Vinyl pressings
by Van Halen · 1984
I'll Wait was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 13 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.
7-29307 BCA-2784-S JW1 #3 ─◁Runout side A, variant 1
7-29307 BCA-2598-S JW1 #5 ─◁Runout side B, variant 1
7-29307 BCA-2784-S JW1 #3 ─◁ 0̶̶̶ [Jacksonville logo scratched out]Runout side A, variant 2
7-29307 BCA-2598-S JW1 #4 ─◁ 0̶̶̶ [Jacksonville logo scratched out]Runout side B, variant 2
7-29307 BCA-2784-S JW1 #1 ()Runout A, etched [except stamped: ()]
7-29307 BCA-2598-S JW1 #1 ()Runout B, etched [except stamped: ()]
BCA 2784SLabel A
BCA 2598SLabel B
7-29307 BCA-2784-S SR2 SRC sidewaysRunout side A
7-29307 BCA-2598-S SR1 SRC sidewaysRunout side B
BCA 2784SLabel side A
BCA 2598SLabel side B
7-29307 BCA-2784-S SH1 ɑ R-12622-SH1 SLM △6431 1-1A Side Runout
7-29307 BCA-2598-S SH1 ɑ R-12623-SH1 SLM △6432 1-1B Side Runout
BCA 2784SLabel side A
BCA 2598SLabel side B
7-29307 BCA-2784-S SR2 SRC 1-1Both runouts
BCA 2784SBoth labels
7-29307 BCA-2784-S SH1 ɑ R-12622-SH1 SLM △6431 1-1Runouts
BCA 2784SLabels
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 93077First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92-93077First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 93077First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 93077First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records 45-80091First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Ireland | Warner Bros. Records W9213 / Warner Bros. Records (9 29307-7)First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records 92 9307-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-1851First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records PRO-079First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records 729307First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1984 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0029307.3First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Peru | Warner Bros. Records F-WBR 0029307.3First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Philippines | Warner Bros. Records WB-77-398First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records 759 92-9307-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBS 462First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records W 9213 / Warner Bros. Records W92137", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
31 vinyl pressings of I'll Wait are listed here, from 13 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 7-29307.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7-29307, PRO-A-2126, W 9213, W9213T) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7-29307 BCA-2784-S JW1 #3 ─◁ and 7-29307 BCA-2598-S JW1 #5 ─◁. 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.
