Vinyl pressings
by John Denver · 1974
Back Home Again 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.
31 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 12 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.
CPL1 0548A 3S I A2Side A runout, variant 1
CPL1 0548B 4S I A4Side B runout, variant 1
CPL1-0548A-31 I A5Side A runout, variant 2
CPL1-0548B-31 I A3Side B runout, variant 2
CPL1 0548A 3S I A2Side A runout, variant 1
CPL1 0548B 4S I A4Side B runout, variant 1
CPL1-0548A-31 I Ʌ5Side A runout, variant 2
CPL1-0548B-31 I Ʌ3Side B runout, variant 2
CPL1-0548-A-1S HRunout A, variant 1
CPL1-0548-B-1S HRunout B, variant 1
CPL1-0548-A-2S HRunout A, variant 2
CPL1-0548-B-2S HRunout B, variant 2
CPLI-0548-A-2S HRunout side A, stamped
CPLI-0548-B-1S HRunout side B, stamped
CPL1-0548-AMatrix side A, on label
CPL1-0548-BMatrix side B, on label
CPL1-0548-A 1-S HSide A matrix code in runout, stamped
CPL1-0548-B 1-S HSide B matrix code in runout, stamped
CPL1-0548-ASide A matrix code on Label
CPL1-0548-BSide B matrix code on 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 | RCA Victor CPL1-0548-GFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA CPL1-0548First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-0548 / RCA CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor CPL 1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-6239First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Mozambique | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1974 | South Africa | RCA Victor CPL 1-0548 / RCA Victor CPL-1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA CPL 1-0548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor NL-85193LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor CPL1-0548First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Italy | RCA CPL1-0548 / RCA CPL1 0548LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Italy | RCA CPL1 0548LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA PL80548LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | RCA Victor 7614-1-RLP, Sampler | LP, Sampler |
| 1988 | US | RCA Victor 7624-1-RLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records CPL 1-0548LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2006 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records CPL 1-0548LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Night Fever Music NFM05-12 / RCA Victor 88875179141LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | RCA 19658885161 / Legacy 19658885161LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | RCA Victor SPLP 1004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RCA NL85193 / RCA NL 85193LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor CPL 1-0548 (LSP) / RCA Victor CPL 1-0548LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor CPL 1-0548 (LSP) / RCA Victor CPL 1-0548LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20003LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Italy | RCA CPL1-0548 / RCA Victor CPL1 0548LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor CPL1-0548LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AYL1-5193LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA AFL 1-0548LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
65 vinyl pressings of Back Home Again are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Australia, Australia & New Zealand and more. One of them is RCA CPL1-0548.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CPL1-0548, AFL 1-0548, AFL1-0548, APL1 0548) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CPL1 0548A 3S I A2 and CPL1 0548B 4S I A4. 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.
