Vinyl pressings
by The Sweet · 1979
Cut Above The Rest 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 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.
POLD 5022 A//1▼ECAP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 11 (Stamped) POLD 5022 SIDE A F12 (Etched)SIDE A
POLD 5022 B//3▼ECAP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 11 (Stamped) POLD 5022 SIDE 2 3B FY (Etched)SIDE B
SO-1-11929 F5. 3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ KPRunout A etched; 3 MASTERED, ✲ stamped
SO-2-11929 F8' 1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ KPRunout B etched; 1 MASTERED, ✲ stamped
SUB SOS̸W̸ ̸S̸O̸-1-11929 F1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0 KPRunout A etched; 3 MASTERED, ✲ stamped
SO S̸W̸ ̸S̸O̸-2-11929 F1 ⊕ #4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP 0Runout B etched; 1 MASTERED, ✲ stamped
SO 1-11929Label A
SO 2-11929Label B
SO-1-11929 F2 ⊕ #6 ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout side A, variant 1
SO-2-11929 F2 ⊕ 1S ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout side B, variant 1
SO-1-11929 F2 ⊕ ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout side A, variant 2
SO-2-11929 F2 ⊕ #6 ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Polydor 2302 093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Capitol Records SO-11929First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Colombia | Polydor 2310657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Polydor 2302 093First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | India | Polydor 2302 093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Israel | Polydor 2302 093First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81208First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81208First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2310 657First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
25 vinyl pressings of Cut Above The Rest are listed here, from 17 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Polydor POLD 5022.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLD 5022, SO-11929, SO-11929 4XO-11929 8XO-11929, 2310 657) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLD 5022 A//1▼ECAP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 11 (Stamped) POLD 5022 SIDE A F12 (Etched) and POLD 5022 B//3▼ECAP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 11 (Stamped) POLD 5022 SIDE 2 3B FY (Etched). 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.
