Vinyl pressings
by Lou Reed · 1973
Berlin was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. 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 1973, the album's first year, in 13 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.
APL1 0207A 9S I A1Side A runout, variant 1
APL1 0207B 9S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A2Side B runout, variant 1
APL1 0207A 10C I A1Side A runout, variant 2
APL1 0207A 10C ISide B runout, variant 2
APL1 0207A 6S H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side A, variant 1
APL1 0207B 6S H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side B, variant 1
APL1 0207A 1S H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side A, variant 2
APL1 0207B 1S H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side B, variant 2
RS 1002-A-1E A4LRunout side A, variant 1
RS 1002-B-2E A2YRunout side B, variant 1
RS 1002-A-2E AI IRunout side A, variant 2
RS 1002-B-2E AI AFRunout side B, variant 2
CKAY 18798 1S · 1 B 3 D Δ PRunout side A, variant 1
CKAY 18799 1S · 1 A 4 D P ΔRunout side B, variant 1
CKAY 18798 1S · 1 A 2 D P ΔRunout side A, variant 2
CKAY 18799 1S · 1 A 2 D P ΔRunout side B, variant 2
CKAY 18798 2S · 1 A 1 D Δ PRunout side A
CKAY 18799 1S · 1 A 5 D P ΔRunout side B
CKAY 18798Label side A
CKAY 18799Label side B
APL1 0207A A1 A 3Stamped runout side A
APL1 0207B A1 A 11Stamped runout side B
APL1-0207ALabel side A
APL1-0207BLabel side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | RCA 435500 / RCA Victor 435.500First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | RCA 435500 / RCA Victor 435.500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | RCA 435500LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1973 | Germany | RCA Victor APL1-0207 / RCA Victor APL1-0207 (LSP)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Greece | RCA Victor SKLG 20076First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | RCA RS. 1002 (APLI. 0207) / RCA 20076LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1973 | Japan | RCA RCA-6181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | RCA Victor RS 1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1-0207First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | RCA PG-131LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA International NL-43301LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 43605LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 43065LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 43605LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | UK | RCA International INTS 5150 / RCA International NL 43775LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA RPL-2118 / RCA APL1-0207LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA RPL-2118 / RCA APL1-0207LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1983 | Netherlands | RCA International ints-5150 / RCA International INTS-5150LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4388 / RCA AYL1-4388LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | RCA NL 84388 / RCA International NL 84388LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Spain | RCA NL-84388LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | RCA International NL 84388LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | RCA International NL 84388LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | RCA International NL 84388LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 066LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1998 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 066 / BMG 8636748911LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | UK | Simply Vinyl S125040 / RCA 47321 91649 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | Europe | RCA 88697001041 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP012LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | UK & US | Legacy 88697001041 / RCA 88697001041LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | RCA 88985349051LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2016 | US | RCA 88985349051 / RCA Victor APL1-0207LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2019 | Europe | RCA Victor APL1-0207LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-555 / RCA MFSL 1-555LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | RCA APL1-0207LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | RCA KYL1-0447LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | RCA KYL1-0447LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | RCA KYL1-0447LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Simply Vinyl S125040 / RCA 47321 91649 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | RCA 435500 / RCA Victor 435500LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | RCA 435500 / RCA Victor 435.500LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | RCA 435500 / RCA Victor 435500LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA APL1-0207 / RCA 26.21287LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | RCA APL1-0207 / RCA 26.21287LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | RCA APL1-0207 / RCA 26.21287LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20351LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20351LP, Album, Repress, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Repress, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1-0207LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-9057LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
88 vinyl pressings of Berlin are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1973 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Italy, Australia and more. One of them is RCA Victor APL1-0207, released October 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-0207, RS 1002, APL 1 0207/D, 435500) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL1 0207A 9S I A1 and APL1 0207B 9S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A2. 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.
