Vinyl pressings
by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young · 1988
American Dream was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 14 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.
STA-887219ADMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKSide A runout, variant 1
STA-887220-BDMM MASTERDISK SP2-6Side B runout, variant 1
STA-887219ADMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKSide A runout, variant 2
STA-887220-BDMM MASTERDISK SP1-2Side B runout, variant 2
STA-887219ADMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKSide 1 Etched - Variant 1
STA-887220-BDMM MASTERDISK SP1-7Side 2 Etched - Variant 1
STA-887219ADMM SP1-1 MASTERDISKSide 1 Etched - Variant 2
STA-887220-BDMM MASTERDISK SP1-2Side 2 Etched - Variant 2
B-33613-B-DMM STA-887219B-DMM MASTERDISK 1-3 SP-aR Δ23252Side 1, etched, variant 1
B-33614-B STA-887220BDMM MASTERDISK SP3-5 SP-AR Δ23252-XSide 2, etched, variant 1
B-33613-B-DMM STA-887219B-DMM MASTERDISK 1-3 SP-aR Δ23252 0-Side 1, etched, variant 2
B-33614-B STA-887220-B DMM MASTERDISK SP3-5 SP-AR 0- Δ23252-XSide 2, etched, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 781888-1-A 3Runout side A, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 781888-1-B4 3 HRunout side B, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 781888-1-AX 12Runout side A, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 781888-1-B4 H 36Runout side B, variant 2
781 888-1-A 11 III STA-887219B-DMM MASTERDISK 1-4 SP-GERRunout side A, variant 1
781 888-1-B 13 II SP-GER STA-887220-B DMM MASTERDISK SP 1 3Runout side B, variant 1
781 888-1-A 3 II STA-887219B-DMM MASTERDISK 1-4 SP-GERRunout side A, variant 2
781 888-1-B 5 II SP-GER STA-887220-B DMM MASTERDISK SP 1-3Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Argentina | Atlantic 80789First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia | Atlantic 81888.1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | Atlantic 00592 / Atlantic 670.8050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | Atlantic 78 18881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | Atlantic 78 18881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | Atlantic 781888-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | Atlantic 781888-1LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1988 | Israel | Atlantic BAN 781888-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Italy | Atlantic 78 1888-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Japan | Atlantic 23P1-2296First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Mexico | Atlantic LWA 6799First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Portugal | Atlantic 7818881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Africa | Atlantic ATC 9873First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Atlantic 781 888-1 / Atlantic 781888-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | Atlantic 7 81888-1 / Atlantic 81888-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of American Dream are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1988 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, Europe, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Atlantic 7 81888-1.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7 81888-1, 81888-1, 781 888-1, 80789) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STA-887219ADMM SP1-1 MASTERDISK and STA-887220-BDMM MASTERDISK SP2-6. 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.
