Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1977
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.
34 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-[1crossed out]1121-A-2 A1A-side runout, etched
STERLING GA-side runout, stamped
PB-[1crossed out]1121-B-2 A1B-side runout, etched
GB-side runout, stamped
PB-1⃫121-A-2 STERLING 11 A1W QA-side runout, variant 1
PB-1⃫121-B-2 A1 M1B-side runout, variant 1
PB-1⃫121-A-2 STERLING 11 A1 QA-side runout, variant 2
PB-1⃫121-B-2 A1 M 1B-side runout, variant 2
PB-1121-A-1Side A - Etched, Variant 1
PB-1121-B-1Side B - Etched, Variant 1
STERLINGSide A - Stamped, Variant 1
PB-1̶1121-A-1 A2OSide A - Etched, Variant 2
PB-1121-A-2 STERLING AI G
PB -1121 -B -2 A1 G 1
PB-1121-A-1 AIARunout side A, etched
PB-1121-B-1 AIARunout side B, etched
STERLINGRunout side A / B, stamped
PB 1121 ALabel side A
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 103019First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Canada | RCA Victor PB 11121First year7" | 7" |
| 1977 | Canada | RCA Victor PB-50398First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | France | RCA Victor PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | RCA Victor PB 1121First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1977 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 1121 / RCA PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 1121 / RCA PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 1121 / RCA PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 1121 / RCA PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | Netherlands | RCA Victor PB-1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | New Zealand | RCA Victor 103019First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1977 | New Zealand | RCA 1030197", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Portugal | RCA Victor PB 1121First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Spain | RCA PC-1121First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-1121First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | RCA PB 11217", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA Victor PC 982112", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PC 982112", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA Victor PC 982112", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1983 | Ireland | RCA BOW 513 / RCA PB 11217", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | RCA BOW 513 / RCA PB 11217", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK & Europe | RCA BOW 5137", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | France | Parlophone DBISF2015 / Parlophone 08256461784387", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | Europe | Parlophone DBHERO 40 / Parlophone DBHERO407", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Picture disc |
| 2017 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | Parlophone 1217937", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Remastered, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Remastered, Stereo |
52 vinyl pressings of Heroes are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1977 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Belgium, France and more. One of them is RCA Victor PB 1121, released September 23, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PB 1121, PB 11121, JD-11151, JH-11121) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PB-[1crossed out]1121-A-2 A1 and STERLING G. 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.
