Vinyl pressings
by First Choice · 1974
The Player 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.
16 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 10 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.
p(stamped, inverted) BELL 2019(etched) MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.(stamped, on three lines) ΔM(etched, signed)A side deadwax
p(stamped, inverted) BELL 2020 F/W ΔM(etched)B side deadwax
BELL 2019-1-1-1 [MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE LABS] AM D P.R.A side runout
BELL 2020-1-1-1 F/W AM D P.R.B side runout
2019A side label
2020B side label
2019A Label
2020B Label
2019A side label
2020B side label
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 | Australia | Bell Records 2008 281First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Belgium | Bell Records 2008 281First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Brazil | Bell Records 2008 281First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Canada | Bell Records PG 200XFirst year7" | 7" |
| 1974 | Germany | Bell Records 2008 281First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1974 | Jamaica | Bell Records PG 200First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1974 | Japan | Bell Records BLPB-239 / Arista BLPB-239First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Arista BLPB-239-AR7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bell Records 2008 281First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200First year7" | 7" |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG-200First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Germany | Marlboro Music 708 84312", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 1997 | Italy | D:vision Records DVR 18412", Maxi-Single | 12", Maxi-Single |
| 1997 | Italy | D:vision Records DV 18412", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo |
| 1997 | Italy | D:vision Records PROMO12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, White Label · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1997 | UK | Minimal Records MINX 1312", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | UK | Minimal Records MINX 1312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint |
| 1997 | UK | Minimal Records MINX 13P112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1998 | UK | One Step Music OSM 712", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1999 | Netherlands | Spinnin' Records SP 00112", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Netherlands | Spinnin' Records SP001R12" | 12" |
| 2000 | Netherlands | Spinnin' Records SP001R12", Promo, White Label · Promo | 12", Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 2000 | UK | Fluential fluent 0612", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2000 | UK | Fluential fluent 6 dj12", Test Pressing, 33 ⅓ RPM · Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing, 33 ⅓ RPM · Test pressing |
| 2000 | UK | Fluential fluent 612", 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint |
| 2001 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated 70876-10945-1/0 / The Right Stuff 70876-10945-1/012", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 2001 | US | The Right Stuff 72438-77651-1-512", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2002 | Unknown | Not On Label12", White Label | 12", White Label |
| 2003 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PGR 00112", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2003 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PGR 00212", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM |
| 2003 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PGR 00112", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 2003 | US | Not On Label (First Choice) FC 32112", Unofficial Release, 45 RPM · Unofficial | 12", Unofficial Release, 45 RPM · Unofficial |
| 2003 | UK | Minimal Records MINX 1712", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2004 | US | Philly Groove Records Incorporated PGR 002 / Philly Groove Records Incorporated PGR00212", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UK | Philly Groove Records Incorporated BRPD-20 / Brookside BRPD-2012", 45 RPM, Remastered, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Remastered, Stereo |
41 vinyl pressings of The Player are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1974 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Philly Groove Records Incorporated PG 200, released July 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PG 200, PG-200, BELL 1376, 2008 281) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p(stamped, inverted) BELL 2019(etched) MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.(stamped, on three lines) ΔM(etched, signed) and p(stamped, inverted) BELL 2020 F/W ΔM(etched). 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.
