Vinyl pressings
by Brian Eno · 1979
Ambient 1 (Music For Airports) was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
AMB 001 AII MBπ A//1 4Side A runout, variant 1
AMB 001 BII MBπ B//1 P 11Side B runout, variant 1
O̶B̶S̶ ̶1̶1̶ A//1 P L : MBπ AMB 001 A/1 1 4Side A runout, variant 2
O̶B̶S̶ ̶1̶1̶ B//1 P Δ 1 AMB 001 B/1 MBπ 1 4Side B runout, variant 2
AMB 001 AII MBπ A//1 4Side A runout, variant 1, etched/stamped
AMB 001 BII MBπ B//1 P 11Side B runout, variant 1, etched/stamped
O̶B̶S̶ ̶1̶1̶ A//1 P L : MBπ AMB 001 A/1 1 4Side A runout, variant 2, etched/stamped
O̶B̶S̶ ̶1̶1̶ B//1 P Δ 1 AMB 001 B/1 MBπ 1 4Side B runout, variant 2, etched/stamped
PVC-7908-A STERLING HUBSide A runout
PVC-7908-B HUBSide B runout
ⓍMPF-1229A FEB2L/FC1L111D0/LHD9Ⓚ B-1-3Runout, A, stamped
MPF-1229B B-1-3Runout, B, stamped
MPF 1229-ALabel, A
MPF 1229-BLabel, B
9167-9835-A QSide A runout
9167-9835-B QSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australasia | Polydor 2310 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Passport Records 9167-9835 / Passport Records AMB 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Passport Records PB 2006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | EG 2310 647 / Polydor 2310 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | EG 2310 647 / Polydor 2310 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Polydor 2344 132First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Polydor 2310 647 / EG 2310 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Polydor 2310 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1229 / EG MPF 1229First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Polydor 2310647First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Polydor 2310 647 / Polydor 2310.647First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Spain | Polydor 23 10 647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | PVC Records PVC 7908 / EG PVC 7908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | PVC Records PVC 7908 (AMB 001)LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | UK | EG AMB 001 / Polydor 2310647First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | UK | Editions EG EGED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Editions EG EGS 201LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Brazil | Virgin 1408005 / Virgin 140.8005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Editions EG EGED 17 / Virgin EGED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Unknown | Not On Label (Brian Eno) EGS 201LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2016 | Unknown | Not On Label (Brian Eno) EGS 201LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | UK | Editions EG EGS 201LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records ENOLP6LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records ENO2LP612", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Virgin EMI Records ENOLP6 / Virgin EMI Records 00602567750543LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2025 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records ENOLP6 / UMC 00602567750543LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Editions EG EGED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Virgin EMI Records ENOLP6 / Virgin EMI Records 00602567750543LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of Ambient 1 (Music For Airports) are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Japan, Australasia and more. One of them is EG AMB 001, released February 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AMB 001, PVC 7908, MPF 1229, 2310 647) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AMB 001 AII MBπ A//1 4 and AMB 001 BII MBπ B//1 P 11. 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.
