Vinyl pressings
by The Tourists · 1980
Luminous Basement 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.
15 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 9 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-LP-5001-A-1 A1 A V 'W'LP Side A, Etched (version 1)
RCA-LP-5001-B-2 A2 A D 'W'LP Side B, Etched (version 1)
R.C.A.LP-5001-A-1 A1 A W 'W'LP Side A, Etched (version 2)
R.C.A.LP-5001-B-2 A2 AI AO 'W'LP Side B, Etched (version 2)
R.C.A.L.P-5001-A-1 W. (Machine Stamped): STRAWBERRY•Side A Runout, Variant 1, Handwritten
R.C.A.LP 5001-B-2 W. (Machine Stamped): •STRAWBERRY•Side B Runout, Variant 1, Handwritten
R.C.A.L.P-5001-A-1 AIA B W. (Machine Stamped): STRAWBERRY•Side A Runout, Variant 2, Handwritten
R.C.A.LP 5001-B-2 (Machine Stamped): •STRAWBERRY• W. AIA QSide B Runout, Variant 2, Handwritten
R.C.A.L.P-5001-A-1 A/ A.M W. (Stamped): STRAWBERRY•LP Side A Engraved
R.C.A.LP 5001-B-2 A/A 1W (Stamped): STRAWBERRY•LP Side B Engraved
FREE 5001-A-1 (Overwritten With Several X): TOUR 2-A-1 FREE1 (Stamped): STRAWBERRY•7" Side A Engraved
FREE 5001-B-1 (Overwritten With Several X): TOUR 2-B-1 FREE1 (Stamped): STRAWBERRY•7" Side B Engraved
RCA LP 5001 ASide A Label
RCA LP 5001 B
AL 36757Label, A side
BL 36757Label, B side
AL-36757-1F STERLING B \ SSide A runout, variant 1
BL-36757-1F STERLING B4 I SSide B runout, variant 1
AL-36757-1E STERLING B3 \ SSide A runout, variant 2
BL-36757-1E STERLING A1 \ SSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 7370First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | RCA PL 25323 / RCA Victor PL 25323First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA PL 25323 / RCA Victor PL 25323First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20190First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20190LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Japan | RCA RPL-8040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | RCA RCALP 5001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | RCA PL-25323First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | RCA PL-25323 / RCA RCA LP 5001First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA RCALP 5001 / RCA FREE 5001First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | UK | RCA RCALP 5001 / RCA PL 25323First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA PL 25323 / RCA FREE 5001First yearLP, Album, 7" | LP, Album, 7" |
| 1980 | UK | RCA RCALP 5001 / RCA PL 25323First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1980 | US | Epic NJE 36757 / Epic 36757First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Epic NJE 36757 / Epic 36757First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
21 vinyl pressings of Luminous Basement are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1980 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Australia, France and more. One of them is RCA RCALP 5001.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RCALP 5001, PL 25323, NJE 36757, VPL1 7370) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RCA-LP-5001-A-1 A1 A V 'W' and RCA-LP-5001-B-2 A2 A D 'W'. 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.
