Vinyl pressings
by The Sweet · 1973
The Ballroom Blitz was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
51 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 25 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.
RCA 2403 A1Stamped runout, side A, variant 1
RCA 2403 B1Stamped runout, side B, variant 1
RCA 2403 A1 DStamped runout, side A, variant 2
RCA 2403 B1 C FStamped runout, side B, variant 2
RCA 2403 A1 ⋀Runout A, stamped, variant 1
RCA 2403 B1 ⋀Runout B, stamped, variant 1
RCA 2403 A1 DRunout A, stamped, variant 2
RCA 2403 B1 DRunout B, stamped, variant 2
RCA 2403 A1 ⋀Runout A, stamped
RCA 2403 B1 ⋀Runout B, stamped
RCA 2403 ALabel A
RCA 2403 BLabel B
2403 A 2ESide A stamped
2403 B 2ESide B stamped
RCA 2403ASide A label
RCA 2403BSide B label
RCA 2403 A Y1Runout side A
RCA 2403 B Y1Runout side B
RCA 2403 ALabel side A
RCA 2403 BLabel side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Angola | Plum Records PLS 511First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Argentina | RCA Victor 31A-2359First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102371First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102371First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102371First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 1023717", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102371First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102371First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Chile | RCA LPF-0010First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | El Salvador | RCA Victor RCA-2403First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | El Salvador | RCA RCA 2403- / RCA RCA-2403First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | El Salvador | RCA RCA 2403- / RCA RCA-2403First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | RCA Victor 41127 / RCA Victor 41.127First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | RCA Victor 41127 / RCA Victor 41.127First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | RCA Victor 74-16 349 / RCA 74-16 349First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 26.11058 / RCA Victor 74.163497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 26.11058 / RCA Victor 74-163497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 26.11058 / RCA Victor 74-163497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 26.110587", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 26.11058 / RCA Victor 74-163497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
59 vinyl pressings of The Ballroom Blitz are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1973 and 1975.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, France, Italy, Yugoslavia and more. One of them is RCA Victor RCA 2403, released September 10, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RCA 2403, 41127, SRCA-88699, PLS 511) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RCA 2403 A1 and RCA 2403 B1. 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.
