Vinyl pressings
by Charles Gerhardt · 1978
Music From John Williams' Close Encounters Of… 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.
9 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 6 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.
ARL1-2698A-1 Ⅰ B2CSide A Runout, variant 1
ARL1-2698B-1 Ⅰ A2KSide B Runout, variant 1
ARL1-2698A-1 Ⅰ A2DSide A stamped, D etched, variant 2
ARL1-2698B-1 Ⅰ A1ESide B stamped, E etched, variant 2
RVP 6287A 11Side A Runout
RVP 6287B 11Side B Runout
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 | Germany | RCA Red Seal RL 12698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA NL 12698First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA NL 12698First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | RCA Red Seal RVP-6287First yearLP, Compilation, Sampler, White Label, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Sampler, White Label, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Alfa ALR-6004First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Mexico | RCA Red Seal MRS-1062First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | RCA Gold Seal GL 13650First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | UK | RCA Red Seal RL 12698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | RCA Gold Seal AGL1-3650LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | RCA Red Seal ARL1-2698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
10 vinyl pressings of Music From John Williams' Close Encounters Of… are listed here, from 6 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Germany, Italy and more. One of them is RCA Red Seal ARL1-2698.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ARL1-2698, GL 13650, RL 12698, NL 12698) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL1-2698A-1 Ⅰ B2C and ARL1-2698B-1 Ⅰ A2K. 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.
