Shakin' Stevens – Jetzt Kommt Shaky

About this record

Pressed at VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Potsdam-Babelsberg in the German Democratic Republic, this 1984 AMIGA compilation carries catalogue 8 56 050 and bears four distinct matrix variants in the dead wax—a hallmark of East German state-plant production runs. The runout stampings (8 56 050 - 1A D84 E C A3 AL on side one, paired with variants on side two) confirm original GDR manufacture rather than a later Western reissue.

Demand here is inverted: 1416 collectors own it against only 11 seeking copies, a ratio that reflects both its regional scarcity and its niche appeal outside German-speaking markets.

What drives its value

This pressing trades on condition and regional provenance. A Mint copy reaches 19.06 USD, while a VG+ specimen sits at 13.04 USD and a VG copy at 9.03 USD—a steep drop that rewards careful storage.

The lowest asking price across 83 active listings is 0.26 USD, a floor set by heavily played copies; the median collector, however, values this record between VG+ and NM grades. The 1984 AMIGA pressing commands a premium over later Western reissues because it documents East German licensing of CBS Records International material and the state plant's technical standards.

The 16-track compilation draws from recordings dated 1980–1982, making this a snapshot of Shakin' Stevens' catalog at a moment when his material was being licensed into the Eastern Bloc. Rarity within the GDR market itself—combined with the four distinct matrix variants—sustains collector interest despite the low want-to-have ratio.

How to appraise this pressing

Confirm this pressing by the AMIGA label imprint and catalogue number 8 56 050 on the front cover and label. The dead-wax matrix string is the definitive identifier: examine both sides for the stamped runout.

Side one should read 8 56 050 - 1A D84 E C A3 AL (or one of the documented variants: 8 56 050 - 1A D84 E C 1A1^N). Side two typically bears 8 56 050 - 2A D84 E C 1A3 AO or 8 56 050 - 2A D84 E C 1A5F.

All runouts are hand-stamped, not etched, reflecting VEB Potsdam-Babelsberg's production method. The label itself will credit CBS Records International as licensor.

Grade by vinyl surface cleanliness and groove wear: a Mint specimen shows no visible play; NM allows light dust only; VG+ permits light surface marks audible only on silent passages; VG shows moderate wear and occasional light crackle. The absence of a barcode confirms original GDR issue (barcodes were not standard on AMIGA releases of this era).

Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.