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"Heroes" by David Bowie, album cover

Vinyl pressings

"Heroes"

by David Bowie · 1977

128 pressings26 countriesExperimentalElectronicRock

"Heroes" 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.

How to spot a first pressing of "Heroes"

50 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 19 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.

UK

October 14, 1977
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor PL 12522RCA APL1 2522
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

STERLING gc.Stamped/Etched sides A/B, all variants

I-24 PL-12522-A-2 A2 A̶F̶L̶-1̶-2̶5̶2̶2̶-A̶Etched side A, variant 1

I-22 PL-12522-B-2 A̶F̶L̶-1̶-2̶5̶2̶2̶-B̶ A5Etched side B, variant 1

I-26 PL-12522-A-2 A̶F̶L̶-1̶-2̶5̶2̶2̶-A̶Etched side A, variant 3

Full details of this pressing

UK

October 14, 1977
Label and catalog number
RCA PL 12522RCA Victor PL 12522
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

PL-12522-A-3E W A4AWSide A, hand-etched runout, variant 1

PL-12522-B-5E A3AAAC W DAVE's RCA.Side B, hand-etched runout, variant 1

PL-12522-A-3E W A4AALSide A, hand-etched runout, variant 2

PL-12522-B-5E A3AY W DAVE's R.C.A.Side B, hand-etched runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

October 14, 1977
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor PL 12522RCA AFL1 2522
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

PL 12522-A-3E MV A4AWSide 1 runout - etched

PL 12522-B-5E A3AAAC M. DAVE'S R.C.A.Side 2 runout - etched

Full details of this pressing

UK

1977
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor PL 12522RCA AFL1 2522
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

PL-12522-A-1 ̶A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶A̶ A4J ⃫A⃫3⃫ STERLING [stamped] 'W'Side A, Variation 1, etched

PL-12522-B-3E A3J W. DAVE'S R.C.A.Side B, Variation 1, etched

PL-12522-A-1 ̶A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶A̶ A4S ⃫A⃫3⃫ STERLING [stamped] 'W'Side A, Variation 2, etched

PL-12522-B-5E A3B M DAVE'S R.C.A.Side B, Variation 2, etched

Full details of this pressing

UK

1977
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor PL 12522RCA AFL1 2522
Format
LP, Album · Italian Labels
Runout / matrix

A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶A̶- PL-12522-A-2 A1 39 STERLING gc. X'W'Side A runout, variant 1

PL-12522-B-2 (̶A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶B̶)̶ X'W' A1-25 STERLING gc. 1Side B runout, variant 1

A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶A̶ PL-12522-A-2 A1 48 STERLING X'W'Side A runout, variant 2

PL-12522-B-2 (̶A̶F̶L̶-̶1̶-̶2̶5̶2̶2̶-̶B̶)̶ STERLING gc A3-2Side B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

October 1977
Label and catalog number
RCA AFL1-2522RCA Victor AFL1-2522
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Waddell Pressing
Runout / matrix

AFL-1.2522-A-1 STERLING gc.Runout A, variant 1

AFL.1.2522-B-1 STERLING gc.Runout B, variant 1

AFL-1-2522-A-4 STERLING gc.Runout A, variant 2

AFL.1.2522-B-2 STERLING gc.Runout B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 128 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s58 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1977AustraliaRCA Victor APL1 2522First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1977BelgiumRCA PL-12522 / RCA Victor PL 12522First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1977BrazilRCA Victor 104.4098First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977EuropeRCA Victor PL 12522First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1977FranceRCA Victor PL 42373First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42372First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42372 / RCA Victor PL 42 372First yearLP, Album, MisprintLP, Album, Misprint
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372 / RCA Victor PL 42372First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372 / RCA Victor PL 42372First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372 / RCA Victor PL 42372First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977GermanyRCA Victor PL 42372First yearLP, Album, MisprintLP, Album, Misprint
1977GreeceRCA Victor RCLP 20131First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977IsraelRCA AFL1 2522First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977ItalyRCA Victor PL 12522 / RCA Victor AFL1 2522First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1977ItalyRCA Victor PL 12522First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 58 pressings from the 1970s
1980s24 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980CanadaRCA AYL1-3857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980FranceRCA NL 13857LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
1980NetherlandsRCA International NL-13857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980UKRCA PL 12522 / RCA ALF1 2522LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980UKRCA International PL 12522 / INTS 5066LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980USRCA Victor AYL1-3857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980USRCA Victor AYL1-3857LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981GermanyRCA International NL 13857LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981GermanyRCA NL-13857LP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1981IrelandRCA International INTS 5066 / RCA NL 13857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981IrelandRCA International INTS 5066LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981ItalyRCA YL 13857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981ItalyRCA YL 13857LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · PromoLP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo
1981SpainRCA NL 13857LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981UKRCA International INTS 5066 / RCA NL 13857LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
All 24 pressings from the 1980s
1990s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1991EuropeEMI 064 7 97720 1 / EMI 7 97720 1LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
1991EuropeEMI 064 7 97720 1 / EMI 7 97720 1LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
1991ItalyEMI 64 7977201LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
1991UKEMI EMD 1025LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
1991EuropeEMI 797720 1LP, Advance, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Advance, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2000s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2007UKRCA INTS 5066-PLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture discLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc
2010s15 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2014GermanyRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2014GermanyRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
2014GermanyRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2015NetherlandsRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl
2016EuropeRCA Victor PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016NetherlandsRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA Victor PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA Victor PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA Victor PL 12522LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2016UKRCA Victor PL 12522LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
2017EuropeParlophone DB 77822 / Parlophone 0190295842840LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2018WorldwideParlophone 0190295842840 / Parlophone DB 77822LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
2020s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2022WorldwideParlophone DB 77822 / Parlophone 0190295842840LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · LimitedLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Limited
2023ArgentinaParlophone 7777-97720-1 / Parlophone DB 77822LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2025EuropeParlophone 0190295842840LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2026UKParlophone 0190295842840LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl
Year unknown21 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?UnknownRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?AustraliaRCA Victor APL1 2522LP, AlbumLP, Album
?CanadaRCA AYL1-3857LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?FranceRCA Victor PL 42373LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?FranceRCA Victor PL 42373LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372LP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Misprint, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372 / RCA Victor PL 42372LP, Album, Repress, StereoLP, Album, Repress, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Victor PL 42 372LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?NetherlandsRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?NetherlandsRCA NL-13857 / RCA International NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?NetherlandsRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?NetherlandsRCA NL 13857LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?South KoreaHigh Stereo HEK 84LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?SpainRCA NL-13857LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
All 21 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. A1Beauty And The Beast
  2. A2Joe The Lion
  3. A3"Heroes"
  4. A4Sons Of The Silent Age
  5. A5Blackout
  6. B1V-2 Schneider
  7. B2Sense Of Doubt
  8. B3Moss Garden
  9. B4Neuköln
  10. B5The Secret Life Of Arabia

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of "Heroes" are there?

128 vinyl pressings of "Heroes" are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1977 and 2026.

When was "Heroes" first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor PL 12522, released October 14, 1977.

How do I tell if my copy of "Heroes" is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PL 12522, AFL1-2522, RVP-6243, APL1-2522) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STERLING gc. and I-24 PL-12522-A-2 A2 A̶F̶L̶-1̶-2̶5̶2̶2̶-A̶. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is "Heroes" on vinyl worth?

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.

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