Vinyl pressings
by Billy Joel · 1973
Piano Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 9 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.
[Aristan "drum" logo]Runouts
\ PAL 32544-2B oSide A runout, variant 1
/ PBL 32544-2A oSide B runout, variant 1
\ PAL 32544-2B o Sx [Artisan Logo] C 1Side A runout, variant 2
S \ PAL 32544-2B A 2Etched A side
S \ PBL 32544 2C Az A 1Etched B side
(Artisan Sound Recorders logo)Stamped A side
oStamped A & B sides
P PAL 32544-2D Az B 4Side A, etched except P B 4
P PBL 32544 2D Az C 1Side B, etched except P C 1
\ PAL 32544-2B o SX ◵Side A runout, etched, "o" and “◵” (Aristan “drum” logo) is stamped
P PBL 32544-2D AzSide B runout, etched, "P" is oval shaped, indicative of Customatrix
Side 1: CBS S 80719 A1 ALLENRunout, side A
Side 2: CBS s 80719 B1 ALLENRunout, side B
Al - 32544Side A runout, etched
BL - 32544Side B runout, etched
AL 32544A-side label matrix
BL 32544B-side label matrix
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Argentina | Columbia 20059 / Columbia 20.059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32544First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Colombia | CBS 103-0022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Philips 6369 160 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Philips 6369 160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | CBS S CBS 32002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 234656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Philips 6369 160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | CBS 80719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | CBS S 80719 / CBS 80719LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32544First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32544First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32544First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32544First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Portugal | CBS CBS 80719LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1980 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | South Africa | CBS COL 10072LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS 32002 / CBS CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS S 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS CBS 32002 / CBS S 32002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | UK | CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Venezuela | CBS LJ-120.008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Mexico | Harmony HLS-460638LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-349 / Columbia P 760784LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP521LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | UK & Europe | Columbia 88985347301 / Legacy 88985347301LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | Columbia 19075939171LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2022 | Italy | The Saifam Group COM 237LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | US | Columbia 19075939171LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| 2023 | Japan | Sony Records Int'l MATO-5264LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2023 | US | Columbia 19075939171LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 234656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Harmony 148.022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WPC 32544 / Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia PC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia PC 32544 / Columbia KC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 80719 / CBS KC 32544LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 32002 / CBS CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 80719LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | CBS CBS 80719LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32002 / CBS/Sony S 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | CBS S 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS 80719 / CBS S 80719LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
102 vinyl pressings of Piano Man are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Argentina, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 32544.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 32544, 80719, 20059, 103-0022) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [Aristan "drum" logo] and \ PAL 32544-2B o. 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.
