AC/DC — Back in Black: How to Identify a First Pressing

• Other: The original US Atlantic catalog number is SD 16018.

• Cover: The all-black cover has been interpreted as a tribute in mourning for former frontman Bon Scott's death.
• Cover: The title of the fourth track on the tracklist is spelled differently across regions/editions: the official website and most releases worldwide print it as 'Given the Dog a Bone', while some Australian editions and the iTunes Store version print it as 'Giving the Dog a Bone' or 'Givin the Dog a Bone' — a printing clue for distinguishing releases from different regions/periods.

• There are reissue mastering variants labelled 'EMI/Atco reissue' (remastered by Ted Jensen) and 'Epic reissue' (remastered by George Marino), both of which differ from the 1980 original Atlantic vinyl.

• Track-four title spelling variant: The fourth track's title is 'Given the Dog a Bone' in the officially common version, while some Australian editions and the iTunes version spell it 'Giving' or 'Givin' — a regional printing difference within officially sanctioned releases.

discogs.com returned a 403 this time and could not be accessed; the English Wikipedia entry was used instead, whose footnotes mention the US catalog number SD 16018 — cited from a footnote rather than stated in the main text, so it is included cautiously. Label design and matrix etching could not be verified.

• Read the runout (the smooth area between the last groove and the label) with the disc tilted under a lamp: matrix numbers, stamper codes and mastering initials are the strongest evidence.
• Label details change between pressing plants and years: rim text, logo style, address, "Manufactured by" wording.
• Cover printing shows the plant and era: printer credit, catalog number position, barcode presence.
• Match all three. A first-press disc in a later cover, or the reverse, is common.

Shoot the label straight on in even light, then the runout with the disc tilted so the etched text catches the light (a phone torch from the side works). Add the front and back cover, the spine, and any inner sleeve or insert. The app reads the label and cover; the runout photo is what confirms the pressing.