Vinyl pressings
by John Williams · 1977
Star Wars was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
56 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 25 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.
M-2-541-AS-3 TML-MSide A runout, variant 1
M-2-541-BS-1C TML-MSide B runout, variant 1
M-2-541-CS-4 TML-SSide C runout, variant 1
M-2-541-DS TML-SSide D runout, variant 1
(A-side etching): M-2-541-AS
(B-side etching): M-2-541-BS
(C-side etching): M-2-541-CS-XX
(D-side etching): M-2-541-DSX
M-2-541-AS-3Side A Etched
M-2-541-BS-1CSide B Etched
M-2-541-CS-4Side C Etched
M-2-541-DSSide D Etched
M-2-541-AS-1E TML-M S 1A Side Etch exc ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamp - Variant 1
S M-2-541-1A TML-M B1B Side Etch exc ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamp - Variant 1
M-2-541-CS-1A TML-S S2C Side Etch exc ᴛᴍʟ-s stamp - Variant 1
M-2-541-DS-1A TML-M S 1D Side Etch exc ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamp - Variant 1
(A-side etching): M-2-541-AS
(B-side etching): M-2-541-BS
(C-side etching): M-2-541-CS-XX
(D-side etching): M-2-541-DSX
1S M-2-541-AS TML-S 1A oA side runout
T1 M-2-541-BS-2 TML-MB side runout
T2 M-2-541-CS-6 TML-S B 11C side runout
1S M-2-541-DS-1E TML-M A 5D side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | 20th Century Fox Records 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | 20th Century Fox Records RCA-9161~62LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | 20th Century Fox Records RPL-3017LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Thailand | Not On LabelLP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1983 | Japan | RSO 35MW 0032/3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | New Zealand | RSO 813 588-1LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | RSO 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Polydor 04228135881LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | 20th Century Records FMW 37/8 / 20th Century Records 2T-541LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | US | 20th Century Records 2T-541 (M-2-541-AS/BS/CS/DS) / Sony Classical FMW 37/8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | USA, Canada & Europe | Sony Classical 88985354461 / 20th Century Fox 88985354461LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2017 | Europe | Walt Disney Records 00050087368197LP, Album, Remastered, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Etched, Remastered, Box Set, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Etched, Remastered, Box Set, Album, Special Edition |
| 2017 | US | Walt Disney Records D002624801 / Lucasfilm Ltd. D002624801LP, Album, Remastered, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Etched, Remastered, Box Set, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Remastered, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Etched, Remastered, Box Set, Album, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Walt Disney Records 00050097462468LP, Remastered | LP, Remastered |
| 2021 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9019/20LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9035/6 / Lucasfilm Ltd. UWJD-9035/6LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9047/8 / Lucasfilm Ltd. UWJD-9047/8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RSO RS-2-4204LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RSO 2658151 / 20th Century Fox 2658151LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RSO 2658151 / 20th Century Fox 2658151LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RSO 2658151LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RSO 2658 151 / RSO 2479 298LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | 20th Century Fox Records 6641 699LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | 20th Century Records L45753/4LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Yung Feng LF-3146-3147LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | 20th Century Fox Records 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | 20th Century Records 2T-541LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | US | 20th Century Fox Records 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | 20th Century Fox Records 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Polydor 813-588-1 / Polydor 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RSO 2T-541LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RSO 813 588-1LP | LP |
99 vinyl pressings of Star Wars are listed here, from 31 countries, released between 1977 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Colombia, Argentina and more. One of them is 20th Century Records 2T-541.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2T-541, 813 588-1, BTD 541, 6641759) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M-2-541-AS-3 TML-M and M-2-541-BS-1C TML-M. 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.
Fiddler On The Roof (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1971 · 66 pressings
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1977 · 55 pressings
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1982 · 55 pressings
Jaws (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1975 · 53 pressings
Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · 50 pressings
Superman The Movie (Original Sound Track)
1978 · 40 pressings
