Vinyl pressings
by Wah! · 1984
A Word To The Wise Guy 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.
16 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 9 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.
BEGA - 54 -A2 MT 4Side One etched / stamped, variant 1
BEGA - 54 -B 2 MT 5Side Two etched / stamped, variant 1
WAH - 1- A1 ƱTOPIA "From The Pool of Life ...... to your heart" MT Clashdance 4Side A etched, variant 1
WAH - 1 {AA1 scratched out} B 1 1 The real taste of Liverpool !! ƱTOPIA MTSide B etched, variant 1
BEGA-54-A-1 ARUN DAMONTSide A Matrix
BEGA-54-B-1 DAMONT ✩MT✩ 4Side B Matrix
BEGA 54 A //3 V420 T 1Side A, pressed
BEGA 54 B2 MTSide B, engraved
BEGA - 54 A 1 1 1 *Side A, pressed
BEGA - 54 B 1 1 1 *Side B, pressed
SHIP 240242 A -MAXICUT-Side 1
SHIP 240242 B -MAXICUT-Side 2
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 | Australia | Titanic Records SHIP-240242First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Australia | Titanic Records SHIP-240242 / Titanic Records SHIP.240242First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | Belgium | Channel Records CHAN. 35002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Belgium | Channel Records CHAN. 35002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOG-1-3340 / Beggars Banquet VOG-1-3340First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1984 | France | Virgin 70288 / Virgin 70296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Beggars Banquet 58013 / Beggars Banquet LP 58013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Greece | Beggars Banquet 58013 / Polygram 58013First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1984 | Greece | Beggars Banquet 58012 / Beggars Banquet 58013First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1984 | Japan | Beggars Banquet VIL-6143First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Beggars Banquet BEGA 54 / Eternal BEGA 54First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | Sonet SLP-3100 / Beggars Banquet SLP-3100First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Scandinavia | Sonet SLP-3100LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 54 / Beggars Banquet WAH 1First yearLP, Album, 12", 45 RPM | LP, Album, 12", 45 RPM |
| 1984 | UK | Beggars Banquet BEGA 54First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
18 vinyl pressings of A Word To The Wise Guy are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1984 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, Japan, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Beggars Banquet BEGA 54.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BEGA 54, VIL-6143, SHIP-240242, CHAN. 35002) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BEGA - 54 -A2 MT 4 and BEGA - 54 -B 2 MT 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.
