Vinyl pressings
by Waylon Jennings · 1974
I'm A Ramblin' Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 6 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.
PB 10020A 1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I Λ1 ̶Λ̶Runout A, stamped [except etched: ǀ⁄|⁄K]
PB 10020B 1 I Λ1Runout B, stamped
PB-10020-ALabel A
PB-10020-BLabel B
PB-10020-B-3 HA Side
I _mk A1 PA 10020C 1A-Side Runout Etching
I A1 A̶ PB 10020A 1B-Side Runout Etching
PA-10020-CA-Side Label
PB-10020-AB-Side Label
PB-10020A / PB10020 AA side
PB-10020B / PB10020 BB side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | RCA Victor 102516First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA SS-2415First year7" | 7" |
| 1974 | South Africa | RCA Victor 42-543First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-10020First yearSingle, Promo, 7", 45 RPM · Promo | Single, Promo, 7", 45 RPM · Promo |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | US | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | US | RCA JH-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1974 | US | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | US | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | US | RCA Victor PB-10020First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | RCA Victor GB-104987", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victor GB-104987", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
13 vinyl pressings of I'm A Ramblin' Man are listed here, from 6 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, Australia, Canada, Japan and more. One of them is RCA Victor PB-10020.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PB-10020, JH-10020, 102516, SS-2415) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PB 10020A 1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I Λ1 ̶Λ̶ and PB 10020B 1 I Λ1. 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.
