Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1979
DJ was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 7 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 3 A2 E L CSide A runout, variant 1
BOW 3 B2 E L PSide B runout, variant 1
PB 9412-A-1 [Lyre symbol]Side A runout, variant 2, etched
PB 9412-B-1 [Lyre symbol]Bide B runout, variant 2, etched
[Lyre symbol] PB 9412-A-2 'W' AIKRun-out side A variant 1
[Lyre symbol] PB 9412-B-1 AIADRun-out side B variant 1
[Lyre symbol] PB 9412-A-2 AIKRun-out side A variant 2
[Lyre symbol] PB 9412-B-2 AIGRun-out side B variant 2
BOW 3 A2 E LRun-out Side A
BOW 3 B2 E LRun-out Side B
BOW 3 A2 E L CRunout side A etched
BOW 3 B2 E L PRunout side B etched
BOW 3 ALabel side A
BOW 3 BLabel side B
BOW 3 A2 E L CRun-out Side A
BOW 3 B2 E L PRun-out Side B
BOW 3 ALabel Side A
BOW 3 BLabel Side B
PB-11661-A 3Runout A side, etched
PB-11661-B 3Runout B side, etched
69050Runout both sides, etched and in mirror writing
69079Runout both sides, etched and in mirror writing
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | RCA Victor 103420First year7" | 7" |
| 1979 | Brazil | RCA 101.4096First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Brazil | RCA 101.4096First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1979 | Canada | RCA PB-11661First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | France | RCA BOW 3 / RCA PB 9412First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9412First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9412First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | US | RCA PB-11661First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1979 | US | RCA JH-11661 / RCA (PB-11661)First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1979 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 3 / RCA Victor PB 9412First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 3 / RCA Victor PB 9412First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 3 / RCA Victor BOW 3First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 3 / RCA Victor PB 9412First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 3 / RCA Victor BOW 3First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Europe | RCA BOW 516 / RCA BOW 37", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Ireland | RCA BOW 516 / RCA BOW 37", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK | RCA BOW 516 / RCA BOW 37", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UK, Europe & US | Parlophone DBDJ 40 / Parlophone 01902945719107", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
18 vinyl pressings of DJ are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1979 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is RCA Victor BOW 3, released July 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW 3, PB-11661, JH-11661, 103420) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BOW 3 A2 E L C and BOW 3 B2 E L P. 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.
