Vinyl pressings
by Bob James · 1977
Heads 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.
23 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.
AL 34896-2A p 2 DA-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
BL 34896-2A p 3B-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
AL 34896A-Side Label
BL 34896B-Side Label
AL 34896-2A pA-Side runout
P BL 34896-2EB-Side runout
AL 34896A-Side label
BL 34896B-Side label
1 Ƨ AL 34896-2CSide A Stamped 1Ƨ Etched
1 Ƨ BL 34896-2C 2 CSide B Stamped 1Ƨ 2 C Etched
AL 34896A-Side Label
BL 34896B-Side Label
o AL 34896-2D 1TA-Side Runout Stamped, except 1T Etched
BL 34896-2B 1T oB-Side Runout Stamped, except 1T Etched
AL 34896A-Side Label
BL 34896B-Side Label
AL 34896-2C 1ƧRunout side A, stamped, etched, variant 1
BL 34896-2C 1ƧRunout side B, stamped, etched, variant 1
AL 34896-2C 1Ƨ B4Runout side A, stamped, etched, variant 2
BL 34896-2C 1Ƨ B1Runout side B, stamped, etched, variant 2
AL 34896-2C 1S B4Side A runout, etched except AL 34896-2C stamped, Variant 1
BL 34896-2C 1S B2Side B runout, etched except BL 34896-2C stamped, Variant 1
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 | Australia | CBS SBP237088 / Tappan Zee Records JC34896First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | Tappan Zee Records PC 34896 / Columbia PC 34896First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | CBS CBS 82261 / Tappan Zee Records CBS 82261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | CBS CBS 82261 / Tappan Zee Records CBS 82261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | CBS 82261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 835First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5588First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Singapore | CBS/Sony 25AP 835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | South Africa | Tappan Zee Records DNW 2053First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | CBS CBS 82261 / CBS S CBS 82261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | UK | Tappan Zee Records S CBS 82261 / CBS CBS 82261First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | US | Tappan Zee Records JC 34896 / Columbia 34896First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Tappan Zee Records JC 34896First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Spain | CBS LSP 15418 / Productos Especiales CBS LSP 15418LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | South Korea | CBS Records Inc. PC-34896 / Tappan Zee Records PC-34896LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 7759LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Tappan Zee Records JC 34896 / Tappan Zee Records 34896LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Tappan Zee Records PC 34896 / Columbia 34896LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia BL 34896-2CLP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | US | Tappan Zee Records JC 34896 / Columbia JC 34896LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
32 vinyl pressings of Heads are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1977 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Tappan Zee Records JC 34896.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JC 34896, CBS 82261, S CBS 82261, PC 34896) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL 34896-2A p 2 D and BL 34896-2A p 3. 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.
