Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1981
Up The Hill Backwards was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. 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 1981, 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.
BOW-9-A-1 0 3 W TOWNHOUSEVariant 1 Runout, Side A
BOW 9 B-3U 0 3Variant 1 Runout, Side B
BOW-9-A-1 26 W A2 TOWNHOUSEVariant 2 Runout, Side A
BOW 9 B-3U 26Variant 2 Runout, Side B
BOW 9-A-1 27 A1 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1
BOW 9-B-1 TOWNHOUSE 5 A1Runout side B, variant 1
BOW 9-A-1 C1 1· A1 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 2
BOW 9-B-1 TOWNHOUSE CRunout side B, variant 2
BOW 9-A-1 A2 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1
BOW 9-B-2 A1 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, variant 1
BOW 9-A-1 TOWNHOUSERunout side A, variant 1
BOW 9-B-2 TOWNHOUSERunout side B, variant 1
BOW 9-A-1 A2 'W' A2 TOWNHOUSE CRunout side A, variant 2
BOW 9-B-1 A1 'W' TOWNHOUSE 7Runout side B, variant 2
BOW 9-A-1 'W' A1G TOWNHOUSERunout side A
BOW 9-B-2 'W' A1E TOWNHOUSERunout side B
BOW 9 ALabel side A
BOW 9 BLabel side B
PD12249-A-1 A2 D STERLINGVariant 1 A side runout, etched / stamped
PD12249-A-1 B1 I STERLINGVariant 1 B side runout, etched / stamped
PD12249-A-1 A1 E STERLINGVariant 2 A side runout, etched / stamped
PD12249-B-1 A2 I STERLINGVariant 2 B side runout, etched / stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | RCA PB-50622First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA PB 9671 / RCA Victor PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Portugal | RCA Victor PB-9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42-1049First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA BOW 9 / RCA PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA BOW 9 / RCA PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | RCA Victor PD-12249First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | RCA Victor JD-12249 / RCA Victor PD-12249First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 9 / RCA Victor PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 9 / RCA Victor PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | UK | RCA Victor BOW 9 / RCA Victor PB 9671First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
13 vinyl pressings of Up The Hill Backwards are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is RCA Victor BOW 9, released March 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW 9, PD-12249, JD-12249, PB-50622) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BOW-9-A-1 0 3 W TOWNHOUSE and BOW 9 B-3U 0 3. 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.
