Vinyl pressings
by Bread · 1972
Guitar Man was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
35 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 18 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.
EKS-75047 A 9 SA Side Etched
EKS-75047 B 7 SB Side Etched
EKS-75047 A A7 S 2A Side Etched [Variant 1]
EKS-75047-B-1 9 S 1B Side Etched [Variant 1]
EKS 75047-A-SP 1-1Side A runout, etched, variant 1
EKS-75047-B SP 1-1Side B runout, etched, variant 1
SRCSide A & B runout, stamped, variant 1
EKS 75047 A-1 SPVariant 2, side A runout
EKS-75047-A-1 SX C3 TA Side Etched
EKS-75047-B2 TB Side Etched
EKS - 75047-A-4 I ASide A Runout Variant 1
1 EKS 75047-B6 - CP S̶̷X̶̷ ASide B Runout Variant 1
\ EKS-75047-A-1 SX C ISide A Runout Variant 2
EKS-75047-B-3 PX-I E7Side B Runout Variant 2 ("P" stamped)
EKS-75047 AA Side Etched
EKS-75047 BB Side Etched
EKS-75047-A-3A Side Etched (Variant 2)
EKS-75047-B-3B Side Etched (Variant 2)
EKS-75047 A CSMside A runout etched
EKS-75047 B5 SX CTHside B runout etched
EKS-75047 A1 SXSide A Runout, variant 2
EKS-75047 B5 SX CTHSide B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Elektra EKS-75047-A / Elektra EKS-75047-BFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Continental ELLP-513 / Elektra ELLP-513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Elektra EKS-75047First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Elektra EKS-75047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Elektra EKS-75047First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 004 / Elektra EKS 75 047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Elektra K 52004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Elektra SWG-7593First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Elektra SWG-7593First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Malaysia | P.S. Records NTLP 254First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Mexico | Elektra GX 01-589First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Elektra EKS 52 004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Elektra ELK 52 004 / Elektra EKS 75 047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Elektra EKS 75047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Elektra EKS 75047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Mexico | Elektra LWE-5055LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Elektra EKS 75047 / Elektra EKS-75047LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Elektra EKS 75047 / Elektra EKS-75047LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Elektra 52 004 / Elektra (75 047)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | Elektra GWEA-5055LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mozambique | Elektra EKC-6023 / Elektra EKC 6023LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | Elektra ELK 52004 / Elektra EKS 75 047LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-2281LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Elektra K52004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Elektra K52004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Elektra K 52004 / Elektra EKS-75047LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
58 vinyl pressings of Guitar Man are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1972 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Colombia, Lebanon and more. One of them is Elektra EKS 75047, released October 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EKS 75047, EKS-75047, K52004, K-52004) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EKS-75047 A 9 S and EKS-75047 B 7 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.
