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A Single Man by Elton John, album cover

Vinyl pressings

A Single Man

by Elton John · 1978

93 pressings37 countriesSoft RockPop RockRockPop

A Single Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of A Single Man

54 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 30 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.

UK

October 16, 1978
Label and catalog number
The Rocket Record Company TRAIN 1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

TRAIN 1 A\2 [lyre logo] ISAAC RULES - O.K. XXXX A//2 UTA-side, hand etched, 'XXXX A//2 UT' stamped, variant 1

TRAIN 1 B\2 [lyre logo] XXXX B//2 UTB-side, hand etched, 'XXXX B//2 UT' stamped, variant 1

TRAIN I A\2 12 1C 2 9 ⅠSAAC RULES–O.K. [lyre logo] A̶̷S̶̷M̶̷–̶̷2̶̷ A//2 UTA-side etched / stamped, variant 2

TRAIN I B\2 [lyre logo] A̶̷S̶̷M̶̷–̶̷2̶̷ B//2 UT 16 14B-side etched / stamped, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1978
Label and catalog number
The Rocket Record Company
Format
LP, Advance, Album
Runout / matrix

ASM 1 A\2 U1 [lyre logo] ISAAC RULES - O.K.Side A runout

ASM 2 B\2 U1Side B runout

Full details of this pressing

US

1978
Label and catalog number
MCA Records MCA-3065
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Monarch Pressing, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

MCA 1568 W10 M3 (MR) △23857 (18) LBRunout A, variant 1

MCA 1569 W7 M2 (MR) △23857-X (3) LBRunout B, variant 1

MCA 1568 W8 M2 (MR) △23857 ⑥ LBRunout A, variant 2

MCA 1569 W7 M2 (M2) △23857-X ① LBRunout B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1978
Label and catalog number
MCA Records MCAP-14951
Format
LP, Album, Picture Disc, Stereo
Runout / matrix

MCA 1568 W6 LBSide A runout

MCA 1569 W6 LBSide B runout

Full details of this pressing

US

1978
Label and catalog number
MCA Records MCA-3065
Format
LP, Album · Gloversville Press, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

MCA 1568 W2 LB ⧈-G-⧈Runout A, etched / ⧈-G-⧈ stamped, variant 1

MCA 1569 W1 LB ⧈-G-⧈Runout B, etched / ⧈-G-⧈ stamped, variant 1

MCA 1568 W7 ⧈-G-⧈ 2 LBRunout A, etched / ⧈-G-⧈ stamped, variant 2

MCA 1569 W1 ⧈-G-⧈ 1 LBRunout B, etched / ⧈-G-⧈ stamped, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1978
Label and catalog number
MCA Records MCA-3065
Format
LP, Album · Pinckneyville Press, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

MCA1568A Side Label

MCA1569B Side Label

MCA 1568 W1 ◈-P-◈ ʟʙA Side Etch exc ◈-P-◈ stamp, var. 1

MCA 1569 W1 ◈-P-◈ ʟʙB Side Etch exc ◈-P-◈ stamp, var. 1

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 93 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s64 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1978ArgentinaThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500 / The Rocket Record Company 6032First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1978AustralasiaThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978AustralasiaThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1978AustraliaMCA Records MCA -3065 / MCA Records 9103 500First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978AustraliaThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978AustriaThe Rocket Record Company PH 6858 092 / The Rocket Record Company 6858 092First yearLP, Album, Special EditionLP, Album, Special Edition
1978BarbadosPhilips 9103 500First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978BoliviaThe Rocket Record Company RKL - 700.001 - AFirst yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978BulgariaБалкантон BPOL 9103500First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1978CanadaMCA Records MCA-3065First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978CanadaMCA Records MCA-3065First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978CanadaMCA Records MCA-3065First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978CanadaMCA Records MCA-3065First yearLP, Album · Colored vinylLP, Album · Colored vinyl
1978EcuadorMCA Records LP-36000First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1978FranceThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 64 pressings from the 1970s
1980s19 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980USSRМелодия С 60—15147-8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980USSRМелодия C60 15147 8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980USSRМелодия С 60—15147-8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980USSRМелодия С 60—15147-8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980USSRМелодия C60 15147 8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1980USSRМелодия С 60—15147-8LP, AlbumLP, Album
1981USSRМелодия 33 С60-15147-8LP, Album, Repress, StereoLP, Album, Repress, Stereo
1983BulgariaБалкантон ВТА 11003LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983BulgariaБалкантон ВТА 11003LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983BulgariaБалкантон ВТА 11003LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983BulgariaБалкантон ВТА 11003LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983UKThe Rocket Record Company PRICE 24 / The Rocket Record Company 910 350-0LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1983UKThe Rocket Record Company PRICE 24LP, Album, White Label, StereoLP, Album, White Label, Stereo
1983UKThe Rocket Record Company PRICE 24 / The Rocket Record Company 910 350-0LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1986BrazilThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
All 19 pressings from the 1980s
2020s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2022WorldwideRocket Entertainment 4596199 / Mercury 4596199LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Year unknown9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?AustralasiaThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?NetherlandsThe Rocket Record Company 9103 500LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?NetherlandsThe Rocket Record Company 826 755-1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?NetherlandsThe Rocket Record Company 9103500LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo
?South KoreaLife Record CM 49LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?South KoreaK-Tel 9007LP, AlbumLP, Album
?SpainThe Rocket Record Company 91 03 500LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?USMCA Records MCA-1615 / MCA Records MCA-3065LP, AlbumLP, Album
?USSRМелодия С 60—15147-8LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. A1Shine On Through3:40
  2. A2Return To Paradise4:12
  3. A3I Don't Care4:20
  4. A4Big Dipper4:00
  5. A5It Ain't Gonna Be Easy8:23
  6. B1Part Time Love3:12
  7. B2Georgia4:47
  8. B3Shooting Star2:43
  9. B4Madness6:07
  10. B5Reverie0:52
  11. B6Song For Guy6:34

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of A Single Man are there?

93 vinyl pressings of A Single Man are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1978 and 2022.

When was A Single Man first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Australia, Netherlands and more. One of them is The Rocket Record Company TRAIN 1, released October 16, 1978.

How do I tell if my copy of A Single Man is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TRAIN 1, MCA-3065, MCAP-14951, L33-1995) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TRAIN 1 A\2 [lyre logo] ISAAC RULES - O.K. XXXX A//2 UT and TRAIN 1 B\2 [lyre logo] XXXX B//2 UT. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is A Single Man on vinyl worth?

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.

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