An Innocent Man vinyl value
Billy Joel — An Innocent Man: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38837 | Canada | — | $23–$40 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38837 | US | Carrollton Pressing | $23–$40 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38837 | US | Pitman Pressing | $23–$40 |
| 2025 Columbia | 19658700811 | Europe | Reissue | $30–$58 |
| Undated Columbia | VQC 38837 | Canada | Reissue | $23–$40 |
| Undated Columbia | QC 38837 | US | Club Edition, Columbia House | $23–$40 |
| Undated Columbia | QC 38837 | US | Carrollton Pressing | $23–$40 |
7 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Friday Music | FRM 38837 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, Gatefold Cover |
| 2012 Music On Vinyl | MOVLP524 | Europe | Reissue, 180 Gram |
| 2013 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | MFSL 2-388 | US | Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue |
| 2016 Friday Music | FRM 38837 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, Blue Translucent |
| 2022 Columbia | 19439893011 | US | Reissue, Custard |
| Undated CBS | 466329 1 | Europe | Reissue |
| Undated CBS | CBS 25554 | UK | Reissue, Red Labels |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
19 pressings tracked, 14 shown · catalog of 974,753 releases, August 2026
What separates the pressings
How to identify your copy
Three checks, in the order worth doing them.
- 1
Match the catalog number. It is printed on the spine and the record label. Check it together with the country against the pressings table above: the same number can appear in more than one country.
- 2
Read the runout. The code etched in the dead wax near the label names the exact pressing. On the 1983 US pressing it reads “AL 38837” on side one and “BL 38837” on side two. Trust the etching over the jacket: covers get traded around, dead wax stays put.
- 3
Grade the condition. A clean copy and a worn one of the same pressing sit several grades, and several multiples, apart. Grade record and sleeve separately; see our grading guide.
Do not price the cover. A later disc in a 1983 jacket is a reissue, whatever the sleeve says: the pressing lives in the runout etching and on the label.
Questions
Which pressing of An Innocent Man is worth the most?
The 1983 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 2010 “Limited Edition, Reissue, Gatefold Cover” and the 2013 “Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue”) can beat an ordinary early copy. After that it is all condition: the gap between near mint and VG is usually larger than the gap between pressings.
How do I tell if I have a 1983 original?
Match the catalog number on the spine and label against the table above, check the country, then read the etched code in the runout groove. On the 1983 US pressing the runout reads “AL 38837”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is An Innocent Man worth today?
Sellers typically ask $23 to $58 for the pressings we track; for the 1983 QC 38837 the median ask is $32 over 10 listings (eBay, Sep 21, 2026). Sold prices usually close lower. Scan your copy in the app for the range on your exact pressing and condition.
Not sure which pressing you have? Photograph the label and RecordScout names it, then shows a current value range for its condition.
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