Vinyl pressings
by Billy Cobham · 1973
Spectrum was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. 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 1973, 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.
ST-A-732895-CCC - 1 AT PRSide A, etched
ST-A-732896-AAA - 1 AT PRSide B, etched
ST-A-732895RISide A label
ST-A-732896RISide B label
ST-A-732895-C AT PRRunout A etched variant 1
ST-A-732896-C AT PRRunout B etched variant 1
ST-A-732895-A AT PRRunout A etched variant 2
ST-A-732896-C AT PRRunout A etched variant 2
ST-A-732895-AAA-1 AT PRSide A runout, etched, variant 1
ST-A 732896 D-+BBB-1-11 PRSide B runout, etched, variant 1
ST-A-732895-AAA-1-11 AT PR DSide A runout, etched, variant 2
ST-A-732896-BBB-1-11 AT PR DSide B runout, etched, variant 2
ST-A-732895-CC-RERunout side A, variant 1
ST-A-732896--BB-Re-EXRunout side B, variant 1
ST-A-732895--BB-RE-EX MR △18130 (2) AT PRRunout side A, variant 2
ST-A-732896--BB-Re-EX MR AT △18130-X PRRunout side B, variant 2
ST-A-732895-DTRunout side A
ST-A-732896-DT BRunout side B
ST-A-732895-DJ-RILabel side A
ST-A-732896-DJ-RILabel side B
ST-A-732895-DJ-PRSide A label
ST-A-732896-DJ-PRSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic 40.506First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Atlantic K 40506First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Atlantic ATL 40 506First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Italy | Atlantic K 40506 / Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Atlantic P-8384AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Atlantic P-8384AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | South Africa | Atlantic ATC 9490First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Atlantic K40506 / Atlantic K 40506First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Atlantic SD 7268First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Atlantic 30.143LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Atlantic P-6460ALP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Atlantic 40506 / Atlantic LB 40506LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Atlantic SD 7268LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2167LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2018 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2167 / Atlantic MOVLP2167LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Friday Music FRM-7268LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Friday Music FRM-7268LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Friday Music FRM-7268LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Atlantic RCV1 7268 / Atlantic 603497838202LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Analogue Productions APA 072-45 / Atlantic APA 072-4512", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2026 | US | Friday Music FRM-7268LP · Colored vinyl | LP · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Atlantic ATL 40 506 (SD 7268)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Canada | Atlantic SD 7268LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic K 40506LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic K 40506LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic SD 7268LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic (SD 7268)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic K 40506 / Atlantic ST-A-732 895LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Atlantic ATL 40 506LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic 40.506LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic 40506LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Atlantic ATL 40 506LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic SD 7268LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Atlantic ATL 40 506 / Atlantic SD 7268LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
95 vinyl pressings of Spectrum are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1973 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 7268, released October 1, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 7268, K40506, ATL 40 506, K 40506) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-A-732895-CCC - 1 AT PR and ST-A-732896-AAA - 1 AT PR. 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.
