Vinyl pressings
by John Williams · 1980
Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 23 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.
RS-2-4201-AS-PRC-R1-1-11A-Side Runout Etching
RS-2-4201-BS-PRC-R2-1-1B-Side Runout Etching
RS-2-4201-CS-PRC-R1-1-1C-Side Runout Etching
RS-2-4201-DS-PRC-R1-1-1D-Side Runout Etching
RS-2-4201-AS-PWB (PR)PSide One Runout Etched
RS-2-4201-BS-PWB (PR)PSide Two Runout Etched
RS-2-4201-CS-PWI (PR)Side Three Runout Etched (Variant 1)
RS-2-4201-CS- ̶K̶L̶I̶ PWI (PR)PSide Three Runout Etched (Variant 2)
RS-2-4201-AS-CMPI-I-IIIRecord 1 - Side 1
RS-2-4201-BS-CMPI-I-IIRecord 1 - Side 2
RS-2-4201-CS-CMP3-I-IIRecord 2 - Side 3
RS-2-4201-DS-CMP2-I-IIRecord 2 - Side 4
RS-2-4201-AS-CMP1-I-IIRunout, Side A, Variant 1
RS-2-4201-BS-CMP2-I-IIRunout, Side B, Variant 1
RS-2-4201-CS-CMP3-IRunout, Side C, Variant 1
RS-2-4201-DS-CMP2-I-IRunout, Side D, Variant 1
RS-2-4201-AS-CMP1-I-III -(backwards 7 or L) (1 or I) -Etched, Record 1 Side 1
RS-2-4201-BS-CMP2-I-II - (I or 1) (upside down 2 or J) - - (1 or I) (upside down 5 or S)Etched, Record 1 Side 2
RS-2-4201-CS-CMP3-I-I I I - (reversed 5) -Etched, Record 2 Side 3
RS-2-4201-DS-CMP2-I-II - (1 or I)Etched, Record 2 Side 4
RS-2-4201-AS-PRC-R1-1-1Side 1 etched
RS-2-4201-BS-PRC-R1-1-3 pSide 2 etched
RS-2-4201-CS-PRC-R2-1-1Side 3 etched
RS-2-4201-DS-PRC-R2-1-111Side 4 etched
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 | Argentina | RSO 2394257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | RSO 2394 257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Austria | RSO 2394 257First yearLP | LP |
| 1980 | Brazil | RSO 2394 257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | RSO RS-2-4201First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | RSO RS-2-4201First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Colombia | RSO 2394257First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1980 | Ecuador | RSO RS-2-4201First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | RSO 2479 261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | RSO 2394 257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | RSO 2394 257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | RSO 2394 257 / Polydor 2394 257LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Greece | RSO 2394 257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Italy | RSO 2394-257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | RSO MWZ8113/4First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | RSO MWZ 8113/4 / RSO RS-2-4201LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | US | RSO MWZ 8113/4 / Sony Classical MWZ 8113/4LP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Walt Disney Records 874627 3LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2021 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9021/2LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9037/8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Japan | Walt Disney Records UWJD-9049/50 / Lucasfilm Ltd. UWJD-9049/50LP, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RSO Records, Inc. RLP 49956 / Rainbow RLP 49956LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RSO 2394 257LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 825 298-1 / Polydor 2394 257-1YLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Polydor 827-580-1 / Polydor 2658 134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Polydor 827-580-1 / Polydor 827 580-1 Y-2LP, Album | LP, Album |
50 vinyl pressings of Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1980 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is RSO RS-2-4201, released May 16, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RS-2-4201, RPO-4201, RSS 23, 2394257) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RS-2-4201-AS-PRC-R1-1-11 and RS-2-4201-BS-PRC-R2-1-1. 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.
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