Album value
Billy Joel — The Stranger.
First-press value.
Billy Joel's fifth album came out on Columbia in September 1977, produced by Phil Ramone and recorded at A&R Recording in New York. It reached No. 2, produced four US singles including 'Just the Way You Are', and is RIAA-certified Diamond, so original copies are everywhere. On Discogs, original US copies of JC 34987 recently sold for medians of about $10 to $19, and the 2008 and 2022 reissues often sell for more.
01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1977. The US first-press shipped on the Columbia, with Family Productions logo label.
- US stereo catalog: JC 34987
- UK first-press: CBS (UK) CBS 82311
- RIAA certification: Diamond (US)
The center label is only the first clue. See the full Columbia red label (1970s) identification guide.
Compare this copy with the artist's other collectible originals. See the Billy Joel vinyl value profile.
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- JC 34987 on the spine and labels, 34987 on the back cover and inner sleeve, and no barcode; a later US repress keeps JC 34987 but adds a barcode
- The dead wax shows the plant: S for Santa Maria, T for Terre Haute, P for Pitman. Many early copies are stamped STERLING with 'TJ' etched; others are stamped MASTERDISK
- Original copies come in a custom inner sleeve with a photo, lyrics and credits
- Side two ends with a short whistled reprise of the title track that is not listed on the cover or labels of the 1977 issue
The matrix runout etched in the dead wax is the definitive identifier when label and catalog number both look era-correct.
03
What it's worth
Recent sold-listing ranges. Pressing, condition, and current market all move the number.
| Pressing & condition | Recent sold |
|---|---|
| 1977 first-press (NM) | $25–$60 |
| 1977 first-press (VG+) | $10–$20 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $12–$40 |
What pushes to the top: A Sterling-mastered Santa Maria (S) or Terre Haute (T) copy with its custom inner sleeve in NM; promo copies have sold for a median of about $78 on Discogs.
Sources: Discogs sold listings (90-day window), Popsike.com auction archive, Goldmine Record Album Price Guide.
04
If you have one
Pull the record. Check the label first against the Columbia, with Family Productions logo design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches JC 34987. Then check the matrix runout in the dead wax. All three lining up is the first-press confirmation.
Or scan with Crown Vinyl. The app reads the label, catalog number, and matrix runout from a single photograph, returns the exact pressing, and pulls a current value from recent real sales. Free on the App Store.
Keep checking the shelf
More first pressings worth knowing.
Nearby years, matching labels, and more records by the same artist.
1978 · Columbia, with Family Productions logo
Billy Joel — 52nd Street
1978 first press: $5–$12 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressing
1983 · Columbia, with Family Productions logo
Billy Joel — An Innocent Man
1983 first press: $4–$10 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressing
1977 · Elektra (custom album labels)
Queen — News of the World
1977 first press: $10–$18 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
Check the label design (Columbia, with Family Productions logo), the catalog number (JC 34987), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. JC 34987 on the spine and labels, 34987 on the back cover and inner sleeve, and no barcode; a later US repress keeps JC 34987 but adds a barcode.
A Sterling-mastered Santa Maria (S) or Terre Haute (T) copy with its custom inner sleeve in NM; promo copies have sold for a median of about $78 on Discogs brings the top of the NM range, typically $25–$60.
Not always. A worn 1977 JC 34987 often sells for less than a clean reissue, and reissues trade for about $12–40 near mint. The original only pulls ahead in near-mint condition, at about $25–60.
The Stranger was issued in stereo only as a first-press. The JC 34987 pressing is the reference.
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