Vinyl pressings
by Al Jarreau · 1977
Look To The Rainbow was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 11 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
2BZ-1-3052 WW1 TML-M • ━◁Var. 1 side A(I) etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamped
2BZ-2-3052 WW1 • ━◁ TML-SVar. 1 side B(II) etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-3-3052 WW1 • ━◁ TML-SVar. 1 side C(III) etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-4-3052 WW1 • ━◁ TML-SVar. 1 side D(IV) etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-1-3052 JW1 TML-MSide I etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamped
2BZ-2-3052 JW1 TML-SSide II etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-3-3052 JW1 TML-SSide III etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-4-3052 JW1 TML-SSide IV etched, ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-1-3052 LW-2. 2 [Star] TML-MSide A runout, variant 1
2BZ-2-3052 LW2. 2 [Star] TML-MSide B runout, variant 1
2BZ-3-3052 LW-1. 3 [Star] TML-SSide C runout, variant 1
2BZ-4-3052 LW2. 4 [Star] TML-MSide D runout, variant 1
2BZ-1-3052 WW2 #2 TML-S --<]Side I etched, exc. ᴛᴍʟ-ᴍ stamped
2BZ-2-3052 WW1 --<]Side II etched
2BZ-3-3052 WW1 #7 --<] TML-SSide III etched, ᴛᴍʟ-s stamped
2BZ-4-3052 WW3 --<]Side IV etched,
2BZ-1-3052 WW1 TML-M #4 ━◁Side A runout variant 1
2BZ-2-3052 JW8 #2 0Side B runout variant 1
2BZ-3-3052 JW4 #1 0Side C runout variant 1
2BZ-4-3052 JW1 #3 0 TML-MSide D runout variant 1
2BZ-1-3052 LW4Side I
2BZ-2-3052 WW4Side II
2BZ-3-3052 WW1 #7 —◁ TM-1Side III
2BZ-4-3052-WW3 #25PO-1Side IV
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 36 033First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2SBS 3052First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2SBS 3052First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2SBS 3052 / Warner Bros. Records 2SBS 3052 CFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66 059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 059First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-6329~30WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-6329-30WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 66059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 66059LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records 2 BZ 3052First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBD 11614First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66059 / Warner Bros. Records K66059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2BZ 3052First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 1115 2745 / Warner Bros. Records 1115 2745LP, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-4658~9WLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 1115 2745 / Warner Bros. Records 1115 2745LP, Reissue, Repress | LP, Reissue, Repress |
39 vinyl pressings of Look To The Rainbow are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1977 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Italy, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2BZ 3052.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2BZ 3052, K 66059, W 66059, 36 033) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2BZ-1-3052 WW1 TML-M • ━◁ and 2BZ-2-3052 WW1 • ━◁ TML-S. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
