Vinyl pressings
by Joe Jackson · 1986
Big World was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 14 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.
SPO-6021-A 1̶ RCA1 RL I EDMISF2SM1 A1 CSide A runout, variant 1
SPO-6021-B-RCA2 RL I EDMISF1SM8 A1 DSide B runout, variant 1
SPO-6021-C-RCA1 RL I A4 A EDMISF1SM3Side C runout, variant 1
SPO-6021-D-RCA-1 RL ℗ [Trumpet logo] I A4 FSide D runout, variant 1
SPO-6021-A1-M2 RL EDM1SF2SM6 ELA-△27351Runout side A, variant 1
SPO-6021-B RL EDM1SF2SM3 ELA-△27351xRunout side B, variant 1
SPO-6021-C-M2 RL EDM1SF1SM4 ELA-△27352Runout side C, variant 1
SP-06021-D-M1 ELA-△27352xRunout side D, variant 1
SPO-6021-A1 RL IEMW-1 ED M1SF2 SM4Runout side A
SPO-6021-B RL ED M1SF2 SM4 IEMW-1 ELA-△27351xRunout side B
SPO-6021-C RL ED M1SF2 SM6Runout side C
SP-06021 D ES-1 P Trumpet LogoRunout side D
SPO-6021-A1-ES2 RL EDMISF2SM7Runout A, variant 1
SPO-6021-B RL EDMISF2SM6Runout B, variant 1
SPO-6021-C-ES1 RL EDMISF1SM2Runout C, variant 1
SP-06021D ES-1Runout D, variant 1
JWA 3A//1 ▽420 V 1 1 1Runout side A, Variant 1
JWA 3 B//1 ▽420 V 1 1 4Runout side B, Variant 1
JWA 3 C//1 ▽420V 1 1 1Runout side C, Variant 1
JWA 3 D//1 ▽420 V 1 1 1Runout side D, Variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Australia | A&M Records RML54001/2First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Canada | A&M Records SP6021 / A&M Records SP-6021First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | France | A&M Records 396 021-1First yearLP, Album, LP, Single Sided | LP, Album, LP, Single Sided |
| 1986 | Germany | A&M Records 396 021-1 / A&M Records 396021-1First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | A&M Records 396 021-1First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Greece | A&M Records 396 021-1First yearLP, Album, White Label, LP, Single Sided, White Label | LP, Album, White Label, LP, Single Sided, White Label |
| 1986 | Italy | A&M Records 396021-1 / A&M Records 396 021-1First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-5007~8First yearLP, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo, All Media, Album | LP, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C35Y3011LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album, Reissue | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C35Y3011LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1986 | New Zealand | A&M Records RML55013/4First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | South Africa | A&M Records AMLS 66021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Spain | A&M Records 396 021-1First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | Taiwan | Siegfried SF-2030 / A&M Records SP6021First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album | LP, LP, Single Sided, All Media, Album |
| 1986 | UK | A&M Records JWA 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
24 vinyl pressings of Big World are listed here, from 14 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, UK, Israel, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-6021, released March 1986.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-6021, SP6021, JWA 3, RML54001/2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SPO-6021-A 1̶ RCA1 RL I EDMISF2SM1 A1 C and SPO-6021-B-RCA2 RL I EDMISF1SM8 A1 D. 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.
