Vinyl pressings
by ABBA · 1977
The Album was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
68 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 32 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.
POLS 282 A4Runout, variant 1, side A
POLS 282 B5 GARunout, variant 1, side B
POLS 282 A5 GARunout, variant 2, side A
POLS 282 B5 GARunout, variant 2, side B
POLS 282 A 3 GP 2 32Runout, variant 1, side A
POLS 282 B 3 GP 3 22Runout, variant 1, side B
POLS-282-A3 GP 3 10Runout, variant 2, side A
POLS-282-B3 GP 2 10Runout, variant 2, side B
POLS 282 A 6 ΛRunout, side A, stamped
POLS 282 B 7 ΛRunout, side B, stamped
POLS 282 A3 GP 5 11Runout, variant 1, side A
POLS 282 B3 GP 5 5Runout, variant 1, side B
POLS 282 A 3 GP 3 1Runout, variant 2, side A
POLS 282 B 3 GP 3 11Runout, variant 2, side B
POLS 282 A2 IIRunout, variant 1, side A
POLS 282 B2 IIRunout, variant 1, side B
POLS 282 A7Runout, variant 2, side A
POLS 282 B6Runout, variant 2, side B
POLS 282 A GARunout side A
POLS 282 B5A GARunout side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Unknown | Polydor POLS 282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Austria | Polydor 2335 180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Austria | Polydor 34 425LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1977 | Belgium | Polar 77202E1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19164First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19164First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | Atlantic KSD 19164First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Colombia | RCA Victor 05(3031)01510First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Denmark | Polar POLS 282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Denmark | Polar POLS 282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Denmark | Polar POLS 282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | El Salvador | RCA Victor CA-1114First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | El Salvador | RCA Victor CA-1114First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1977 | France | Melba LDA. 20318First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | Vogue LD 20318First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11047LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11047LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | USSR | Мелодия С60-11177 / Мелодия С60-11178LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11047LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | Epic EPC 32321LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Epic EPC 32321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Australia | RCA International VAL1-0463LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 0507LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 0507LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | USSR | Мелодия С60-11177—78LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1987 | USSR | Мелодия С60—11177-78LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | USSR | Мелодия С60-11177—78LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1988 | USSR | Мелодия С60—11177-78LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1988 | USSR | Мелодия С60—11177-8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1989 | USSR | Мелодия С60—11177-8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | USSR | Мелодия С 60—11177-78LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Polar 549 970-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2008 | Europe | Polar 07314 5499701LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Polar POLS 282 / Polar 00602527346519LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | Europe | Polar 00602557622515LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK, Europe & US | Polar Pols 282LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2022 | Europe | Polar 0602508379833 / Polar POLS 282LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 11047LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон BTA11047LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон BTA 11047LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2335 180LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2335 180LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Pan-Vox POLS 282LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | India | Polydor 2335 180LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Malaysia | Music Girl US-681LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2863LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | New Jen Sheng JS - 5251LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 32321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 86052LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия С60—11177-8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия 33 С 60—11177-8LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | USSR | Мелодия 33 С 60—11177-8LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
171 vinyl pressings of The Album are listed here, from 52 countries, released between 1977 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in Sweden, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Ireland and more. One of them is Polar POLS 282, released December 12, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use POLS 282, EPC 86052, S EPC 86052, VPL1 4060) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, POLS 282 A4 and POLS 282 B5 GA. 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.
