Vinyl pressings
by Elton John · 1982
Empty Garden was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 16 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.
XPRES 77 A//1▽420 C 11 5Stamped Runout, Side A
XPRES 77 B//1▽42 0 C 11 8Stamped Runout, Side B
timtom-cbsHand Etched Runout, Side A
TYHand Etched Runout, Side B
XPRES 77 A // 1 ▽ 420 C 11 8 timtom-cbsSide A runout
XPRES 77 B // 1 ▽ 420 C 12 2 TYSide B runout
GEF-50049-A-ZAA-1463-ZI-S -SR1 1-1 SRC [Artisan] GFRun-out A etched (SRC stamp)
GEF-50049-B-XCA-1595-S-SR1 1-2 SPRun-out B etched
ZAA 1463S VILabel A
XCA 1595SLabel B
GEF-50049-ZAA-1463-VI-S -WW2Run-out A etched (SRC stamp)
GEF-50049-B-XCA-1595-S-WW1Run-out B etched
ZAA 1463S VILabel A
XCA 1595SLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | The Rocket Record Company 6000 819First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Bolivia | The Rocket Record Company RRBS-32-5First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Brazil | The Rocket Record Company 6000 819 / The Rocket Record Company 6000819First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Canada | Geffen Records KGEF 50049First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Canada | Geffen Records KGEF 50049First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | France | The Rocket Record Company 6000 861First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1982 | Guatemala | The Rocket Record Company 6000 910First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Ireland | The Rocket Record Company XPRES77First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Japan | The Rocket Record Company 7PP-73First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Japan | The Rocket Record Company 7PP-73First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Netherlands | The Rocket Record Company 6000 819First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1982 | New Zealand | The Rocket Record Company 6000 819First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Peru | The Rocket Record Company F5-ROC 6000819.6First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Peru | The Rocket Record Company F5-ROC 6000819.6First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Philippines | The Rocket Record Company RRC-65-711First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Mexico | Philips S/N 2687", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
36 vinyl pressings of Empty Garden are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1982 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Australia, Bolivia and more. One of them is The Rocket Record Company XPRES 77.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use XPRES 77, XPPIC77, XPRES DJ 77, GEF50049) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XPRES 77 A//1▽420 C 11 5 and XPRES 77 B//1▽42 0 C 11 8. 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.
