Vinyl pressings
by John Williams · 1978
Superman The Movie was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 16 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.
2BSK-1-3257 WW3 #2 ARNIERunout A, variant 1
2BSK-2-3257 WW8Runout B, variant 1
2BSK-3-3257 WW3 #7 ARNIERunout C, variant 1
2BSK-4-3257 WW4 #7Runout D, variant 1
2BSK-1-3257 JW2#2 ARNIE SUBSide 1 Etched - variant 1
2BSK-2-3257 LW4 #1 ARNIESide 2 Etched - variant 1
2BSK-2-3257 LW4-#1 ARNIESide 3 Etched - variant 1
2BSK-4-3257 JW2 #3 ARNIESide 4 Etched - variant 1
2BSK-1-3257 M2 △24003 ➁ ARNIESide A, etched, variant 1
2BSK-2-3257 M2 △24003- X ➄ ARNIESide B, etched, variant 1
2BSK-3-3257 M3 △24004 ➉ ARNIESide C, etched, variant 1
2BSK-4-3257 M1 △24004-X ➀ ARNIESide D, etched, variant 1
2BSK-1-3257 G2 ARNIE GOLSide 1
2BSK-2-3257 G2 ARNIE GOLSide 2
// 2BSK-3-3257 M3 // ◅24004 ➉ ARNIE GOLDISL ①IGOLSide 3
// 2BSK-4-3257 G4 ARNIE GOLSide 4
2BSK-1-3257 SP3 -1 ARNIESide 1
2BSK-2-3257 SP3 -2 ARNIESide 2
2BSK-3-3257 SP3 1-1 ARNIESide 3
2BSK-4-3257 SP3 1-1 ARNIESide 4
2BSK-1-3257 JW2#2 ARNIESide A runout, variant 1
2BSK-2-3257 JW1#3 ARNIESide B runout, variant 1
2BSK-3-3257 JW2#1 ARNIE SUBSide C runout, variant 1
2BSK-4-3257 JW2#3 ARNIESide D runout, variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records mh 14466-7First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records mh 14466-7First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 208635/6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Belgium | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66 084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records 66084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 66084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 66084First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5557~8W / Warner Bros. Records P-5557WFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5557~8WFirst yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Mondo MOND-215LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2021 | USA, Canada & Europe | Mondo MOND-215LP, LP, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, LP, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Mondo MOND-215LP, Remastered | LP, Remastered |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Mondo MOND-215LP, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Mondo MOND-215LP, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 084 / Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257LP, Album | LP, Album |
40 vinyl pressings of Superman The Movie are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1978 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2BSK 3257.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2BSK 3257, K66084, mh 14466-7, 208635/6) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2BSK-1-3257 WW3 #2 ARNIE and 2BSK-2-3257 WW8. 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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