Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1982
Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 14 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.
JASide A & B etched - all variants
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-2-2 0 JASide A stamped, etched, variant 1
BOW 12 B-1U-1-1-4 0 JASide B stamped, etched, variant 1
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-1-3 JASide A stamped, etched, variant 2
BOW-T-12-A ORLAKE SWSide A handwritten
BOW-T-12-B ORLAKESide B handwritten
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-2-2 0Side A runout - variant 1
BOW 12 B-1U-1-1-4 0Side B runout - variant 1
BOW - 12 - A ORLAKESide A runout - variant 2
BOW - 12 - B ORLAKESide B runout - variant 2
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1– 6 - 3 JAMatrix runout Side A
BOW 12 B-1U-1-4 - 2 0 JAMatrix runout Side B
BOW 12 A1 POUNDA TA1PE ⋀Side A runout
BOW 12 B1 ⋀Side B runout
BOW 12 A§Side A label
PB 13400 ASide A label
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-2-2 0Side A stamped variant 1
BOW 12 B-1U-1-1-4 0Side B stamped variant 1
PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-1-3Side A stamped variant 2
BOW 12 B-1U-1-3-4Side B stamped variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | US | B & B Records 45-1007", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo |
| 1978 | US | B & B Records 45-1007", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | RCA Victor 104076First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1982 | Australia | RCA Victor 104076First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1982 | Belgium | RCA Victor PB 3400 / RCA Victor BOW 12First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Benelux | RCA X-MAS 82 / RCA PB 3400First year7", Single Sided, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", Single Sided, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | Benelux | RCA X-MAS 82First year7", Single Sided, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", Single Sided, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | Canada | RCA PH-13400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PB 3400 / RCA Victor PB 3400First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Germany | RCA PB-34007", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1982 | Ireland | RCA BOW 12 / RCA PB 13400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1982 | Ireland | RCA BOW 12 / RCA PB 13400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1982 | Italy | RCA PB 3400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1982 | Italy | RCA PB 3400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA RPS-97 / RCA PH-13400First year7", Single, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA RPS-97First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1982 | Netherlands | RCA PB-3400First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Collectors' Choice Music CCM21637", Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | Not On Label PWM8545 / Not On Label 0079275585453212", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 2025 | USA & Canada | Primary Wave Music 79275587236912", 45 RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc | 12", 45 RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | B & B Records 45-1007", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | UK | RCA BOW 127", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | B & B Records 45-1007", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | B & B Records 45-1007", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | B & B Records 45-1007", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | B & B Records 45-1007", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | RCA PH-134007", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA PH-134007", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
45 vinyl pressings of Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1978 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is RCA BOW 12.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW 12, BOWT 12, BOW 12(PRO), PH-13400) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, JA and PRO BOW 12 A-2U-1-2-2 0 JA. 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.
