Vinyl pressings
by Aretha Franklin · 1970
Spirit In The Dark was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 13 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.
ST.A.701975-E (Ƨ) LW AT aB WSide A runout, variant 1
ST.A.701975-B (Ƨ) LW AT aB WSide B runout, variant 1
ST.A.701975-E (Ƨ) LW AT aB WSide A runout, variant 2
ST.A.701976-A LW (Ƨ) AT aB WSide B runout, variant 2
ST-A-701975-EE [MR logo] LW AT △15686 aB WSide A runout, mostly etched
ST-A-701976-AA MO LW [MR logo] AT △15686-X CD aB WSide B runout, mostly etched
ST-A-701975-MOSide A Label
ST-A-701976-MOSide B Label
ST-A-701975-E LW AT aB WSide A runout, variant 1
ST-A-701976-B LW AT aB WSide B runout, variant 1
ST-A-701975-A LW AT aB WSide A runout, variant 2
ST-A-701976-D LW AT aB WSide B runout, variant 2
CTH ST-A-701975-2A TRunout side A
ST A701976-1A CTH TRunout side B
ST-A-70975CTHLabel side A
ST-A-70976CTHLabel side B
ST-A-701975 DSide A label
ST-A-701976 BSide B label
ST A701975-20 B 1 oVariant 1 Side A runout
ST A701976 CTH ɕ Tx IIVariant 1 Side B runout
ST A701975-2D A 2 oVariant 2 Side A runout
ST -A701976-1B CTH I T x C 2Variant 2 Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Brazil | Atlantic ALP 605.044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | Atlantic 940 050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Atlantic ATL-SD 8265 / Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | Atlantic ATL-SD 8265 / Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Greece | Atlantic 2330 038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Italy | Atlantic ATS ST 06077First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Atlantic MT 2046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Atlantic SD 8265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | South Africa | Atlantic ATC 9274First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Spain | Atlantic HATS 421-57First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Canada | Atlantic SD 8265LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Australia | Raven Records RVLP 1027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Australia & New Zealand | Raven Records RVLP 1027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M114LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2002 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M114LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Atlantic RCV1 677115 / Atlantic 081227881542LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
44 vinyl pressings of Spirit In The Dark are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1970 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 8265, released August 24, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 8265, 8265, 2400 021, ALP 605.044) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST.A.701975-E (Ƨ) LW AT aB W and ST.A.701975-B (Ƨ) LW AT aB W. 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.
