Vinyl pressings
by Daryl Hall & John Oates · 1981
Private Eyes 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.
24 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 16 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.
PB2296-A// 48787-1-YRunout side A, variant 1
PB2296-B// 48788-1-YRunout side B, variant 1
PB2̶2296-A// 48787-1-YRunout side A, variant 2
PB2296-B// 48788-1-YRunout side B, variant 2
PB·12296·A·11 1 A1Side A runout, variant 1
PB·12296·B 2 1 A1Side B runout, variant 1
PB·12296·A·11 1 A3Side A runout, variant 2
PB·12296·B 2 1 A1Side B runout, variant 2
JA" TAPE ONE" REMIX BY B.K. RCA 134 A-2URunout side A
JA TAPE ONE RCA 134 B-1URunout side B
RCA 134 A§Label side A
RCA 134 A§Label side B
PB-12296-A-10 ∆ 107421 MRSide A, Etched
PB-12296-B1 ∆107421 X MRSide B, Etched
PB-12296-AA
PB-12296-BB
PB-12296-AB 13 654A side runout variant 1
PB-12296-B4 667B side runout variant 1
PB-12296-AB 13 78A side runout variant 2
PB-12296-B4 79B side runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | RCA Victor 103864First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Barbados | RCA PB 12296First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Belgium | RCA Victor PB 2296First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | RCA PB-12296First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Canada | RCA PB-12296First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | El Salvador | RCA CA-11226First year7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | France | RCA Victor DB 8803First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 2296 / RCA PB 2296First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Ireland | RCA RCA 134First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA Victor PB 6555First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | RCA RPS-48First year7" | 7" |
| 1981 | Japan | RCA RPS-48First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | RCA PB-2296 / RCA PB 2296First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | RCA Victor 103864First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42-1076First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
27 vinyl pressings of Private Eyes are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Netherlands, US, UK, Australia and more. One of them is RCA PB-2296.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PB-2296, PB-12296, RCA 134, JD-12297) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PB2296-A// 48787-1-Y and PB2296-B// 48788-1-Y. 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.
