Album value
The Blue Nile — Hats.
First-press value.
The Blue Nile's second album arrived five years after their first, released in October 1989 on Linn in the UK and Europe and A&M in the US, and drew a rare five-star review from Q. Of the 1989 pressings, the US A&M LP, SP-5284, has the highest Discogs median, ahead of the German-pressed Linn LKH2. Reissues exist from Virgin (2013) and Confetti (2019, repressed 2024).
01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1989. The US first-press shipped on the A&M label.
- US stereo catalog: SP-5284
- UK first-press: Linn Records (UK/Europe issue, pressed in Germany) LKH2
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- The US LP is A&M SP-5284 with barcode 0 7502-15284-1 3, pressed at Electrosound Group Midwest with etched runouts SP 05284-A-ES and SP 05284-B ES plus the Emw mark
- The Linn LP is LKH2 (also numbered 210241-630), pressed by Sonopress; Discogs lists two masterings, one with stamped 'DMC - 9604' runouts and one with 'C-9604' runouts and 'The Exchange' etched
- Reissues show their catalog numbers: Virgin LKHR2 (2013, 180 gram) and Confetti BLUELP002 (2019, repressed 2024)
The matrix runout etched in the dead wax is the definitive identifier when label and catalog number both look era-correct.
03
What it's worth
Recent sold-listing ranges. Pressing, condition, and current market all move the number.
| Pressing & condition | Recent sold |
|---|---|
| 1989 first-press (NM) | $90–$160 |
| 1989 first-press (VG+) | $45–$90 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $45–$100 |
What pushes to the top: A near-mint US A&M SP-5284 with the etched Emw runouts and a clean sleeve.
Sources: Discogs sold listings (90-day window), Popsike.com auction archive, Goldmine Record Album Price Guide.
04
If you have one
Pull the record. Check the label first against the A&M design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches SP-5284. Then check the matrix runout in the dead wax. All three lining up is the first-press confirmation.
Or scan with Crown Vinyl. The app reads the label, catalog number, and matrix runout from a single photograph, returns the exact pressing, and pulls a current value from recent real sales. Free on the App Store.
Keep checking the shelf
More first pressings worth knowing.
Nearby years, matching labels, and more records by the same artist.
1989 · RCA
Keith Whitley — I Wonder Do You Think of Me
1989 first press: $50–$90 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressing
1987 · Epic
Michael Jackson — Bad
1987 first press: $20–$45 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressing
1991 · Warner Bros. (Columbia House club edition)
Travis Tritt — It's All About to Change
1991 first press: $45–$90 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
Check the label design (A&M), the catalog number (SP-5284), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. The US LP is A&M SP-5284 with barcode 0 7502-15284-1 3, pressed at Electrosound Group Midwest with etched runouts SP 05284-A-ES and SP 05284-B ES plus the Emw mark.
A near-mint US A&M SP-5284 with the etched Emw runouts and a clean sleeve brings the top of the NM range, typically $90–$160.
Somewhat. The Virgin LKHR2 (2013) and Confetti BLUELP002 (2019, repressed 2024) reissues trade for about $45–100 near mint, against $90–160 for a clean 1989 US A&M SP-5284.
Hats was issued in stereo only as a first-press. The SP-5284 pressing is the reference.
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