Vinyl pressings
by Phoebe Snow · 1978
Against The Grain was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. 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 1978, the album's first year, in 8 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 - 35456 1D STERLING TJSide A Runout, variant 1
BL - 35456 1A D STERLING TJSide B Runout, variant 1
AL 35456 1D STERLING TJSide A Runout, variant 2
BL 35456 1A STERLING TJSide B Runout, variant 2
AL 35456 1F A STERLING TJ 1SSide A Runout
BL 35456 1C A STERLING TJ 1SSide B Runout
AL 35456Side A Label
BL 35456Side B Label
P AL 35456 1A STERLING TJ ΛSide A Runout
P BL 35456 1D STERLING TJSide B Runout
AL 35456Side A Label
BL 35456Side B Label
AL 35456 1D STERLING TJ PSide A runout
BL 35456 1A D STERLING TJ PSide B runout
AL 35456Side A label
BL 35456Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | CBS SBP 237250First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | CBS SBP 237250First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | CBS CBS 82915First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1002First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237250First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | South Africa | CBS ASF 2210First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | UK | CBS S CBS 82915First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456 / Columbia PC 35456LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456 / CBS JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35456LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
17 vinyl pressings of Against The Grain are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Columbia JC 35456.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JC 35456, S CBS 82915, PC 35456, SBP 237250) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL - 35456 1D STERLING TJ and BL - 35456 1A D STERLING TJ. 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.
