Vinyl pressings
by Little Beaver · 1974
Party Down was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
3 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 2 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.
CAT-2604-A MRRunout Side A etched Var. 1
CAT 2604-B MRRunout Side B etched Var. 1
CAT-2604-A MR (2)Runout Side A etched Var. 2
CAT 2604-B 2 MRRunout Side B etched Var. 2
CAT-2604-A MR (2)
(2) Drive PFB-B MR
DXL1 - 4004 A Y. D.Side A runout, variant 1
DXL1 4004 B YDSide B runout, variant 1
DXL1 4004 A Y.D.Side A runout, variant 2
DXL1 4004 B YDSide B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | France | RCA Victor DXL1 4004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Cat 2604 / Cat LP-2604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Cat 2604 / Cat LP-2604First yearLP, Album, Mispress, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo |
| 1975 | Brazil | One Way OW 625LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6288LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6288LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Peru | RCA Victor DXL1 4004LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1975 | Peru | RCA Victor DKL1-4004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | President Records PTLS 1063LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Japan | Cisco International AISLE-1016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1999 | US | Cat 2604 / Cat LP-2604LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0975 / Cat RGM-0975LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0975 / Cat RGM-0975LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Netherlands | Regrooved Records RG-007LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0975 / Cat RGM-0975LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2022 | Netherlands | Regrooved Records RG-007LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | US | Rhino Records RES1 728849 / Rhino Records 603497805525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
17 vinyl pressings of Party Down are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1974 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, France. One of them is Cat 2604.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2604, DXL1 4004) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CAT-2604-A MR and CAT 2604-B MR. 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.
