Vinyl pressings
by Jim Morrison · 1978
An American Prayer was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
33 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 17 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.
5E-502 A SP F4 SRC 1-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPVar. 1 runout A-side, etching
5E-502 B SP F4 SRC 1-2C MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPVar. 1 runout B-side, etching
5E-502 A SP F4 SRC MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPVar. 2 runout A-side, etching
5E-502 B SP F4 SRC MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPVar. 2 runout B-side, etching
5E-502 A SP F43-1 [SRC logo] 1-EXPORT MASTERED BY CAPITOL PRC KPRunout A, variant 1
5E-502 B2 PRC F2-11-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL PRC KPRunout B, variant 1
5E-502-A4 PRC F4 +1-11 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout A, variant 2
5E-502-B4 PRC F2 -11-11 PRC MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPRunout B, variant 2
5E-502 A4 PRCW F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A etched / stamped, variant 1
5E-502 B4 PRCW F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B etched / stamped, variant 1
5E-502 A4 PRCW F4-11-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide A etched / stamped, variant 2
5E-502 B4 PRCW F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide B etched / stamped, variant 2
5E-502 G1A Jim you are missed!Side A etched
5E-502-ASide A label
5E-502-BSide B label
5E-502-ADJRE-SP1 F1 SP \ -1 KPRunout Side A, Etched
5E-502-BDJRE-SP1 F1 SP \ -1 KPRunout Side B, Etched
MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side A&B, Stamped
MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide 1 & 2 Stamped
5E-502 A SP F43-1C 1-EXPORTSide A Variant 1
5E-502 B2 PRC F2Side B Variant 1
5E-502 A SP F43 1 [SRC LOGO] -11 1-EXPORT PRC KPSide A Variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Elektra 502-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Elektra 5E 502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Elektra 5E 502First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Austria | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Austria | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | Elektra 32.032First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1978 | France | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Elektra 424 / Elektra 5C 5502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Elektra W 52111First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Elektra W 52111LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1978 | Italy | Elektra W 52111First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Elektra 52111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Elektra P-6417ELP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Portugal | Elektra ELE 52111 / Elektra 52 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 52111 / Elektra ELK 52111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Portugal | Elektra ELE 52111 / Elektra 52 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | Elektra L 52111 / Elektra 52111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Portugal | Elektra ELE 52111 / Elektra 52 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Australia | Elektra 502-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | New Zealand | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Mexico | Elektra LDWE-6488LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Europe | Elektra K 52 111 / Elektra ELK 52 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Mexico | Elektra LDWE-6488LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1995 | Europe | Elektra 7559-61812-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 1995 | US | Elektra 61812-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | USA & Europe | Elektra R1 502 / 603497856237LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Elektra RB1 502 / Elektra 603497849871LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra K 52 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra 5E-502 / Elektra K 52 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra 5E-502LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra K 52 111 / Elektra ELK 52 111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Elektra ELK 52 111 / Elektra K 52 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
98 vinyl pressings of An American Prayer are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1978 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Belgium, Australia and more. One of them is Elektra 5E-502.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5E-502, K 52111, ELK 52 111, 502-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5E-502 A SP F4 SRC 1-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP and 5E-502 B SP F4 SRC 1-2C MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP. 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.
