Vinyl pressings
by Gerry Rafferty · 1979
Night Owl was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
40 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 27 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.
UAK 30238 A - 2U GG 2 TA1PEA-side runout variant 1
UAK 30238 B - 1U RT 1 BILBO - GREAT STUFFB-side runout variant 1
UAK 30238 A - 2U MA 4 TA1PEA-side runout variant 2
UAK 30238 B - 1U MA 1 BILBO - GREAT STUFFB-side runout variant 2
UAK 30238 A - 3U RT BILBO TA1PE 3A-side runout, variant 1
UAK 30238 B - 1U L G 6 BILBO - GREAT STUFFB-side runout, variant 1
UAK 30238 A - 3U BILBO TA1PE 1A-side runout, variant 2
UAK 30238 B - 1U L G 6 BILBO - GREAT STUFFB-side runout, variant 2
UAK 30238 A - 2U G P TA1PERunout side A
UAK 30238 B - 1U T D BILBO - GREAT STUFFRunout side B
UAK 30238ALabel side A
UAK 30238BLabel side B
UA-LA958-1 X1 UA-JIM 0Etched Side A
SUB UA-LA958-2 X1 UA-JIM 0Etched Side B
UALA-958-1 X-1 F-7 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally SRunout A Side
UALA-958-2 M-2 F-8 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally S1Runout B Side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | United Artists Records 108063First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Australia | United Artists Records L 36799 / United Artists Records L36799First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Belgium | United Artists Records 4C 064-62700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Brazil | United Artists Records 31C 064 62700First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA958-Ⅰ / United Artists Records UALA 958-ⅠFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | United Artists Records UALA 50958First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | United Artists Records 2S 068-62.700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | United Artists Records 1C 064-62 700 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-62 700First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | United Artists Records 064 62 700LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Greece | United Artists Records UAK 30238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Ireland | United Artists Records UAK 30238First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | United Artists Records UAK 30238First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | United Artists Records UAK 30238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Israel | United Artists Records UAK 30238First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | United Artists Records UAL 24078First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | United Artists Records UAC-5018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSUA 73104 / United Artists Records UAK 30238LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Australia | Liberty MID.166061LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | UK | Fame FA 41 3147 1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Parlophone 0190296375675LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | United Artists Records 1C 038-15 7632 1 / EMI Electrola 1C 038-15 7632 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | United Artists Records 14C 062-62700LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | United Artists Records 3c064-62700LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Fame FA4131471LP, Album | LP, Album |
52 vinyl pressings of Night Owl are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1979 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Hong Kong & Thailand, Argentina and more. One of them is United Artists Records UAK 30238.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UAK 30238, UA-LA958-I, 108063, L 36799) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UAK 30238 A - 2U GG 2 TA1PE and UAK 30238 B - 1U RT 1 BILBO - GREAT STUFF. 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.
