Vinyl pressings
by Todd Rundgren · 1982
The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 6 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.
1-23732-A WW1 —◁ STERLING GCRunout A variant 1, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732-B RE1-WW1 —◁ STERLING GCRunout B variant 1, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732-A WW1 —◁ STERLING ⒽRunout A variant 2, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732-B RE1-WW1 WWB3 —◁ STERLING ⓧ XALAHRunout B variant 2, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732 A-SH1 [Allied logo] B-17365-SH1 △2971 + SLM STERLING ⒽA side etch, exc Allied logo, STERLING stamp
1-23732-B-RE-1-SH2 [Allied logo] B-17366-RE1-SH2 + SLM △2971-X STERLING ⒽB side etch, exc Allied logo, STERLING stamp
1-23732-A JW1 0 STERLINGRunout A, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732-B JW2 0 STERLINGRunouit B, etched [STERLING stamped]
1-23732-A-JW 1 #2 0 STERLINGRunout A, etched, STERLING stamped
1.2.3732.B.RE.1-SH #1 circle logo B-17366-Re1-SH2 + SLM triangle 2971-x STERLING HRunout B,etched, STERLING stamped
STERLING 1-23732-A-SR2 SP 1-1Runout A etched [STERLING stamped]
STERLING 1-23732-BRG1-SR2 1-1 SPRunout B etched [STERLING stamped]
4 SMX-60297 T2ASide A runout
6 SMX-60298 W2ASide B runout
92-37321A∙ QuSide A
92-37321B∙ QuSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Bearsville L-37967 / Bearsville 1-23732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Bearsville 92 37321First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | Bearsville 205 247 / Bearsville 205 247 -320First yearLP | LP |
| 1982 | Italy | Bearsville BRLP 23732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | Bearsville 25AP 2528First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | Bearsville 25AP 2528First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | US | Bearsville 9 23732-1 / Bearsville 1-23732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Bearsville 9 23732-1 / Bearsville 1-23732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Bearsville 9 23732-1 / Bearsville 1-23732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Bearsville 1-23732First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | France | Bearsville 66005LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Spain | Bearsville 92 37321LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Spain | Bearsville 92 37321LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | Lamborghini Records LMGLP 2000LP | LP |
| 1988 | US | Bearsville RNLP 70876 / Rhino Records RNLP 70876LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Friday Music FRM-23732LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Bearsville 1-23732 / Bearsville 1-23732LP, Album | LP, Album |
17 vinyl pressings of The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1982 and 2013.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, Australia, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Bearsville 9 23732-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 23732-1, 1-23732, L-37967, 92 37321) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1-23732-A WW1 —◁ STERLING GC and 1-23732-B RE1-WW1 —◁ STERLING GC. 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.
