Vinyl pressings
by The Ritchie Family · 1978
American Generation 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.
31 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 23 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.
MAR-2215-A AM MASTERDISK DCRunout side A
MAR-2215-B AM MASTERDISK DCRunout side B
Mar-2215-ALabel side A
Mar-2215-BLabel side B
Mar-2215-ALabel side A
Mar-2215-BLabel side B
MAR-2215-A-AFM MR △23483 MASTERDISK@Runout side A
MAR-2215-B-AFM △23483-x MASTERDISK@Runout side B
Mar-2215-ALabel side A
Mar-2215-BLabel side B
MAR-2215-A-PRC-1-1-1 MASTERDISK DC PRCSide A runout
MAR-2215-B-PRC-1-1-1 MASTERDISK DC PRCSide B runout
Mar-2215-ASide A label
Mar-2215-BSide B label
MAR-2215-A· AM MASTERDISK DC ƧRunout side A
MAR-2215-B- AM MASTERDISK DC ƧRunout side B
Mar-2215-ALabel side A
Mar-2215-BLabel side B
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 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVS-4617First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo | LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | RCA Victor VPL1 4090First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Australia | Summit SCD499-039 / RCA Rockaway SCD499-039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Bolivia | RCA Victor BOL/S-1318 / RCA Victor BOL/S - 1318First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8083First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo | LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Able ABL-17036 / Able ABL 17036First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | CBS CBS 82942First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Germany | Metronome 0060.152First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Germany | Metronome 38366 1 / Metronome 0900.149LP, Album, Club Edition, Partially Mixed · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Partially Mixed · Club edition |
| 1978 | Greece | Minos MILP 10041First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Italy | Durium DAI 30298 / Durium Marche Estere D. AI 30-298First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo | LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Philips RJ-7514First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Philips RJ-7514First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Mexico | Musart EDI - 60438 / Musart EDI 60438First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Ariola 200.300 / Ariola 200 300First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Marlin MARLIN 2215 / JDC Records MARLIN 2215LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Africa | Bullet BU(L) 545LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
36 vinyl pressings of American Generation are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1978 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Hong Kong, Spain and more. One of them is Marlin MARLIN 2215, released July 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MARLIN 2215, 9109 618, CSP-8004, XL-13058) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MAR-2215-A AM MASTERDISK DC and MAR-2215-B AM MASTERDISK DC. 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.
