Vinyl pressings
by Brian Eno · 1974
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1974, 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.
ILPS 9309 A-3U 'RAYS'Side A variant 1
ILPS 9309 B-4U 'RAYS'Side B variant 1
ILPS 9309 A-3U GM 2 'RAYS'Side A variant 2
ILPS 9309 B-4U G R 2 RAYSSide B variant 2
ILPS 9309-A 1A SXT C 2 S
ILPS 9309-B 1B SXT C
ILPS 9309 - A 1B SXT [Artisan logo] / 5Side A runout, variant 1
ILPS - 9309 - B 1A [Artisan logo] T X 5 /Side B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9309-A-1B SX T [Artisan logo] / SSide A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9307-B-1A [Artisan logo] T SX / SSide B runout, variant 2
ILPS 9309-A 1A [Artisan logo] C \ sxRunout A, etched, exc. logo, stamped
ILPS 9309-B 1B SX [Artisan logo] S 2 ᴘRunout B, etched, exc. logo ᴘ, stamped
XS \ S ILPS 9309-A 1B [Artisan logo]Runout Side A etched, variant 1
\ S ILPS 9309-B 1A SX [Artisan logo]Runout Side B etched, variant 1
\ S ILPS 9309-A 1B [Artisan logo]Runout Side A etched, variant 2
\ S ILPS 9309-B 1A [Artisan logo]Runout Side B etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Island Records L 35686First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Island Records 9299 328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Island Records 88 443 IT / Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Island Records L 35686First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Spain | Island Records 88.443-IFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9309First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Polydor 23MM 0123LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Polydor 23MM 0123LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Editions EG ENO 2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Editions EG ENO 2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | France | Polydor 2310 648 / EG 2310 648LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | EG EGLP 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Japan | Polydor 23MM0123LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2012 | Europe | Not On Label 23MM 0123LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2015 | Germany | Polydor 2344 080LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2017 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records ENOLP2LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | Worldwide | Virgin EMI Records ENO2LP2 / UMC 0060255748449612", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | US | Astralwerks 2557951691LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Cut | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Cut |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Island Records ILPS 9309LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Canada | Editions EG ENO 2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ILPS 9309LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Editions EG ENO 2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records XILP 9309LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Editions EG ENO 2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2344 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2344 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2344 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9309LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Polydor 2302 068LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Island Records ILPS 9309 / Island Records ILPS9309LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Island Records ILPS 9309 / Island Records ILPS-9309LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
56 vinyl pressings of Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1974 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9309, released November 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9309, L 35686, 9299 328, 88 443 IT) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9309 A-3U 'RAYS' and ILPS 9309 B-4U 'RAYS'. 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.
