Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1979
John, I'm Only Dancing 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.
10 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 4 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.
AT LAST... BOW 12· 4 - A - 2 Ʊ A2H M₁Runout side A, variant 1
SHAPE OF THINGS BOW 12 · 4 - B - 1 Ʊ A1O M₁Runout side B, variant 1
AT LASTˍˍˍ BOW 12· 4 - A - 2 Ʊ 'W' AICRunout side A, variant 2
SHAPE OF THINGSˍˍˍ BOW 12 · 4 - B - 1 Ʊ AII 'W'Runout side B, variant 2
AT LAST... BOW 4 - A - 2 A7A 'W'Side A runout, etched, variant 1
BOW 4 - B - 1 SHAPE OF THINGS... A3AA29 'W'Side B runout, etched, variant 1
BOW 4-A-1 [Utopia Lyre] 'W' A1O AT LAST...Side A runout, etched, variant 2
BOW 4-B-1 SHAPE OF THINGS... [Utopia Lyre] 'W' A1DSide B runout, etched, variant 2
W. AT LAST--- BOW 4 - A - 2 [lyre symbol] A7 GVariant 1 side A, etched
W. BOW 4 - B - 1 SHAPE OF THINGS--- [lyre symbol) A 2UVariant 1 side B, etched
AT LAST--- BOW 4 - A - 1 [lyre symbol] A1NVariant 2 side A, etched
W. BOW 4 - B - 1 SHAPE OF THINGS--- [lyre symbol] A 3CVariant 2 side B, etched
[AGI logo] 7 911 PC 9484 A Y.D.Runout A side
[AGI logo] 7 911 PC 9484 B Y.D.Runout B side
PC 9484 ALabel A side
PC 9484 BLabel B side
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 | France | RCA Victor PC 9484First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | RCA Victor PB 9482First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | RCA PB 9482 / RCA Victor PB 9482First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | RCA PB-9482 / RCA Victor PB-9482First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | RCA PB-9482 / RCA Victor PB-9482First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 4 / RCA PB 9482First year7", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 4 / RCA PB 9482First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 4 / RCA PB 9482First year12", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW12 4 / RCA PC 9482First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1979 | UK | RCA BOW 4 / RCA PB 9482First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Italy | RCA Victor PB 94827", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42 973 / RCA Victor GMO 79/04757", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1980 | Italy | RCA PB 9482 / RCA Victor PB 94827", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
13 vinyl pressings of John, I'm Only Dancing are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, France, Germany, Netherlands. One of them is RCA BOW12 4, released December 7, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW12 4, BOW 4, PC 9484, PB 9482) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AT LAST... BOW 12· 4 - A - 2 Ʊ A2H M₁ and SHAPE OF THINGS BOW 12 · 4 - B - 1 Ʊ A1O M₁. 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.
