Vinyl pressings
by Billy Joel · 1983
An Innocent Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
49 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 26 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.
M G1 AL 38837 G1K Anna E 13Var. 1: Runout A
<B-AD> BL 388X37 G20 G1 A11Var. 1: Runout B
M AL 38837 G1K Anna E13 G1Var. 2: Runout A
BL 38837 G3C G1 A26 <JXMP>Var. 2: Runout B
AL 38837 1R STERLING º PA Side runout, variant 1
BL 38837 2AA STERLING P ºB Side runout, variant 1
AL 38837 1F B11 STERLING º PA Side runout, variant 2
BL 38837 2F D5 G STERLING P ºB Side runout, variant 2
AL-38837 GIL Barry o G1variant 1, Side A
BL 38837 2AL D18 STERLING o G1variant 1, Side B
o G1 AL 38837-1T D25 STERLINGvariant 2, Side A etched, o STERLING stamped
o PG-1 BL 33837 2AE B13 STERLINGvariant 2, Side B etched, o STERLING stamped
AL 38837 GIN Chet P ºSide A Etched, º Stamped
BL 38837 2Q STERLING P ºSide B Etched, º And Sterling Stamped
AL 38837Label Side A
BL 38837Label Side B
P BLMP7 AL 38837 GISRunout Side A, etched (Variant 1)
P BL 38837 2AA STERLINGRunout Side B, etched (STERLING stamped) (Variant 1)
P AL-38837 GIR (H-MP)Runout Side A, etched (Variant 2)
BP-38837 2AB STERLING 0Runout Side B, etched (STERLING stamped) (Variant 2)
P B <MP> AL 38837 GISRunout Side A
STERLING P BL 38837 2AARunout Side B
AL 38837Label Side A
BL 38837Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Argentina | Columbia 20.437 / CBS 20.437First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Argentina | Columbia 20.437 / CBS 20.437First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Australia | CBS SBP 237928 / Family Productions QC38837First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Brazil | Discos CBS 138568First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Colombia | CBS 14-1691First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Costa Rica | CBS 1100765First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS CBS 25554 / CBS 25554First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS CBSCL 40386-5 / CBS 25554LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Greece | CBS CBS 25554First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Greece | CBS CBS 466329LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Greece | CBS CBS 25554First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 2660First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | India | CBS CBS 10097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Ireland | CBS CBS 25554First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Israel | CBS CBS 25554 / CBS 25554First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Friday Music FRM 38837 / Columbia P763456LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Friday Music FRM 38837 / Columbia P763456LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP524 / Columbia MOVLP524LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2013 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-38812", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | US | Friday Music FRM 38837LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Columbia 19439893011 / Legacy 19439893011LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2025 | Europe | Columbia 19658700811 / Legacy 19658700811LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia VQC 38837LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS 466329 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 25554LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Best Fortune Records JKA-8129LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 25554 / Family Productions CBS 25554LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 25554 / Family Productions CBS 25554LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia QC 38837LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | Columbia QC 38837 / Family Productions QC 38837LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
70 vinyl pressings of An Innocent Man are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1983 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia QC 38837, released July 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use QC 38837, CBS 25554, DT 0025-1311, 25AP 2660) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M G1 AL 38837 G1K Anna E 13 and <B-AD> BL 388X37 G20 G1 A11. 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.
