Vinyl pressings
by Al Stewart · 1976
Year Of The Cat was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
32 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 12 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.
RS 1082 - A - 4E JA A1H WRunout, A-side, etched, Variant 1
RS 1082 - B - 3E A1AW WRunout, B-side, etched, Variant 1
RS 1082-A-4E JA AIL WRunout, A-side, etched, Variant 4
RS 1082-B-3E W A1Runout, B-side, etched, Variant 4
RS -1082 - A -2 A1 AAL BLAIR'S WVariant 1, A-side runout etched
RS -1082 - B -2 A1 AAU WVariant 1, B-side runout etched
RS -1082 - A -2 A1 J BLAIR'SVariant 2, A-side runout etched
RS- 1082 - B-2 A10 W BLAIR'SVariant 2, B-side runout etched
RS-1082-A-1 √ 'W' A1 VSide A runout, variant 1
RS-1082-B-2 A4 A1 'W'Side B runout, variant 1
RS-1082-A-1E 'W' A1SSide A runout, variant 2
RS-1082-B-1E A1X 'W'Side B runout, variant 2
JXS 7022-A-RE-1-S-1AEtched, Side A
JXS 7022-B-RE-1-1AEtched, Side B
T 1 JXS-7022-A-RE-1-3 "AZ"Side A runout, var. 1
T 1 JXS-7022-B-RE1-2 "AZ"Side B runout, var. 1
T 1 JXS-7022-A-RE-1-3 Az BSide A runout, var. 2
T 1 JXS-7022-B-RE1 Az BSide B runout, var. 2
T1 JXS 7022-A RE-1 T-2 B oSide A runout, variant 1
Ƨ2 JXS-7022-B-RE-1-1B AZ 12 CSide B runout, variant 1
s JXS-7022-A RE-1-1A Az SXTSide A runout, variant 2
T1 JXS-7022-B-RE-1 AZ UDSide B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVS-4436 / RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 7119First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Janus Records 9098-7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Janus Records 9098-7022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Janus Records 9098-7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | RCA RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | RCA RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Israel | RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Malaysia | RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Peru | RCA RS 1082 / RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Peru | RCA RS 1082 / RCA Victor RS 1082First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Misprint, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA NL-25300LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA International RCALP-3015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | RCA RS 1082LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-009LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Limited |
| 1983 | Europe | RCA PL 70005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Arista AL5-8229LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Arista AL8-8051LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Canada | Arista ALB6-8326LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Europe | RCA PL 70005LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Italy | RCA NL 71493LP | LP |
| 1988 | Australasia | RCA SPLP 1007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Australasia | RCA SPLP 1007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Australasia | RCA SPLP 1007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Spain | RCA NL71493LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | Fame FA 3253LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1991 | South Africa | EMI EMCJ (O) 5433LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | South Korea | Della Records DL-7706LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 237LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2000 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 237LP, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Friday Music FRM-7022LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2014 | Europe | Parlophone 2564631083LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Friday Music FRM-7022LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Friday Music FRM-7022LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RES1 728719 / Rhino Records 081227804688LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On LabelLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1-7119LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Arista AL 9503LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista AL 9503LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI Electrola 038-7 95773 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042 / RCA PL 25042LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PL 25042LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20080 / RCA RS 1082LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Ireland | RCA Victor RCALP 3015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | EMI 54 7957731LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | RCA NL 71493LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | RCA Victor PL-25042 / RCA PL 25042LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
134 vinyl pressings of Year Of The Cat are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1976 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK, US, Chile, Argentina and more. One of them is RCA RS 1082, released October 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RS 1082, JXS-7022, RS-1082, AVS-4436) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RS 1082 - A - 4E JA A1H W and RS 1082 - B - 3E A1AW W. 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.
