Vinyl pressings
by Tom Verlaine · 1981
Dreamtime 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.
18 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 12 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.
BSK-1-3539-WW1#2 -------◁ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3539-WW1 -------◁ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3539-WW1 -------◁ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3539-WW1 -------◁ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
BSK-1-3539-LW1· ✲ STERLINGSide A runout, etched; "✲ STERLING" stamped
BSK-2-3539-LW1· ✲ STERLINGSide B runout, etched; "✲ STERLING" stamped
BSK-1-3539-JW2 STERLING 0Side A runout, variant 1
BSK-2-3539-JW2 STERLING 0Side B runout, variant 1
BSK-1-3539-JW2 STERLING 0Side A runout, variant 2
BSK-2-3539-JW1 #3 STERLING 0Side B runout, variant 2
B-15959-S1 BSK-1-3539-S1 + SLM + ∆788-CAP-L.A. STERLINGSide A runout, etched; "SLM," "STERLING" stamped
BSK-2-3539-LW1· ✲ STERLINGSide B runout, etched; "STERLING" stamped
STRAWBERRY W-5 K+56919+A2Runout, side A
STRAWBERRY W-5 K+56919+BRunout, side B
K 56919 A *Label, side A
K 56919 B *Label, 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 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3539First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3539First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 919First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56919First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56919First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56919 / Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 919First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11070WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-11070WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56919First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records WAR 56919First yearLP | LP |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 919 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56919First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56919First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56919First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB K 56 919 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 919First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3539First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
20 vinyl pressings of Dreamtime are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1981 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3539.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3539, K 56919, XBS 3539, WB K 56 919) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3539-WW1#2 -------◁ STERLING and BSK-2-3539-WW1 -------◁ STERLING. 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.
