Vinyl pressings
by Judas Priest · 1988
Ram It Down was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 17 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.
4611081 A1Side A runout, variant 1
4611081 B2 BL-44244-DMMSide B runout, variant 1
4611081 A2 AL-44244-DMM [faint etching, could be "ıu"] Sterling <Side A runout, variant 2
4611081 B2 BL-44244-DMM [faint etching, could be "cj"] <Side B runout, variant 2
AL-44244--1B-DMM G2 sterling A4Side 1, variant 1
BL-44244-DMM-1A G2 sterling G8Side 2, variant 1
AL-44244--1B-DMM G1 sterling B7Side 1, variant 2
BL-44244-DMM-1A G2 sterling E2Side 2, variant 2
CBS 1101047 A 1 02 1988Side A Runout,
CBS 1101047 B 1 02 1988Side B Runout
AL 44244Side A runout
BL 44244Side B runout
AL-44244 1A2HG: DM 11Side A runout variant 1
BL-44244 1B 5HG DM 1GSide B runout variant 1
25-3P-5024A1 〄CS 1 A 2Side A [stamped]
25-3P-5024B1 1 A 4Side B [Stamped]
AL 461108-1Side A
BL 461108-1Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Argentina | Columbia 120-008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australia | CBS 461108 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Brazil | CBS 231.123First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Costa Rica | CBS 1101047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | CBS CBS 461108 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | CBS CBS 461108 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | CBS 461108 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Netherlands | CBS CBSCL 60 036-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Peru | CBS Columbia S.E. 8944First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Africa | CBS ASF 3208First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Korea | CBS KJPL-0586 / CBS FC-44244First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | South Korea | CBS KJPL-0586 / CBS FC-44244First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Spain | CBS CBS 461108 1 / CBS CBS 461108-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | CBS 461108First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | US | Columbia FC 44244 / Columbia C 44244First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | CBS/Sony COL 461108 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | AnTrop П93 00631 / Santa Records П93 00631LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black BOBV232LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black BOBV232LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black BOBV232LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black BOBV232LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2017 | Europe | Columbia 88985390871 / Legacy 88985390871LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Epic 8898390871 / Legacy 8898390871LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | Europe | Columbia 88985390871 / Legacy 88985390871LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Columbia 461108 1 / Columbia COL 461108 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
31 vinyl pressings of Ram It Down are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1988 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in UK, US, Costa Rica, Canada and more. One of them is CBS 461108 1, released May 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 461108 1, FC 44244, 1101047, 25•3P-5024) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 4611081 A1 and 4611081 B2 BL-44244-DMM. 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.
