Vinyl pressings
by Don McLean · 1981
Castles In The Air 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.
16 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 11 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.
64606 - A1Runout side A, variant 1
64606 - B1Runout side B, variant 1
64606 - A1 2 1Runout side A, variant 2
64606 - B1 5 1Runout side B, variant 2
EMI 5258 A-1 7 1Side A runout
EMI 5258 B-1 2 1Side B runout
EMI 5258 A-1A Side (Stamped)
EMI 5258 B-1B Side (Stamped)
YB-11819-A1 I STERLING A2Runout Side A
YB-11819-B1 I STERLING A2Runout Side B
YB-11819-ALabel Side A
YB-11819-BLabel Side B
YB-11819-A [STERLING] MR △107462Side A Runout, etched [stamped]
YB-11819-B [STERLING] MR △107462XSide B Runout, etched [stamped]
YB-11819-ASide A Label
YB-11819-BSide B Label
YB-11819-A1 389 STERLINGRunout side-A
YB-11819-B1 390 STERLINGRunout side-B
YB-11819-ALabel side-A
YB-11819-BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Interfusion K-8522First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Canada | Millennium YB-11819First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1981 | El Salvador | RCA CA-11251First year7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Ireland | EMI EMI 5258First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Netherlands | EMI 1A 006-64606 / The Rainbow Collection 1A 006-64606First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Interfusion K 8522First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | South Africa | EMI EMIJ 4377First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Spain | The Rainbow Collection 10C 006-064606 / EMI 10C 006-064606First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | EMI EMI 5258First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | UK | EMI EMI 5258First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | US | Millennium YB-11819First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1981 | US | Millennium JH-11819 / Millennium YB-11819First yearSingle, 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | Single, 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Millennium YB-11819 / The Rainbow Collection YB-11819First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Millennium YB-11819 / The Rainbow Collection YB-11819First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1981 | Japan | EMI EMS-17185First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | EMI 2C 008-64606 / EMI 2C 008-64.6067", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
17 vinyl pressings of Castles In The Air are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in Netherlands, UK, US, Japan and more. One of them is EMI 1A 006-64606.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1A 006-64606, EMI 5258, YB-11819, JH-11819) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 64606 - A1 and 64606 - B1. 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.
