Vinyl pressings
by The Alan Parsons Project · 1984
Ammonia Avenue was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
41 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 26 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.
DMM 206100 A-4/84 S III IIIRunout side A, variant 1
DMM 206100 B-4/84 S IIIRunout side B, variant 1
DMM 206100 A-4/84 S III VRunout side A, variant 2
DMM 206100 B-4/84 S IIIRunout side B, variant 2
DMM 206100 A-4/84 S III IIRunout side A
DMM 206100 B-4/84 S IIIRunout side B
AL8 8204SA I Penthouse A7ERunout A - variant 1
AL8 8204SB I Penthouse A3BRunout B - variant 1
AL8 8204SA I Penthouse A3ERunout A - variant 2
AL8 8204SA I Penthouse A2ERunout B - variant 2
AL 8 8204 SA RCA 7 [STERLING AIF]Side A Runout Etched [Stamped], variant 1
AL 8 8204 SB RCA 5 [STERLING A 2E]Side B Runout Etched [Stamped], variant 1
AL 8 8204 SA RCA 7 [STERLING A1] F-Side A Runout Etched [Stamped], variant 2
AL 8 8204 SB RCA ̷#̷ 5 [ I STERLING A 2] C-Side B Runout Etched [Stamped], variant 2
AL8 8204 SA RCA 18 I STERLING A1 ASide A runout, etched, exc. ɪ, sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ and A1 stamped, variant 1
AL8 8204SB 4 I Penthouse A3 KSide B runout, stamped, exc. K etched, variant 1
AL8 8204SA 4 I Penthouse A2 NSide A runout, stamped, exc. N etched, variant 2
AL8 8204 DB RCA 18 I STERLING A1GSide B runout, etched, exc. I STERLING A1 stamped, variant 2
AL8 8204 SA RCA 1̶ 8 I STERLING B1 A -Side A runout
AL8 8204 SB ES 1 I EMW STERLING A1Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | Arista SUPS-80267First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Argentina | Arista SUPS-80267First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australia | Arista RML 53118 / Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | Arista 818 883-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Arista AL8 8204LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Colombia | Arista 18(0931)00253 / Sonolux 18(0931)00253First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Sonocord 28 561-9 / Arista 206 100LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Germany | Arista 40 583 7 / Arista 206 100LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1984 | Greece | Arista VG 60002 / Virgin 062-VG 60002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Guatemala | Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Guatemala | Arista AL8 8204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | Arista 206 100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Belarus | Beloton RGM 7114LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP560 / Arista AL88204LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK | Esoteric Recordings ECLEC52705LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2020 | Europe | Esoteric Recordings ECLEC52705Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Remastered, Blu-ray, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Multichannel, 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | Box Set, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Remastered, Blu-ray, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Multichannel, 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2022 | Italy | Arista ALB6-8289 / The Saifam Group 2724-3893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP846LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP846LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2026 | UK & Europe | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP846XX12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Cooking Vinyl COOKLP846TLP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | Taiwan Nova Records RK-050LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Arista ALB6-8289LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista AL8 8204LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
66 vinyl pressings of Ammonia Avenue are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1984 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK & Europe, US, Japan, Argentina and more. One of them is Arista 206 100, released February 7, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 206 100, AL8 8204, 25RS-223, SUPS-80267) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DMM 206100 A-4/84 S III III and DMM 206100 B-4/84 S III. 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.
