Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1980
Scary Monsters was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
54 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 24 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 LP 2 A-3 I CANT THINK B7AXRunout side A variant 1
BOW 2-B-4 TOWNHOUSE W OF ANYTHING A3AAA 4Runout side B variant 1
BOW LP 2 A-3 TOWNHOUSE I CANT THINK... B1R WRunout side A variant 2
BOW 2-B-3 TOWNHOUSE ...OF ANYTHING A1W MRunout side B variant 2
BOW LP2 A3 TOWNHOUSE I CAN'T THINK....B/AARunout side A etched variant 1
BOW LP2 B3 TOWNHOUSE ..OF ANYTHING A/APRunout side B etched variant 1
BOW LP 2 ALabel Side A
BOW LP 2 BLabel Side B
AQL-1-3647 A 1 STERLING A1 YSide A runout, variant 1
AQL1-3647-B-1 STERLING A5 QSide B runout, variant 1
AQL•1•3647• A-1 STERLING gc A2 ASide A runout, variant 2
AQL1•3647• B-1 STERLING A1 E ESide B runout, variant 2
AQL-1-3647 A-1 STERLING GL A1 RSide A runout
AQL1-3647-B-1 STERLING A1 CCSide B runout
AQL1-3647-ASide A label
AQL1-3647-BSide B label
APL1 3647-A A1A1 DBA side - runout stamped (DB etched) - variant 1
HQLI 3647-B A1D14 DB BAB side - runout etched - variant 1
AQL1 3647-A A1A1A side - runout stamped - variant 2
AQLI 3647-B A1B DB BAB side - runout etched - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1 3647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1 3647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 3647 / RCA Australia APLI 3647First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 3647 / RCA Australia APLI 3647First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Belgium | RCA RCA PL 13647 / RCA PL 13647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Belgium | RCA PL 13647 / RCA BOW LP 2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4146First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Canada | RCA Victor AQL1-3647First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | RCA Victor AQL1-3647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Colombia | RCA Victor 05(0131)01783First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Denmark | RCA RCA PL 13647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ecuador | RCA 800548 / RCA Victor ECS-800548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA Victor 27194-0LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA Victor 32 156-2LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Germany | RCA AQL1-3647-3LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK | RCA Victor PL-13647LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | UK | RCA Victor PL-13647LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Worldwide | Parlophone DB 77828 / Parlophone 0190295842611LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA PL 13647 / RCA Victor PL 13647LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Taiwan | Taiwan Nova Records ZC-201LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Worldwide | Parlophone DB 77828 / Parlophone 0190295842611LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSRCA 73117 / RCA Victor PL 13647LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
86 vinyl pressings of Scary Monsters are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1980 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, US, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is RCA BOW LP 2, released September 12, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW LP 2, AQL1-3647, APL1 3647, PL 13647) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BOW LP 2 A-3 I CANT THINK B7AX and BOW 2-B-4 TOWNHOUSE W OF ANYTHING A3AAA 4. 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.
