Vinyl pressings
by Queen · 1978
Jazz 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.
65 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 29 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.
YAX-5550-1U OA RTB-2 STERLING 6Side A, variant 1
YAX-5551-1U RM RTB-1 STERLING 3Side B, variant 1
YAX-5550-1U HR RTB-2 STERLING 4Side A, variant 2
YAX-5551-1U RH RTB-1 STERLING 5Side B, variant 2
YAX 5550 - 7A Side Runout
YAX 5551-3U RTB-14 STERLING 6E - 166 - BB Side Runout
YAX 5550-7 LTO 1Side A, stamped
YAX-5551 (etched) -1U AD (stamped) RTB-1 (etched) STERLING (stamped)Side B
YAX 5550Side A label
YAX 5551Side B label
6E-166-A SP RTB-1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
6E-166-B SP RTB-2 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
6E-166-A SP RTB-1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
6E-166-B SP RTB-1 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
6E-166-A-9-PRC-1-1 RTB-11Runout Area Side A, Etched, variant 1
6E-166-B-10-PRC-1-11 RTB-12Runout Area Side B, Etched, variant 1
6E-166-A-4-PRC-11-11 RTB-5Runout Area Side A, Etched, variant 2
6E-166-B10-PRC-11-1 RTB-12Runout Area Side B, Etched, variant 2
6E-166-A-8-AR B-1392[7]6 RTB-9 B-13926Side A runout, hand-etched ('7' is crossed out)
STERLINGSide A runout, stamped
6E-166-B-8-AR B-13927 RTB-9Side B runout, hand-etched
STERLINGSide B runout, stamped
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 | Elektra 6E-166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Barbados | EMI EMA 788First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 61820DFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 6E-166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Elektra 6E-166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Chile | EMI 5229 / EMI 32C 064—061.820First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Chile | EMI 5229 / EMI 32C 064—061.820First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Colombia | EMI 11638First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Colombia | EMI 11638First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Colombia | EMI 11638 / Odeon 11638First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | EMI 1A 064-61820 / EMI 5C 062 61820First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | EMI 2C 070 61820First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | EMI 2C 070 61820First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | EMI 2C 070 61820First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | EMI 2C 070 61820First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Venezuela | Harvest SHLP-9540LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | Elektra P-10601 / Elektra P-10601ELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Italy | EMI 64 1618201LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Japan | EMI EMS-81777LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1987 | Japan | EMI EMS-81777LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | EMI 068 16 1820 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | EMI 068 16 1820 1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Australasia | EMI MID.166124LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | South Korea | EMI EKPL-0238 / EMI EMA 788LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П93 0607/08 / Santa Records ATR 30179/80LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | UK | EMI 1C 064-61 820-4LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK & Europe | Parlophone QUEENLP 7 / Parlophone 50999 6 84868 1 5LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202741LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | Germany | EMI 0060254720274112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | UK & Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202741LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 6781164LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| 2018 | US | Hollywood Records D002946101LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2019 | Italy | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Japan | Virgin EMI Records / DeAGOSTINI Japan 24LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602577943775LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Spain | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2022 | Chile | Virgin EMI Records 20182568LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Argentina | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | Europe | Not On Label 1C 264-61 820LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 2023 | US | Hollywood Records D002946101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Italy | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | EMI PIC3LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Picture disc |
| ? | Unknown | EMI PIC 3LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| ? | Europe | EMI 064-74 6210 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1A 064-61820 / EMI 5C 062 61820LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 064-61 820 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-61 820LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 064-61 820 / EMI 5C 062-61820LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | EMI 14C 064-61820LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | India | EMI EMA 788LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | EMI 5C 062-61820 / EMI 1A 062-61820LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (Queen) 3003LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo 595LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | JC KI-7011LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | Taiwan HMV HMV-A016LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | EMI EMA 788 / EMI 0C 064-61820LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | EMI PM 0900 TPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
132 vinyl pressings of Jazz are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1978 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Netherlands, Japan and more. One of them is EMI EMA 788.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMA 788, 6E-166, 5C 062-61820, P-10601E) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, YAX-5550-1U OA RTB-2 STERLING 6 and YAX-5551-1U RM RTB-1 STERLING 3. 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.
