Vinyl pressings
by Janis Ian · 1974
Stars 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.
20 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 AL 32857-2B \ T ºA Side Stamped exc "T" etch
º P BL 32857-1B PXTB Side Stamped exc "PXT" etch
AL 32857A Side Label
BL 32857B Side Label
P AL 32857-2C Ƨ B\2 oRunout A, variant 1
P PBL-32857-1A JILL/JACKI STERLING RL ƧRunout B, variant 1
o P AL 32857-2C 1S B 15Runout A, variant 2
P PBL-32857-1A Jill/Jacki o STERLING RL ƧRunout B, variant 2
P P AL-32857-2ASide A runout, variant 1
P PBL-32857-1A Jill/Jacki STERLING RLSide B runout, variant 1
P P AL-32857-2CSide A runout, variant 2
P PBL-32857-1A Jill/Jacki STERLING RLSide B runout, variant 2
PAL-32857-1A Jill/Jacki STERLING RLA-side etched, "STERLING" stamped
PBL-32857-1A Jill/Jacki STERLING RLB-side etched, "STERLING" stamped
AL 32857A-side label
BL 32857B-side label
PAL-32857-2ASide A runout
P BL-32857-1BSide B runout
AL 32857Side A label
BL 32857Side B label
CBS•S•80224•A1 3 ΛSide A /stamped
CBS•S•80224•B1 3 ΛSide B / stamped
S 80224 ASide A label matrix
S 80224 BSide B label matrix
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 | Interfusion L-35,149 / Interfusion L 35149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Australia | Interfusion L 35149 / Interfusion ITL.35149First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1974 | Canada | Columbia KC 32857First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Columbia KC 32857First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Columbia KC 32857First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Europe | CBS S 80224 / CBS CBS 80224LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1974 | Europe | CBS S 80224 / CBS KC 32857First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Ireland | CBS S 80224 / CBS 80224First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Israel | CBS 80224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPO 112First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Interfusion L 35149 / Interfusion L-35149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1815First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | CBS S 80224 / CBS 80224First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | CBS 80224 / CBS S 80224LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | UK | CBS S 80224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS 32049 / CBS 32049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS CBS 32049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | South Korea | Columbia CPL-1213 (PC-32857)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1995 | UK | The Grapevine Label GRALP 302LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | Sony Music 88985448761 / Legacy 88985448761LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Columbia KC 32857LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 32857 / Columbia WKC 32857LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS S 80224 / CBS 80224LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | CBS 32049 / CBS CBS 32049LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32049 / CBS 32049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32857 / The Rainbow Collection PC 32857LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32857 / The Rainbow Collection PC 32857LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
37 vinyl pressings of Stars are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1974 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 32857, released February 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 32857, S 80224, L-35,149, L 35149) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 32857-2B \ T º and º P BL 32857-1B PXT. 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.
