Vinyl pressings
by Elton John · 1974
Caribou was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
44 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 28 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.
G 2 DJLPH 439 A-3 RETURN OF HERCULESSide A runout, etched, variant 1
BR 6A DJLPH 439 B-2 ·RAYS·Side B runout, etched, variant 1
DJLPH 439 A-2 RETURN OF HERCULES EFSide A runout, etched, variant 2
DJLPH 439 B-3 RAYS BWSide B runout, etched, variant 2
DJH-20439-A-10Side A runout, etched
DJH-20439-B-10Side B runout, etched
⋀Side B runout, stamped
DJH 20439-ASide A label
DJLPH 439 A-2 RETURN OF HERCULESVariant 1, A-side runout etched
DJLPH 439 B-2 ·RAYS·Variant 1, B-side runout etched
DJLPH 439 A-3 RETURN OF HERCULES AMVariant 2, A-side runout etched
DJLPH 439 B-3 'RAYS' CTVariant 2, B-side runout etched
DJLPH 439 A-2 RETURN OF HERCULES GSide A runout, etched
DJLPH 439 B-3 'RAYS' cWSide B runout, etched
DJLPH.439-ASide A label
DJLPH.439-BSide B label
DJLPH 439 A-2 RETURN OF HERCULESSide A Runout
DYLPH 439 B-2 RAYSSide B Runout
DJLPH 439 A-2 RETURN OF HERCULESSide A Runout
DYLPH 439 B-3 RAYSSide B Runout
DJLPH 439 A-3 RETURN OF HERCULESSide A runout
DJLPH 439 B-2 ·RAYS·AXSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Argentina | Parnaso Records PNE-10021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Argentina | Parnaso Records PNE-10021First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Australia | DJM Records L 35142 / DJM Records L-35,142First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Belgium | DJM Records 6493 025 / DJM Records 6376 450First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | Young 304.1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | DJM Records DJLPH 439First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | DJM Records 88 030 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | DJM Records 88 030 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Greece | Columbia SCXG 1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Guatemala | EMI 3327First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Israel | DJM Records DJLPH 439 / DJM Records XX 30855First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | DJM Records SNIR 25053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | DJM Records IFP-81055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | DJM Records IFP-81055First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Netherlands | DJM Records 1A 062-95693LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | DJM Records DJM 22092LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | DJM Records DJM 22092 / DJM Records DJM 22092LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA 37065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-1612 / MCA Records MCA 37065LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3006LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Record Bazaar RB 311LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | DJM Records K22P-209 / Seven Seas K22P-209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | Carrere 66 092 / DJM Records 66092LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Italy | DJM Records DJF 1157LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | DJM Records PRICE 106 / DJM Records 825 488-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | USA, Canada & UK | Mercury 5738310 / UMC 5738310LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2017 | Europe | Mercury 5738310 / UMC 5738310LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Mercury 0602557383102 / UMC 5738310LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2024 | USA & Europe | Rocket Entertainment 588 527-2 / Mercury 00602458852721LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37065 / MCA Records MCA 37065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Colombia | Odeon 11339LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Colombia | Odeon 11339LP, Album, Styrene, Stereo | LP, Album, Styrene, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | DJM Records 825 488-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | DJM Records 503008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | DJM Records 0064.221LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Yegrin AL-1089LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Giant TD-1391LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA 37065LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
81 vinyl pressings of Caribou are listed here, from 35 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is DJM Records DJLPH 439.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DJLPH 439, DJH 20439, MCA-2116, PNE-10021) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, G 2 DJLPH 439 A-3 RETURN OF HERCULES and BR 6A DJLPH 439 B-2 ·RAYS·. 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.
