Vinyl pressings
by Bruce Springsteen · 1981
The River was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 10 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.
01-1179-1A-1Run-out side A, variant 1
01-1179-1B-1Run-out side B, variant 1
01-1179-1A-1 BRun-out side A, variant 2
01-1179-1B-1 ARun-out side B, variant 2
01-1356-1A-1 R ARunout side A
01-1356-1B-1 R ARunout side B
CBS·S·A·13· 1179 A1 timtom B 1 2Runout side A, variant 1
CBS·S·A·13· 1179 B1 A 1 2Runout side B, variant 1
CBS·S·A·13· 1179 A1 timtom BRunout side A, variant 2
CBS·S·A·13· 1179 B1 2 C BRunout side B, variant 2
CBS-S-A-1179-A1A side runout, etched
CBS-S-A-1179-B1B side runout, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | CBS BA 222789First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Australia | CBS BA 222789First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Austria | CBS SHOL 3136 AFirst yearFlexi-disc, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Special Edition, Stereo | Flexi-disc, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Special Edition, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | CBS CBSA 1179 / CBS A 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | CBS CBS A 1356 / CBS CBSA 1356First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | CBS CBS A 1356First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Germany | CBS CBS A 1179 / CBS A 1179First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Ireland | CBS CBS A1179First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Netherlands | CBS A1179First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | New Zealand | CBS BA 222843First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | CBS CBS A-1179 / CBS CBS A 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | CBS A 1179First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS A13-1179 / CBS CBS A 13 1179First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS A1179 / CBS A1179First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS A 1179First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | CBS CBS A 13 117912", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
20 vinyl pressings of The River are listed here, from 10 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Europe, UK, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is CBS CBSA 1179.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CBSA 1179, CBS A 1356, CBS A1179, CBS A 1179) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 01-1179-1A-1 and 01-1179-1B-1. 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.
