Vinyl pressings
by Neil Young · 1977
American Stars 'N Bars was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
36 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 20 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.
MSK-1-2261-LW5 #87 ☆ ☆A Side runout, variant 1
MSK-2-2261-LW7 #87 2 0 ☆B Side runout, variant 1
MSK-1-2261 LW5 • • ꩳ 🞶A Side runout, variant 2
MSK-1-2261 LW7 • ꩳ 🞶B Side runout, variant 2
MSK-1-2261-LW2 . ƧUB #1 1A Side Runout Etched except "1" stamped. Variant 1
MSK-2-2261-LW4 2 ✲B Side Runout Etched except "2" stamped. Variant 1
MSK-1-2261-LW2 . ƧUB #1 1A Side Runout Etched except "1" stamped. Variant 2
MSK-2-2261-LW2 . 2 ✲B Side Runout Etched except "2" stamped. Variant 2
MSK - 1 - 2261 - S - SR - 1 [SRC logo]A-side, etched except "1" stamped
MSK - 2 - 2261 - S - SR - 1 [SRC logo]B-side, etched except "2" stamped
MSK-1-2261-WW1 #4 -----◁A side runout etched, variant 1
MSK-2-2261-WW3 #4 -----◁B side runout etched, variant 1
MSK-1-2261-WW1 #3 -----◁A side runout etched, variant 2
MSK-2-2261-WW3 #3 -----◁B side runout etched, variant 2
MSK-1-2261-WW2 ─◁Runout side A, variant 1
MSK-2-2261-WW2#3 ─◁Runout side B, variant 1
MSK-1-2261-WW1 #2 ─◁Runout side A, variant 2
MSK-2-2261-WW3 ─◁Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Unknown | Reprise Records #REP 54088LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Australia | Reprise Records MSK 2261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Brazil | Reprise Records 34.014 / Reprise Records 304.404.080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | Reprise Records CGC 61.126.074/0002-44First yearLP, LP, Album, Stereo | LP, LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | Reprise Records KMS 2261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Reprise Records KMS 2261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Reprise Records 54 088 / Reprise Records 54.088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | Reprise Records 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Reprise Records 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2 261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Greece | Reprise Records RS 0350First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Israel | Reprise Records 54088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Reprise Records W 54088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Italy | Reprise Records W 54088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Reprise Records W 54088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Spain | Reprise Records LB 54088 / Reprise Records 54088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Reprise Records 54088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Europe | Reprise Records 7599-27234-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Reprise Records 9362-49175-9 / Reprise Records 551992-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2017 | US | Reprise Records 551992-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records KMS 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 54 088 / Reprise Records REP 54 088LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records K 54 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records REP 54 088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records K 54 088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records K 54 088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 088 / Reprise Records MSK 2261LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Reprise Records RS 0350 / Reprise Records 54088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Italy | Reprise Records W 54088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
68 vinyl pressings of American Stars 'N Bars are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1977 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Malaysia, Singapore and more. One of them is Reprise Records MSK 2261, released May 27, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MSK 2261, K54088, K 54088, REP-54088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MSK-1-2261-LW5 #87 ☆ ☆ and MSK-2-2261-LW7 #87 2 0 ☆. 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.
