Vinyl pressings
by Big Brother & The Holding Company · 1971
How Hard It Is was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 8 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.
PAL30738-I.D. TRunout Side A etched, variant 1
PBL30738-I.D. TRunout Side B etched, variant 1
PAL30738-I.C. PL [monogram] T VRunout Side A etched {V stamped}, variant 2
PBL30738-I.D. 2 TRunout Side B etched, variant 2
0 P AL30738 - 1.A. PSide A runout, variant 1
0 P BL30738 - 1.B. PSide B runout, variant 1
o P AL30738-1A C 3Side A runout, variant 2
o P BL30738-1.B. 11 P C 3Side B runout, variant 2
AL30738-I.E. \ oSide A runout, o stamped
BL30738-I.E. I oSide B runout, o stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | CBS SBP 234007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Columbia C 30738First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Columbia C 30738First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPC 57142First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPC 57142First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Netherlands | CBS S 64317 / CBS CBS S 64317First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473914First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Date DAS 2113 / Date DAS.2113First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK, Europe & US | Columbia C 30738 / CBS C 30738First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Columbia C 30738First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Columbia C 30738First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Columbia C 30738First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
12 vinyl pressings of How Hard It Is are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, Australia, Canada, Japan and more. One of them is Columbia C 30738.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use C 30738, SBP 234007, SOPC 57142, S 64317) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL30738-I.D. T and PBL30738-I.D. T. 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.
