Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1977
Be My Wife was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. 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 1977, the album's first year, in 12 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.
PB 1017-A-2 A1 F [Th.= etching] [Utopia lyre] 'W'Side A runout, etched, variant 1
PB 1017-B-2 A1 D [Th.- etching] [Utopia lyre] 'W'Side B runout, etched, variant 1
PB 1017-A-1 A1C [Th.= etching] [Utopia lyre] 'W'Side A runout, etched, variant 2
PB 1017-B-1 A1A [Th.- etching] [Utopia lyre] 'W'Side B runout, etched, variant 2
PB 1017 ALabel, Side A
PB 1017 BLabel, Side B
PB 1017-A-1 A1D T - Symbol of a harpSide A runout, etched
PB 1017-B-1 A1A T - Symbol of a harpSide B runout, etched
PB 1017 ASide A label
PB 1017 BSide B label
PB-11017-A (etched) STERLING (stamped)Runout side A
PA-11017-C (etched) STERLING (stamped)Runout side B
PB-11017-ALabel side A
PA-11017-CLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | RCA Victor PB 1017 / RCA victor 102937First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Belgium | RCA Victor PB 1017 / RCA PB 1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Canada | RCA Victor PB-11017First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | France | RCA Victor PB 1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | RCA SS-3104 / RCA PB 11017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | RCA SS-3104 / RCA PB 11017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Japan | RCA SS-3104 / RCA PB 11017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | RCA Victor PB 1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Portugal | RCA Victor PB-1017First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | UK | RCA Victor PB 1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | UK | RCA Victor PB 1017 / RCA Victor PB 11017First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1977 | US | RCA PB-11017First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1977 | US | RCA JH-11017 / RCA PB-11017First year7", Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1977 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 1017 / RCA PB 1017First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Europe | RCA BOW 511 / RCA PB 10177", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | RCA BOW 511 / RCA PB 10177", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Ireland | RCA BOW 511 / RCA PB 10177", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UK & Europe | Parlophone DBBMW40 / Parlophone 01902958456127", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
24 vinyl pressings of Be My Wife are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1977 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Germany, New Zealand and more. One of them is RCA Victor PB 1017, released June 17, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PB 1017, PB-11017, JH-11017, 102937) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PB 1017-A-2 A1 F [Th.= etching] [Utopia lyre] 'W' and PB 1017-B-2 A1 D [Th.- etching] [Utopia lyre] '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.
