Vinyl pressings
by The Who · 1981
You Better You Bet was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
33 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 19 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.
WHO 4 A // 2 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1 0 2Runout, A-side, stamped - variant 1
AS 2002 044Runout, A-side, etched - variant 1
WHO 4 B // 1 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1 1 9Runout, B-side, stamped - variant 1
BS 2002 044Runout, B-side, etched - variant 1
WHO-4-A1 AS 2002 044Side A runout, etched variant 1
WHO-4-B1 BS 2002 044Side A runout, etched variant 1
STERLING ΛSide A & B runout, stamped
WHO-4-A2 AS 2002 044Side A runout, etched variant 2
WHO 4 A // 2 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1 4Side A runout, stamped
AS 2002 044Side A runout, etched
WHO 4 B // 1 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1Side B runout, stamped
BS 2002 044Side B runout, etched
WHO 4 A // 1 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1 0 2Runout, A-side, stamped
AS 2002 044Runout, A-side, etched
WHO 4 B // 1 ∇ E ST 1 2 5 1 STERLING 1 1 1 9Runout, B-side, stamped
BS 2002 044Runout, B-side, etched
WBS-49698-YAA-9BS-49698-YAA-9904-VI-S-SR1 11 SRC904-VI-S-SR1 11 [SRC logo] STERLINGA-side runout, variant 1
WBS-49698-YAA-9BS-49698-YAA-9904-VI-S-SR2 11 SRC904-VI-S-SR1 11 [SRC logo] STERLINGB-side runout, variant 1
WBS-49698- YAA-9904 -VI-S-SRI 1 - 1 STERLING [SRC logo]A-side runout, variant 2
WBS-49698- YAA-9907-S-SRI 1 - 1 [SRC logo] STERLINGB-side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records WBS 49698 / Polydor WHO 004First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Australia | Polydor 2002 044First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Austria | Polydor 2002 044First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Belgium | Polydor 2002 044First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Belgium | Polydor 2002 044First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Brazil | Polydor 2002 044First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS49698First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WBS49698First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Polydor 75289First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | France | Polydor 2002 044First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Hungary | Pepita SPSK 70490First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ireland | Polydor WHO 004 / Polydor 2002 044First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Polydor 2002 044First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Polydor POLY 104First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Portugal | Polydor 2002044First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
33 vinyl pressings of You Better You Bet are listed here, from 19 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Germany, Australia and more. One of them is Polydor WHO 004, released February 23, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WHO 004, WBS 49698, WBS49698, PRO-A-938) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WHO 4 A // 2 ∇ E ST STERLING 1 1 0 2 and AS 2002 044. 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.
