Diamond Life vinyl value
Sade — Diamond Life: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Portrait | FR 39581 | US | Carrollton Pressing | $25–$80 |
| 1985 Portrait | FR 39581 | US | Carrollton Press | $25–$80 |
| 1985 Portrait | BFR 39581 | US | Reissue, Carrollton Pressing | $25–$80 |
| 1985 Portrait | FR 39581 | US | Pitman Pressing | $25–$80 |
| 2020 Epic | 19658784801 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, Half-Speed Mastered, 180g, Gatefold | from $35 |
| 2024 Epic | 19658784801 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, Half-Speed Mastered, 180g, Gatefold | from $35 |
| Undated Portrait | FR 39581 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, 180gm | $25–$80 |
5 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Portrait | FR 39581 | Canada | Gatefold |
| 2012 Music On Vinyl | MOVLP602 | Europe | Reissue, Gatefold, 180g |
| 2012 Audio Fidelity | AFZLP 089 | US | Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue |
| 2016 Audio Fidelity | AFZLP 089 | US | Reissue, Remastered, Gatefold Sleeve |
| Undated Epic | EPC 26044 | Europe | Grey Labels, Gatefold |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
19 pressings tracked, 12 shown · catalog of 974,753 releases, August 2026
What separates the pressings
How to identify your copy
Three checks, in the order worth doing them.
- 1
Match the catalog number. It is printed on the spine and the record label. Check it together with the country against the pressings table above: the same number can appear in more than one country.
- 2
Read the runout. The code etched in the dead wax near the label names the exact pressing. On the 1985 US pressing it reads “AL 39581” on side one and “BL 39581” on side two. Sleeves migrate between copies over the years; the etching stays with the record.
- 3
Grade the condition. Condition multiplies the price: near mint can bring several times what a VG copy does. Vinyl and sleeve get separate grades; the scale is in our grading guide.
Discs and jackets part ways over the decades: a 1984 sleeve proves nothing about the record inside it. The runout etching and the label decide the pressing; the cover never does.
Questions
Which pressing of Diamond Life is worth the most?
Original 1984 pressings lead; they predate everything in our table, and that scarcity is the point. Among tracked copies, the 1985 pressings come first. Scarcer variants (the 2012 “Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue” and the 2020 “Reissue, Remastered, Half-Speed Mastered, 180g, Gatefold”) can beat an ordinary early copy. After that it is all condition: the gap between near mint and VG is usually larger than the gap between pressings.
How do I tell which pressing I have?
Match the catalog number on the spine and label against the table above, check the country, then read the etched code in the runout groove. On the 1985 US pressing the runout reads “AL 39581”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is Diamond Life worth today?
Sellers ask from $25 for the pressings we track; for the 1985 FR 39581 the median ask is $60 over 7 listings (eBay, Sep 16, 2026). Sold prices usually close lower. Scan your copy in the app for the range on your exact pressing and condition.
Not sure which pressing you have? Photograph the label and RecordScout names it, then shows a current value range for its condition.
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