Vinyl pressings
by Philip Glass · 1983
The Photographer was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 9 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.
AL-37849-1A -BK MASTERDISK I P OSide A, variant 1
BL-37849-1B -BK MASTERDISK I B P OSide B, variant 1
P O AL-37849-1A 1 MASTERDISK-BK ASide A, variant 2
P O BL-37849-1B 1 MASTERDISK-BK ASide B, variant 2
1G AL-37849-1D MASTERDISK-BKA-Side runout etching variant 1
1G MBL-37849-1D MASTERDISK-BKB-Side runout etching variant 1
1 MAL-37849-1C MASTERDISK-BKA-Side runout etching variant 2
1 MBL-37849-1D MASTERDISK-BKB-Side runout etching variant 2
AL-37849-G1C G1 A2<PXTR>Side A runout
MBC 37849 G1A1 G1 C7 <JXMP>Side B runout
AL 37849Side 1 Label
BL 37849Side 2 Label
(AD-D) MAL-37849 G1B M G1 A4Side A, Runout
<JXMP> MBL 37849 G1A D G1 C1Side B, Runout
AL 37849Side A, Label
BL 37849Side B, Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Brazil | CBS Masterworks 160371First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | CBS FM 37849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS 73684First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS 73684First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Greece | CBS 73684First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1983 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 2504First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Netherlands | CBS 73684First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Spain | CBS 73684First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | Epic EPC 25480First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | Epic EPC 25480 / Epic FM 37849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | Epic EPC 25480First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | CBS FM 37849 / CBS 37849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | CBS FM 37849 / CBS 37849First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | CBS 37849 / CBS PM 37849First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | CBS FM 37849 / CBS 37849First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVCL005LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | FM FM 37849 / CBS FM 37849LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 25480LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 25480LP, Album | LP, Album |
23 vinyl pressings of The Photographer are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1983 and 2013.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Brazil, Canada and more. One of them is CBS FM 37849.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FM 37849, 37849, EPC 25480, 160371) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-37849-1A -BK MASTERDISK I P O and BL-37849-1B -BK MASTERDISK I B P O. 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.
