Vinyl pressings
by John Denver · 1971
Poems, Prayers & Promises was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 8 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.
APRS - 4594 - 12S HRunout A variant 1
APRS - 4595 - 8S HRunout B variant 1
APRS - 4594 - 5S HRunout A variant 2
APRS - 4595 - eS HRunout B variant 2
APRS 4594 9 S I A4Runout side A, variant 1
APRS 4595 7 S I C 1Runout side B, variant 1
APRS 4594 9 S I C6Runout side A, variant 2
APRS 4595 7 S I B7Runout side B, variant 2
APRS -4594-IS-A2 RRunout side A, variant 1
APRS -4595-IS-A4J RRunout side B, variant 1
APRS- 4594-7S-AIJ RRunout side A, variant 2
APRS - 4595 IS B4U RRunout side B, variant 2
APRS-4594-5S HRunout A, variant 1
APRS-4595-3S HRunout B, variant 1
APRS-4594-12S HRunout A, variant 2
APRS-4595-8S HRunout B, variant 2
APRS 4594 2 S I A 1Runout, Stamped, Side A
APRS 4595 2 S I A 1Runout, Stamped, Side B
APRS-4594Label, Side A
APRS-4595Label, Side B
APRS - 4594 - 5S HA Side Stamped Run-Out Groove
APRS - 4595 - 3S HB Side Stamped Run-Out Groove
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP-4499 / RCA Victor LSP 4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | RCA SHP-6215First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | RCA SHP-6215 - APRS-4594First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP | LP |
| 1971 | South Africa | RCA Victor 38-363First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | RCA Victor SF 8219 / RCA Victor LSP 4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | RCA Victor AYL1-5189LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA International NL85189LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA International NL85189LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | South Korea | Seoul Records SRPR-014 / RCA Victor LSP-4499LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | South Korea | Seoul Records SRPR-014 / RCA Victor LSP-4499LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Daytrotter 88697972541LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2016 | US | Sony Music 88875179161 / Night Fever Music NFM03-12LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4499LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2021 | Europe | RCA Victor LSP-4499 / Legacy 19439888401LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.4049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4499 / RCA Victor 26.21065LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LSP-4499 / RCA Victor LSP 4499LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4499 / RCA Victor 26.21065LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Jamaica | RCA Victor LSP-4499LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | RCA NL - 85189LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA Victor SF 8219 / RCA Victor (LSP 4499)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AFL1-4499LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AYL1-5189LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
49 vinyl pressings of Poems, Prayers & Promises are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1971 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor LSP-4499.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LSP-4499, SF 8219, SHP-6215 - APRS-4594, 38-363) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APRS - 4594 - 12S H and APRS - 4595 - 8S H. 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.
