Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1973
Space Oddity was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 10 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.
BPKS-4503-3S–A2A RA side deadwax - etched
BPKS-4521-2S– A2A RB side deadwax - etched
BPKS-4503A-Side Label
BPKS-4521B-Side Label
BPKS·4503·1S HA side deadwax - etched
BPKS-4521-1S HB side deadwax - stamped
BPKS-4503Side A Label
BPKS-4521Side B Label
BPKS·4521·3S Hvariation 1 (B side deadwax - stamped)
BPKS·4521·3S Hvariation 2 (B side deadwax - stamped)
BPKS-4503Side A Label
BPKS-4521Side B Label
BPKS4503 II SA Side (Etched)
BPKS4521 1SB Side (Stamped)
BPKS4503 II S (Etched) A2 (Stamped)Variant 2: A Side
BPKS4521 1S I 1 A1Variant 2: B Side (Stamped)
BPKS4503 IIS I AIVariant 1 A-side runout etching
BPKS4521--1S I AIVariant 1 B-side runout etching
BPKS4503 IIS I [ AIVariant 2 A-side runout etching
BPKS4521 1S I 1 A3Variant 2 B-side runout etching
BPKS4503 IIS AIRunout side A, etched
BPKS4525 IS AIRunout side B, etched
BPKS-4503Label side A
BPKS-4525Label side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102235First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102235First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor 102235First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA Victor 74-0876First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA Victor GB-10470First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Chile | RCA Victor APF - 0001 / RCA Victor APF - 0001 -First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Chile | RCA Victor APF-0001- / RCA Victor APF-0001First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | RCA Victor 46G 150First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1973 | New Zealand | RCA Victor 74-08767", Single, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1973 | New Zealand | RCA Victor 74-08767", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1973 | Philippines | RCA Victor 74-0876First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Portugal | RCA Victor 20 092First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1973 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42-415 / RCA Victor 74-0876First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | RCA Victor 3-10834First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Spain | RCA Victor 3-10834First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Germany | RCA Victor PPBO-7040 / RCA Victor 26.113897", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | RCA Victor 1022357", Single, Repress, Stereo | 7", Single, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | RCA Victor 3-108347", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of Space Oddity are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1973 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, Australia, Canada, Chile and more. One of them is RCA Victor 74-0876, released January 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 74-0876, 102235, GB-10470, APF - 0001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BPKS-4503-3S–A2A R and BPKS-4521-2S– A2A R. 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.
