Vinyl pressings
by David Bowie · 1981
Wild Is The Wind 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.
15 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.
TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 A-1U 18 2Runout side A, variant 1
TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 B-1U 22 2Runout side B, variant 1
TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 A̶B̶-2U 42 2Runout side A, variant 2
TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 B-2U 7 2Runout side B, variant 2
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 A-4USide A, stamped runout variant 1
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 B-3USide B, stamped runout variant 1
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 A-3USide A, etched runout variant 2
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 B-3USide B, etched runout variant 2
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 A-4U 35 1Runout Side A
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 B-4U 8 2Runout Side A
BOW 10 A§Label side A
BOW 10 B§Label side B
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 A-3USide A, stamped runout variant 1
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 B-4USide B, stamped runout variant 1
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 A-4USide A, stamped runout variant 2
TOWN HOUSE BOW 10 B-4USide B, stamped runout variant 2
PB 9815A AD `30Side 1 Runout etched
PB 9815B AD `301Side 2 Runout etched
PB-9815ALabel Side 1
PB-9815BLabel Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | RCA Victor 103924First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA Victor PC 9773 / RCA PC 9773First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA PB 9815 / RCA Victor PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA PB 98157", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA Victor PC 9773 / RCA PC 9773First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA PC 977312", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Ireland | RCA BOW 10 / RCA PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | New Zealand | RCA Victor 103924First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | South Africa | RCA Victor TRS 364 / RCA Victor PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-9815First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | UK | RCA BOW 10 / RCA PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA BOW 10 / RCA PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA BOW 10 / RCA PB 9815First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Russia | буд кон Д60 2296Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | Flexi-disc, 5½", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
22 vinyl pressings of Wild Is The Wind are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, Australia, Germany, Ireland and more. One of them is RCA BOW T 10, released November 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BOW T 10, BOW 10, 103924, PC 9773) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 A-1U 18 2 and TOWNHOUSE BOWT 10 B-1U 22 2. 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.
