Vinyl pressings
by Billy Joel · 1978
52nd Street was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
72 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 25 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.
P AL 35609 1H TJ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
P BL 35609 1G TJ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
P AL 35609 1H TJ I A 2 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
P BL 35609 1H TJ I A STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
o T1 AL 35609 1J TJ STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
o T1 BL 35609 1AB TJ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
o T1 AL 35609-1AD STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
o T1 BL 35609 1AB STERLING TJSide B runout, variant 2
AL 35609 1C B5 ♪ S STERLING TJRunout A, variant 1
BL 35609 1F A 1S STERLING TJRunout B, variant 1
S AL 35609 1 ♪ F A35 STERLINGRunout A, variant 2
2S BL 35609 1 BD A3 STERLINGRunout B, variant 2
AL 35609 - 1 AH P-N #3Side A Runout Etched (Variant 1)
BL 35609 - 1 AH #3 P-NSide B Runout Etched (Variant 1)
AL 35609 - 1 AH P-NSide A Runout Etched (Variant 2)
BL 35609 - 1 AH P-NSide B Runout Etched (Variant 2)
AL 35609 - 1 BA APEX S̶̷̲̅ STERLINGSide A runout, etched, "STERLING" Stamped
BL 35609-1BA -APEX S̶̷̲̅ STERLINGSide B runout, etched, "STERLING" stamped
AL 35609Side A label
BL 35609Side B label
AL 35609-1AG PH STERLING PSide A runout, variant 1
BL 35609 1G | PH STERLING TJ PSide B runout, variant 1
AL 35609-1AG 8 STERLING PSide A runout, variant 2
BL 35609 CB 8 A1 STERLING PSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Columbia 19.932First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | CBS SBP 237232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | CBS SBP 237232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | CBS 138099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Columbia FCX 35609First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Colombia | CBS 14-1199First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Costa Rica | CBS 4-100449First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Costa Rica | CBS 100449First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181 / CBS 83181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181 / CBS 83181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 83181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | CBS CBS 83181First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Suzy CBS 83181 / CBS CBS 83181LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Philippines | CBS/Sony LP-1240LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | CBS S 83181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | CBS S 83181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Columbia HC 45609 / Columbia 45609LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1981 | US | Columbia FC 35609 / Family Productions FC 35609LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | CBS/Sony 30AP 1955LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | CBS/Sony 30AP 1955LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1985 | Spain | CBS 32693LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | CBS CBS 32693LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Columbia PC 35609 / Columbia 35609LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Europe | CBS CBS 32693LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Philippines | CBS QCL-22156 / CBS FC 35609LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Impex Records IMP6006LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | US | Impex Records IMP6006 / Sony Music Commercial Music Group 88697639521LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2013 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-384 / Columbia 8872546979112", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP734 / Columbia MOVLP734LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | Japan | Sony Records Int'l SIJP 1000LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Columbia 19075939211LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Italy | The Saifam Group srl COM 245LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2024 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-384 / Columbia 88725469791LP, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2024 | Europe | Columbia 19075939211 / Sony Music 19075939211LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | US | Columbia 19075939211LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Harmony 148095 / Harmony 148.095LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WPC-35609 / Columbia FCX 35609LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS CX 83181 / CBS CX 83181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Columbia 32693 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 83181 / CBS CX 83181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Africa | CBS COL 40008LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label S 1004LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | CBS S 83181LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia FC 35609 / Columbia 35609LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35609LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia FC 35609 / Columbia 35609LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35609LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia FC 35609 / Columbia 35609LP, Album | LP, Album |
113 vinyl pressings of 52nd Street are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1978 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is Family Productions FC 35609, released October 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FC 35609, CBS 83181, S CBS 83181, FCX 35609) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 35609 1H TJ STERLING and P BL 35609 1G TJ STERLING. 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.
