Vinyl pressings
by John Denver · 1976
Spirit was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 13 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.
APL1 1694A 10S I A3 JVariant 0 side A runout
APL1 1694B 11S I A8 HVariant 0 side B runout
APL1 1694A 6S I A10 JVariant 1 side A runout
APL1 1694B 11S I A1 GVariant 1 side B runout
APL1-1694-A (2)Side A runout
APL1-1694-B-(2)Side B runout
APL1-1694-ASide A label
APL1-1694-BSide B label
APL1-1694-A-3E 'W'Runout side A etched, variant 1
APL1-1694-B-3E 'W'Runout side B etched, variant 1
APL1-1694-A-3E A1AAB 'W'Runout side A etched, variant 2
APL1-1694-B-3E A2R 'W'Runout side B etched, variant 2
APL1 1694 ASide 1 runout
APL1 1694 BSide 2 runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | RCA Victor CPL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA Victor APL-11694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA Victor APL-1-1694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Israel | RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | RCA APL1-1694 / RCA Victor APL1 1694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | RCA APL1-1694 / RCA Victor APL1 1694First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | Japan | RCA RVP-6088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | RCA RVP-6088First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | RCA Victor APL-11694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Portugal | RCA Victor PL-11694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | South Africa | RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | RCA APL1-1694 / RCA Victor APL1-1694First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | RCA NL85194LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-1694LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | RCA NL-85194LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor APL1-1694 / RCA APL1-1694LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Spirit are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1976 and 1978.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor APL1-1694.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-1694, CPL1-1694, APL-11694, APL-1-1694) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL1 1694A 10S I A3 J and APL1 1694B 11S I A8 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.
