Vinyl pressings
by Ram Jam · 1978
Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Ram 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.
14 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 10 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.
P AL 35287-1D Avariant 1 Side A stamped
P BL 35287-1C Dvariant 1 Side B stamped
P AL 35287-1D Vvariant 2 Side A stamped
P BL 35287-1C Ivariant 2 Side B stamped
P AL 35287-1C TI oRunout A
BL 35287-1A IT o 2 [ ]Runout B
AL 35287Label A
BL 35287Label B
AL 35287-1B Ƨ1 36variant 1 Side A stamped, Ƨ1 36 etched
AL 35287-1B Ƨ1 A1variant 1 Side B stamped. Ƨ1 A1 etched
P AL 35287-1D PSide A stamped
P BL 35287-1C D PSide B stamped
AL 35287Side A label
BL 35287Side B label
EPC S-82628 A1Side A, etched
EPC S-82628 B1Side B, etched
S EPC 82628 A°Side A, label
S EPC 82628 B°Side 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 | Epic ELPS 3885First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Epic PE 35287First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Epic EPC 82628First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Epic 25・3P-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Epic 25-3P-2First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Mexico | Epic LNS-17243First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Epic EPC 82628First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | South Africa | Epic KSF 2144First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | Epic EPC 82628First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Epic EPC 82628 / Epic S EPC 82628First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Epic epc82628LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1978 | US | Epic JE 35287First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Epic JE 35287First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Epic JE 35287First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Epic JE 35287First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Ram are listed here, from 10 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Epic JE 35287.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JE 35287, EPC 82628, ELPS 3885, PE 35287) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 35287-1D A and P BL 35287-1C D. 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.
