It's Hard vinyl value
The Who — It's Hard: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Jacksonville Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 W1-23731 | US | Club Edition, Pitman Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Limited Edition, Promo, Quiex II, Specialty Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Specialty Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Specialty Pressing, No Rim Text | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 W1-23731 | US | Club Edition | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 W1-23731 | US | Club Edition, Carrollton Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Allied Press | $14–$66 |
| 1982 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Limited Edition, Promo, Quiex II, Wakefield Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1983 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Specialty Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1983 Warner Bros. | 9 W1-23731 | US | Club Edition, Reissue, Carrollton Pressing | $14–$66 |
| 1983 Warner Bros. | 9 23731-1 | US | Allied Press | $14–$66 |
| 2012 Polydor | 3715713 | UK | Reissue | $21–$47 |
| 2015 Polydor | 3715713 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180 Gram | $21–$47 |
| 2015 Polydor | B0022557-01 | US | Reissue, Remastered | $21–$47 |
1 more pressing we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 MCA | MCA-25986 | US | Reissue |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
19 pressings tracked, 16 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 1982 US pressing it reads “1-23731-a JW5 #1 TML” on side one and “1-23731-B-JWZ #1 TMLX 0” on side two. Trust the etching over the jacket: covers get traded around, dead wax stays put.
- 3
Grade the condition. A clean copy and a worn one of the same pressing sit several grades, and several multiples, apart. Grade record and sleeve separately; see our grading guide.
Do not price the cover. A later disc in a 1982 jacket is a reissue, whatever the sleeve says: the pressing lives in the runout etching and on the label.
Questions
Which pressing of It's Hard is worth the most?
The 1982 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 1982 “Limited Edition, Promo, Quiex II, Specialty Pressing” and the 1982 “Limited Edition, Promo, Quiex II, Wakefield Pressing”) 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 if I have a 1982 original?
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 1982 US pressing the runout reads “1-23731-a JW5 #1 TML”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is It's Hard worth today?
Sellers typically ask $14 to $66 for the pressings we track; for the 1982 9 23731-1 the median ask is $20 over 5 listings (eBay, Nov 6, 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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