Vinyl pressings
by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers · 1981
Hard Promises 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.
29 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 23 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.
MCA2445-SS9 WE LOVE YOU J.L. ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgcVariant 1 Side A etched/stamped
MCA2446-SS9 ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgcVariant 1 Side B etched/stamped
MCA 2445Side A label
MCA 2446Side B label
MCA2445-SS11 [EDP logo] M1 WE LOVE YOU J.L. 2STERLINGgcVariant 1 side A runout
MCA2446-SS11 [EDP logo] SF2SM3 STERLINGgcVariant 1 side B runout
MCA 2445-SS11 [EDP logo] M1..SF1 SM6 WE LOVE YOU J.L. 2 STERLINGgcVariant 2 side A runout
MCA2446-SS11 [EDP logo] M1.SFSM6 STERLINGgcVariant 2 side B runout
MCA2445-SS9 WE LOVE YOU J.L. ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgcSide A runout
MCA2446-SS9 ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgcSide B runout
MCF 3098 A2 BILBO TA1PE
MCF 3098 B2 BILBO TA1PE
WE LOVE YOU J.L. 2STERLINGSL MCA2445-SS11 M1Side A runout etched ("Sterling" stamped)
SF2SM3 STERLINGSL MCA2446-SS11Side B runout etched ("Sterling" stamped)
ML 4489A - 1 DD2Runout, Side A - etched
ML-4489B.Runout, Side B - etched
MCA 2445Label, Side A
MCA 2446Label, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | MCA Records 80.157First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Argentina | MCA Records SUP 80157First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Backstreet Records 5160-1 / MCA Records 5160-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Backstreet Records BSR 5160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | MCA Records 203 635First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | Ecuador | MCA Records LP-33539First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Backstreet Records 203 635 / Backstreet Records BSR 5160First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | MCA Records 14C 062-64472First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | MCA Records MCF 3098First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4118First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4118First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-6247First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Backstreet Records VIM-6247First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Geffen Records 00602547658395 / Universal Music Group 00602547658395LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | US | Geffen Records 00602547658395LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2017 | Europe | Geffen Records 00602547658395LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | US | Backstreet Records B0024287-01 / Geffen Records B0024287-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Backstreet Records B0024287-01 / Geffen Records B0024287-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | Australia | Backstreet Records 5160 / MCA Records 5160-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records 5160-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 446-1 / Backstreet Records 250 446-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records MCA 01817 / Backstreet Records MCL 1817LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 203 635LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Philippines | Backstreet Records BSR 5160 / MCA Records MCA-5503-9LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Philippines | Backstreet Records BSR-5160 / Hidcor BSR-5160LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light BR 382LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1817LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1817LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1817LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | US | Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-1479 / Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-1479 / Backstreet Records BSR-5160LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
53 vinyl pressings of Hard Promises are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1981 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Canada, South Africa and more. One of them is Backstreet Records BSR-5160, released May 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSR-5160, BSR 5160, MCF 3098, ML 4489) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA2445-SS9 WE LOVE YOU J.L. ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgc and MCA2446-SS9 ⧈-G-⧈ 1STERLINGgc. 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.
