Vinyl pressings
by John Denver · 1975
Fly Away was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1975, 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.
PB 10517A 3S I A5Runout, side A, stamped (Variant 1)
PB 10517B 3S I A4Runout, side B, stamped (Variant 1)
PB 10517A 4S I A5Runout, side A (Variant 2)
PB 10517B 4S I A1Runout, side B (Variant 2)
PB 10517A-11s R*3Runout, side A, Etched
PB 10517B-11s RRunout, side B, Etched
PB-10517-ALabel side A
PB-10517-BLabel side B
PB 10517 A 4S -I . . p ̶I̶ PRC A6Runout A
PB 10517B 4S -I . .p PRC ̶I̶ A6Runout B
PB-10517-ALabel A
PB-10517-BLabel B
I A1 PA 10517C 3SA-Side Runout Etching
I A4 PB 10517A 3SB-Side Runout Etching
PA-10517-CA-Side Label
PB-10517-AB-Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Belgium | RCA Victor YBPBO 0 - 421 / RCA YBPB O - 421First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | RCA Victor PB-10517First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Canada | RCA Victor PB-10517First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | France | RCA PB 10517First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1975 | Germany | RCA Victor PB 10 517 / RCA Victor PB 10517First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1975 | Jamaica | RCA Victor PB-10517First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA SS-2519First year7" | 7" |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA SS-2519First year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Portugal | RCA Victor PB-10517First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1975 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42-665First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 2646First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1975 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 2646First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 2646First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | US | RCA Victor PB-10517First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | RCA JH-10517First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
20 vinyl pressings of Fly Away are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1975 and 1976.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Belgium, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor PB-10517.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PB-10517, JH-10517, RCA 2646, YBPBO 0 - 421) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PB 10517A 3S I A5 and PB 10517B 3S 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.
