Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1980
The Best Of Bowie 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.
13 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 7 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.
NE-1111-ASide A Variant 1
NE-1111-BSide B Variant 1
NE 1111-A-7 W RCA A10 BILBOSide A Variant 2
NE 1111-B-1 A2F TA1PESide B Variant 2
NE 1111-A-8Side A runout, variant 1
NE 1111-B-1Side B runout, variant 1
NE 1111 -A-7 W RCA A3D BILBOSide A runout, variant 2
NE 1111 - B - 3 RCA W A3E TA1PESide B runout, variant 2
NE 1111A 11- -Side A Variant 1
NE 1111B 11 -Side B Variant 1
NS-4119-A-CR PDRunout, side A, stamped, "PD" etched
NS-4119-B-CR PDRunout, side B, stamped, "PD" etched
Δ MX199197-B NA580-1Side A runout groove (machine-stamped)
Δ MX199198 NA580-2Side B runout groove (machine-stamped)
NE 1111-A10 TB FOR KEVIN K. BILBO TA1PESide A runout
NE 1111-B TA1PE TBSide B runout
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 | Australasia | K-Tel NA 580LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1980 | New Zealand | K-Tel NA 580First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Switzerland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | K-Tel NS 4119First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Australia | K-Tel NA 580First yearLP, Compilation, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1980 | Ireland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Ireland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1980 | Israel | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | New Zealand | K-Tel NA 580First yearLP, Compilation, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | K-Tel NE 1111 / K-Tel NS 4119First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | UK & Ireland | K-Tel NE 1111First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | K-Tel BLP 81001 / K-Tel BLP 81.001LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | K-Tel NA580LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Austria | K-Tel NE 1111LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Bowie are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1980 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK & Ireland, Scandinavia, Australia, Ireland and more. One of them is K-Tel NE 1111, released December 15, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NE 1111, NS 4119, NA 580) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NE-1111-A and NE-1111-B. 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.
