Vinyl pressings
by Tom Waits · 1978
Blue Valentine was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 10 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.
6E162A-Re SP [SRC logo] -1-Side A runout, variant 1
6E162 B-Re SP 1-1 [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 1
6E162A-Re SP [SRC logo] 1-2Side A runout, variant 2
6E162 B-Re SP 1-3 [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 2
6E162 A-3Re PRCW-1-1Side A, Etched
6E162 B-1Re PRCW-1-1Side B, Etched
6E162 A-3Re PRCWRunout, etched, side A
6E162 B-1Re PRCWRunout, etched, side B
6E-162-A (PRC-W)Label, side A
6E-162-B (PRC-W)Label, side B
6E 162 A 3 Re PRCWSide A runout, etched
6E162 B-1 Re PRCWSide B runout, etched
6E162A-Re SP [SRC logo] -1-2A runout etched, except SRC logo stamped
[SRC logo] 6E162 B-Re SP 1-1B runout etched, except SRC logo stamped
6E-162-A SPA label matrix
6E-162-B SPB label matrix
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Asylum Records 6E 162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Belgium | Asylum Records AS 53 088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | Asylum Records AS 53088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Asylum Records AS 53 088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10604Y / Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10604Y / Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Asylum Records K 53088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Asylum Records K 53088 / Asylum Records 6E-162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Asylum Records K 53088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Asylum Records 53088LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Asylum Records 53 088 (6E-162) / Asylum Records 53088LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Portugal | Asylum Records ASY 53088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Asylum Records 96 0336-1 / Asylum Records LB 96 0336-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Asylum Records LB 53088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | Asylum Records 6E-162LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Russia | Santa Records П93 00291/92 / AnTrop П93 00291/92LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1998 | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records 6E-162LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Anti- 87570-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7570-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7570-1LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7570-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Netherlands | Anti- 7570-1LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 2018 | US | Anti- 87570-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | US | Anti- 87570-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | US | Anti- 87570-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Asylum Records 6E 162LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records 6E-162LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 6E-162 / Asylum Records 6E-162LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088 / Asylum Records K 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Asylum Records AS 53 088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
61 vinyl pressings of Blue Valentine are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1978 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is Asylum Records 6E-162.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6E-162, K 53088, AS 53 088, 6E 162) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6E162A-Re SP [SRC logo] -1- and 6E162 B-Re SP 1-1 [SRC logo]. 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.
