Vinyl pressings
by Waylon Jennings · 1973
Honky Tonk Heroes was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 5 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.
APL-1-0240-A-2S CS HA Side runout etched except H
APL-1-0240-B-2S CS HB Side runout etched except H
APL-1-0240-AA Side label
APL-1-0240-BB Side label
APL1-0240-A-1S I CS A1Side A runout etched / I, A1 stamped
APL1 0240 B 3S I A2 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide B runout stamped / ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K etched
APL1-0240-A-2S CS HA Side runout
APL1-0240-B-2S CS HB Side runout
APL1-0240-AA Side label
APL1-0240-BB Side label
APL-1-0240-A-2S CS HA Side runout etched except H
APL-1-0240-B-2S CS HB Side runout etched except H which has a line through it.
APL1-0240-AA Side label
APL1-0240-BB Side label
APL1-0240-A-1E
APL1-0240-A-2E
APL1-0240-A-1E
APL1-0240-B-1E
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | RCA Victor MAPL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | RCA AFL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | RCA AFL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | RCA AFL1-0240LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1973 | US | RCA Victor APL1-0240 / RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | RCA APL1-0240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-5117LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-5117LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | RCA Victor APL1-0240LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3897LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3897LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | South Africa | RCA Victor MMT 1116(R)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | RCA FP1378-1 / Fat Possum Records FP1378-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | RCA APL1-0240 / Sony Music Commercial Music Group 19439988861LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | RCA AYL1 3897LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | RCA AYL1-3897LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA International INTS 5176 / RCA International NL 13897LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | RCA AFL1-0240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA APL1-0240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA APL1-0240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Honky Tonk Heroes are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1973 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor APL1-0240.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-0240, AFL1-0240, MAPL1-0240) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL-1-0240-A-2S CS H and APL-1-0240-B-2S CS H. 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.
