Vinyl pressings
by Waylon Jennings · 1980
Music Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. 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 1980, the album's first year, in 8 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.
AHL1 3602A 3S I A5 RANDY'S ROOST CSide A runout, variant 1
AHL1 3602B 2S I A5 RANDY'S ROOST NSide B runout, variant 1
AHL1 3602A 3S I A3 RANDY’S ROOST OSide A runout, variant 2
AHL1 3602B 3 I 4 [4 Scratched Out] A 4 DDSide B runout, variant 2
AHL1-3602-ASide A
AHL1-3602-BSide B
APL1 3602-1 MX195911 DSide A Runout, Stamped
APL1 3602-2 MX195912 DSide B Runout, Stamped
AHLI-3602-A TGSide A runout
AHLI-3602-B TGSide B runout
AHLI-3602-ASide A label
AHLI-3602-BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-3602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1 3602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | RCA Victor AHL1-3602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | RCA PL 13602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | RCA RPL-8002First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | RCA RPL-8002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA PL-13602First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | RCA PL 13602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | RCA PL13602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | RCA AAL1-3802 / RCA AHL1-3602-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AHL1-3602 / RCA AHL1-3602-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AHL1-3602First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Venezuela | RCA LPVS-1978LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | RCA AYL1-4250LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA AYL1-4250LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
15 vinyl pressings of Music Man are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1980 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA AHL1-3602, released May 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AHL1-3602, PL13602, APL1-3602, APL1 3602) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AHL1 3602A 3S I A5 RANDY'S ROOST C and AHL1 3602B 2S I A5 RANDY'S ROOST N. 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.
