-Tone Records 499 4701 / Two-Tone Records 7243 4 99470 1 6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europe | Chrysalis 509992 43650 17 / Chrysalis CHR 43650LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | US | Chrysalis 5099924365017 / Chrysalis CHR 43650LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2009 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Reissue · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Reissue · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2009 | US | Chrysalis CHR 43650LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Two-Tone Records AVLP8 / Chrysalis AVLP8LP, CD, All Media, Album, Reissue | LP, CD, All Media, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2014 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001 / Two-Tone Records 825646336050LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001 / Two-Tone Records 825646336050LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001 / Two-Tone Records 825646336050LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2017 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TTX 5001 / Two-Tone Records 825646336050LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2017 | USA & Europe | Chrysalis CDLTTX5001 / Two-Tone Records 825646336050LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | UK | Chrysalis Records CDL TTH 5001LP, 45 RPM, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2019 | Europe | Two-Tone Records CDL TTH 5001 / Two-Tone Records 506051609401112", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Worldwide | Two-Tone Records CDLTTW 5001 / Two-Tone Records CDL TTC5001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | UK | Two-Tone Records CDLTTC 5001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | UK, Europe & US | Two-Tone Records CDLRT5001 / Two-Tone Records 0840401722831LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Two-Tone Records CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Canada | Chrysalis CHS 41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Chrysalis CHM-41265 / Chrysalis CHS 41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Chrysalis CHM-41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Chrysalis 202 685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Chrysalis 202 685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 1C 038-3 25001 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 202 685-270 / Chrysalis 202 685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Portugal | Two-Tone Records CDL TT5001-PLP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | Spain | Chrysalis CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Chrysalis CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Two-Tone Records CDL TT 5001LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | Chrysalis FV 41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chrysalis PV 41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chrysalis PV 41265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
94 vinyl pressings of Specials are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1979 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, Australia, Ecuador, Europe and more. One of them is Two-Tone Records CDL TT 5001, released October 19, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CDL TT 5001, L 37121, L37121, 85001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CDL5001 A // 1 ▽ E C 1 1 TY-CBS and CDL5001 B // 5 ▽ E C 1 2 2 TY-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.
