Vinyl pressings
by Tom Waits · 1977
Foreign Affairs was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 7 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.
7E 1117 A-3 RePRC -1-1 ESRTD 9777 PRCRunout side A
7E 1117 B-3 RePRC -1-1 ESRTD 9777 PRCRunout side B
7E-1117-A (PRC)Side A label
7E-1117-B (PRC)Side B label
SRC 7E1117 AReSP 1-3 ESRTD 9-777Side A runout, variant 1
1-3 7E 1117 B-CReSP SRC ES R TD 9 13 77Side B runout, variant 1
SRC 7E1117 AReSP 1-1 ESRTD 9-777Side A runout, variant 2
1-2 7E 1117 B-CReSP SRC ES R TD 9 13 77Side B runout, variant 2
7E 1117 A-3 REPRC ESRTD 9777 PRCSide A runout
7E 1117 B-3 REPRC ESRTD 9777 PRCSide B runout
7E-1117-A (PRC-W)Side A label
7E-1117-B (PRC-W)Side B label
7E 1117 A-1 ReCSM ESRTD 9-7-77 15Side A runout
7E 1117 B-1 ReCSM ESRTD 9-7-77 15Side B runout
7E-1117-A (CSM)Side A label
7E-1117-B (CSM)Side B label
SRC 7E1117 ARCSP 1-1 ESRD 9-777Side A
1-2 7E-1117 B-CReSP SRC ESRD 9 13 77Side B
7E-1117-A SPA side label
7E-1117-B SPB side label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Asylum Records 7E-1117 / Asylum Records 7E 1117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES-1117 / Asylum Records 7ES 1117First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES-1117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Asylum Records 53068LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10432YFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10432YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10432YLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Asylum Records AS 53068 / Asylum Records 7E-1117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Asylum Records 7E-1117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Asylum Records K 53068First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Asylum Records K 53068First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Anti- 87569-1 / Anti- 87569-1TCLLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7569-1 / Anti- 7569-1SLELP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7569-1 / Anti- 7569-1LSELP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | Europe | Anti- 7569-1 / Anti- 7569-1SLELP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | USA & Canada | Anti- 87569-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | USA & Canada | Anti- 87569-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES-1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records K 53 068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53068 / Asylum Records 7E 1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra 53068 / Elektra K 53 068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records K 53 068LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records 7E 1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records AS 53069LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records K 53 068 / Asylum Records 7E-1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records AS 53 068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records AS 53 068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Asylum Records 53068 / Asylum Records AS 53 068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK & Europe | Asylum Records K 53 068 / Asylum Records 53068LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Asylum Records 7E-1117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
44 vinyl pressings of Foreign Affairs are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1977 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Asylum Records 7E-1117, released September 27, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7E-1117, K 53068, 7ES-1117, P-10432Y) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7E 1117 A-3 RePRC -1-1 ESRTD 9777 PRC and 7E 1117 B-3 RePRC -1-1 ESRTD 9777 PRC. 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.
