Vinyl pressings
by Shalamar · 1979
Big Fun was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. 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 1979, the album's first year, in 11 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.
BXL1-3479-A 10S MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally 1 A2 NSide A Runout (variant 1)
BXL1-3479-B 10S MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally 1 A4 CSide B Runout (variant 1)
A3J BXL1-3479-A 20S I MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide A Runout (variant 2)
A7N BXL1-3479-B 21-S I MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallySide B Runout (variant 2)
BXL1-3479 A-12 GOL K 11447Side A runout
BXL1-3479 B-11 GOL K 11446Side B runout
BXL1-3479-A-14 [circled 'MR'] [circled 'JA'] △24667 [circled '1']Side A Runout
BXL1-3479-B-14 [circled 'MR'] △24667-X [circled '2'] [circled 'JA']Side B Runout
BXL1-3479-ASide A Label
BXL1-3479-BSide B Label
BXL1-3479-ASide A label
BXL1-3479-BSide B label
AIG FL 13479-A-IE M F B-N
AIG FL 13479-B-IE B-W
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Canada | Solar BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | RCA Victor BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Solar 540166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | RCA Victor FL 13479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20151First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Israel | RCA BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Jamaica | Solar BXL1-3479 / RCA Victor BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | RCA Victor FL 13479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Philippines | RCA Victor BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | Solar BXL1-3479First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8144 / Solar 104.8144LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | RCA RVP-6452LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | RCA RVP-6452LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | RCA Victor FL-13479 / RCA FL-13479LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Venezuela | Vik LPVS-1893LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | France | Solar 540166LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Canada | Unidisc AGEK-2072LP / Solar AGEK-2072LPLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RCA BXL1-3479LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Big Fun are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1979 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Solar BXL1-3479.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BXL1-3479, FL 13479, 540166, RCLP 20151) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BXL1-3479-A 10S MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally 1 A2 N and BXL1-3479-B 10S MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally 1 A4 C. 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.
