Vinyl pressings
by Whitney Houston · 1987
Whitney was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
59 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 34 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.
AL-8405-SA-DMM2 1-3 SP-HRM Sterling 4Side A Etched
AL-8405-SBDMM1 2 2 SPHRM Sterling 4Side B Etched
AL-8405-SA-DMM1 2-2 SP-HRM Sterling ▷ 3Side A Etched, "▷" stamped
AL-8405-SB DMM1 2 2 SPHRM Sterling ▷ 4Side B Etched, "▷" stamped
AL-8405-SA-DMM1 3-3 SterlingSide A etched
13 AL-8405-SB DMM1 2-3 SPHRM SterlingSide B etched
AL-8405-SA-DMM2 1-3 SPHRM SterlingSide A etched (Version 2)
SPHRM AL-8405-SB DMM1 3-3 SterlingSide B etched (Version 2)
AL-8405-SA-DMM2 3-1 SP-RCA Sterling I̶ A2Runout A
AL-8405-SB DMM 2 3-2 SP-RCA Sterling I̶ A2Runout B
AL-8405 SALabel A
AL-8405 SBLabel B
AL-8405-SA-RE1-SP-DMM I-5 SterlingSide A Runout, variant 1
AL-8405-SB-2 DMM3 I 2 SterlingSide B Runout, variant 1 (the 2 after the SB- in the runout is scratched out)
AL-8405-SA-DMM1 2-2 SP-HRM SterlingSide A Runout, variant 2
AL-8405-SB DMM1 2-2 SPHRM SterlingSide B Runout, variant 2
AL-8405-SA-DMM2 I I B-27491-DMM-2 Sterling ∆ 16553 ∇ SPARSide A, Etched; variant 1
AL-8405-SB DMM2 I I SPAR Sterling o ∆ 16553-X B-27492 -DMMSide B, Etched; variant 1
AL-8405-SA-DMM2 I I B-27491-DMM-2 Sterling ∆ 16553 ∇ SM1-2 SPARSide A, Etched; variant 2
AL-8405-SB DMM2 I I SPAR Sterling o ∆ 16553-X B-27492 -DMM-2Side B, Etched; variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Argentina | Arista TLP-90038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Argentina | Arista TLP-90038First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Barbados | Arista AL-8405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Bolivia | Ariola EU/ASL 1076 / Ariola EE UU.ASL 1076First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | Arista 110.8019First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | Arista 1108019 / Arista 110.8019First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8405LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8405LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Arista AL-8405 / Arista R 152854LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1987 | Colombia | Arista 28(0131)00014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Costa Rica | Arista 1003022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ecuador | Arista 914-0103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ecuador | Arista 914-0103First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | South Korea | Arista BAPL 1003LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Arista 19658702151 / Legacy 19658702151LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2023 | US | Arista 19658702151 / Legacy 19658702151LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2023 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSV 1-529 / Arista 19658739131LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered |
| 2023 | Europe | Arista 19658714661 / Sony Music 19658714661LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Arista 19658702151 / Legacy 19658702151LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Arista 110.8019 / Arista 110 8019LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Arista 208 141LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Arista AL-8405LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Arista AL 8405LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
87 vinyl pressings of Whitney are listed here, from 38 countries, released between 1987 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, Mexico, Australia, Japan and more. One of them is Arista AL-8405.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL-8405, AD1-9599, LATV-30, SFL1 0154) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-8405-SA-DMM2 1-3 SP-HRM Sterling 4 and AL-8405-SBDMM1 2 2 SPHRM Sterling 4. 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.
