The Nylon Curtain vinyl value
Billy Joel — The Nylon Curtain: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 CBS/Sony | 25AP 2400 | Japan | — | $7–$39 |
| 1982 Columbia | TC 38200 | US | Carrollton Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1982 Columbia | TC 38200 | US | Terre Haute Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1982 Columbia | TC 38200 | US | — | $7–$39 |
| 1982 Columbia | TC 38200 | US | Pitman Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Pitman Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Terre Haute Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Carrollton Pressing | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Carrollton Pressing, Terre Haute Plating | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Carrollton Pressing, Pitman Plating | $7–$39 |
| 1983 Columbia | QC 38200 | US | Reissue, Mispress | $7–$39 |
| 2025 Columbia | 19439957181 | UK, Europe & US | Reissue, Remastered | from $36 |
4 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Friday Music | FRM 38200 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, 180 Gram |
| 2014 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | MFSL 2-387 | US | Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue |
| Undated CBS | CBS 460186 1 | Europe | — |
| Undated CBS | 460186 1 | UK | Reissue |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
17 pressings tracked, 16 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 1982 US pressing it reads “AL38200” on side one and “BL38200” on side two. Sleeves migrate between copies over the years; the etching stays with the record.
- 3
Grade the condition. Condition multiplies the price: near mint can bring several times what a VG copy does. Vinyl and sleeve get separate grades; the scale is in our grading guide.
Discs and jackets part ways over the decades: a 1982 sleeve proves nothing about the record inside it. The runout etching and the label decide the pressing; the cover never does.
Questions
Which pressing of The Nylon Curtain is worth the most?
The 1982 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 2010 “Limited Edition, Reissue, 180 Gram” and the 2014 “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 1982 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 1982 US pressing the runout reads “AL38200”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is The Nylon Curtain worth today?
Sellers ask from $6 for the pressings we track; for the 1982 25AP 2400 the median ask is $27 over 10 listings (eBay, Sep 15, 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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