Vinyl pressings
by Elton John · 1973
Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
53 pressings came out in 1973, 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.
DJLPH 427 A2 AGONGRunout side A, variant 1
DJLPH 427 B2 BANG!Runout side B, variant 1
DJLPH 427 A2 AGONG C/JRunout side A, variant 2
DJLPH 427 B2 "BANG! ESRunout side B, variant 2
DJLPH 427 A2 A AGONG" AOSide A etched runout
DJLPH 427 B2 5 "BANG! CCSide B etched runout
DJLPH 427 A2 AGONG AP
DJLPH 427 B2 "BANG! DY
DJLPH 427 A2 AGONG P 1Side A
DJLPH 427 B2 BANG! AL 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Unknown | DJM Records DJLPH 427 / DJM Records DJLPH.427First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Argentina | Parnaso Records PNE-10003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | DJM Records L 34722 / DJM Records DJL 34722First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | DJM Records DJL-34,722 / DJM Records DJL 34722First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | DJM Records DJL-34,722 / DJM Records DJL 34722First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | DJM Records DJL-34,722 / DJM Records DJL 34722First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Austria | DJM Records 86 569 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Young 304.0035 / DJM Records 304.0035First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Brazil | Young 304.0035 / DJM Records 304.0035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA -2100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2100LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA -2100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2100LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Colombia | EMI 11250 / Odeon 11250First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Portugal | DJM Records MM-8014LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | South Africa | DJM Records DJL 33506LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA 37113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA -2100LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress · Club edition |
| 1980 | Zimbabwe | DJM Records DJL 33506LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | DJM Records K22P-206 / Seven Seas K22P-206LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | DJM Records EPC-32459 / Epic EPC-32459LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | DJM Records 66093 / Carrere 66 093LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | Italy | DJM Records DJF 1152LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | MCA Records MCA-1638LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Australasia | DJM Records 827 690-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | DJM Records 424 616-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | DJM Records 5738309 / Mercury 5738309LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | DJM Records 5738309 / Mercury 5738309LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Mercury 4873992 / Rocket Entertainment 4873992LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rocket Entertainment 657 937-8 / EMI 657 937-8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | DJM Records PRICE 105LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Elton John) PH 427LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | Young 304.0035 / DJM Records 304.0035LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3005 / MCA Records MCA-2100LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records 3005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | DJM Records 827 690-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | DJM Records DJLPH 427 / DJM Records DJLPH.427LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | DJM Records 503007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Carrere 66093LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | DJM Records 0064.213 / DJM Records And Tapes 0064.213LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Record Bazaar RB 310LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | DJM Records DJH 20427 / DJM Records 1A-062 94191LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | DJM Records 6376 455LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | New Zealand | DJM Records DJL 34722 / DJM Records L 34722LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | DJM Records DJH 20427LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
139 vinyl pressings of Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player are listed here, from 35 countries, released between 1973 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Netherlands, Japan and more. One of them is DJM Records DJLPH 427, released February 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DJLPH 427, DJLPH.427, MCA -2100, MCA-2100) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DJLPH 427 A2 AGONG and DJLPH 427 B2 BANG!. 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.
