The River vinyl value
Bruce Springsteen — The River: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | Terre Haute Pressing, KP Etching | $13–$34 |
| 1980 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | Santa Maria Pressing | $13–$34 |
| 1980 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | Pitman Pressing | $13–$34 |
| 1980 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | Terre Haute Pressing, No KP Etching | $13–$34 |
| 1980 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | — | $13–$34 |
| 2014 Columbia | PC2 36854 | US | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | from $38 |
| 2015 Columbia | PC2 36854 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | from $38 |
| 2015 Columbia | 88875014261 | US | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | from $38 |
| 2019 Columbia | PC2 36854 | USA & Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | from $38 |
| Undated Columbia | PC2 36854 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | from $38 |
| Undated CBS | S 88510 | Spain | Reissue | $13–$34 |
1 more pressing we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undated Columbia | COL 88510 1 | France | — |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
16 pressings tracked, 12 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 1980 US pressing it reads “AL 36855” on side one and “BL 36855” 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 1980 jacket is a reissue, whatever the sleeve says: the pressing lives in the runout etching and on the label.
Questions
Which pressing of The River is worth the most?
The 1980 originals lead. 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 1980 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 1980 US pressing the runout reads “AL 36855”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is The River worth today?
Sellers ask from $9 for the pressings we track; for the 1980 PC2 36854 the median ask is $18 over 10 listings (eBay, Sep 22, 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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