Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1980
Alabama Song was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1980, 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.
BOW 5 - A [Lyre Symbol] TA KURT WEtched, Side A [variant 1]
[Lyre Symbol] BOW 5 - B SORRY GUS WEtched, Side B [variant 1]
BOW 5-A-1 [Lyre Symbol] TA KURT 'W' A1AHEtched, Side A [variant 2]
BOW 5-B-1 SORRY GUS 'W' A2V [Lyre Symbol]Etched, Side B [variant 2]
BOW 5 TA KURTRunout side A, variant 1
BOW 5 SORRY GUSRunout side B, variant 1
BOW 5 - A - 1 [Utopia lyre symbol] TA KURT W A1IRunout side A, variant 2
BOW 5 - B - 1 SORRY GUS W A1H [Utopia lyre symbol]Runout side B, variant 2
BOW 5 - A - 1 [Utopia lyre symbol] TA KURT WRunout side A
BOW 5 - B - 1 SORRY GUS W [Utopia lyre symbol]Runout side B
BOW 5 ASide A, Label
BOW 5 BSide B, Label
BOW 5 - A [Lyre Symbol] TA KURTSide A
[Lyre Symbol] BOW 5 - B SORRY GUSSide B
[AGI logo] 802 PL 9510 A Y.D.A side runout
[AGI logo] 802 PL 9510 B Y.D.B side runout
RCA-PB-9510-A- PF Manufactured in GermanyRunout side A
RCA-PB-9510-B- PF Manufactured in GermanyRunout side B
PB 9510-ALabel side A
PB 9510-BLabel side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | RCA Victor PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 9510 / RCA PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 9510 / RCA PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA Victor PB-9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA Victor PB-9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA BOW 5 / RCA PB 9510First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA BOW 5 / RCA PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA Bow 5 / RCA PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton SRCA 89010 / RCA Victor BOW 5First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | RCA BOW 5 / RCA PB 9510First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PC 9854 / RCA Victor PC 985412", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PC-9854-A / RCA PC-9854-B12", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1983 | Germany | RCA PC 9854 / RCA Victor PC 985412", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | USA & Europe | Parlophone DBALAS 40 / Parlophone 01902953562867", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Russia | буд кон Д60 8270Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
17 vinyl pressings of Alabama Song are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1980 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and more. One of them is RCA BOW 5, released February 15, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW 5, Bow 5, PB 9510, PB-9510) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BOW 5 - A [Lyre Symbol] TA KURT W and [Lyre Symbol] BOW 5 - B SORRY GUS W. 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.
