Vinyl pressings
by The Tubes · 1979
Prime Time 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.
30 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 11 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.
19-AMS-6885-1A-1 12601-M1 MR △105638 [Trumpet logo] STERLING HOLLANDRunout side A
19-AMS-6885-1B-1 HOLLAND STERLING [Trumpet logo] 12602-M2 MR △105638-XRunout side B
AMS 6885-1Label side A
AMS 6885-2Label side B
AMS-7423·A-2 4 A toneRunout side A, variant 1
AMS-7423-B1 21 ARunout side B, variant 1
AMS-7423·A-2 A toneRunout side A, variant 2
AMS-7423-B1 C1Runout side B, variant 2
AMS-7423-A1 [] toneSide A etched, stamped
AMS-7423-B1 ΛSide B etched, stamped
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 | A&M Records K7401First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | A&M Records AM 2120-SFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Canada | A&M Records am 2120First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Europe | A&M Records AMS 6885First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | A&M Records AMS S 6885 / A&M Records AMS 6885First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | Germany | A&M Records AMS 6885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-1027First year7" | 7" |
| 1979 | Netherlands | A&M Records AMS 6886First year12" | 12" |
| 1979 | Portugal | A&M Records PAMS 7423 FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | South Africa | A&M Records AMRS 1274First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Spain | A&M Records AMS 6885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1979 | UK | A&M Records AMSP7423First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1979 | UK | A&M Records AMSP7423First year7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1979 | UK | A&M Records AMS7423First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | A&M Records SP-17068First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
30 vinyl pressings of Prime Time are listed here, from 11 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in Europe, UK, US, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records AMS 6885.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AMS 6885, AMS 7423, AMS7423, AMSP7423) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 19-AMS-6885-1A-1 12601-M1 MR △105638 [Trumpet logo] STERLING HOLLAND and 19-AMS-6885-1B-1 HOLLAND STERLING [Trumpet logo] 12602-M2 MR △105638-X. 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.
