Vinyl pressings
by Cat Stevens · 1978
Back To Earth was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 22 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.
SP 5207 M4 ∆ 23816Runout Side A, Variant 1
SP 5208 M5 ∆ 23816-XRunout Side B, Variant 1
SP 5207 M7 ∆ 23816Runout Side A, Variant 2
SP 5208 M1 ∆ 23816-XRunout Side B, Variant 2
SP 5207 M5 MR(scribbled out) TH ∆ 23816 B4Side A - Runout
SP 5208 M4 MR(scribbled out) TH ∆ 23816-X B2Side B - Runout
STERLINGMastering Stamp - Runout
SP 5207 M6 MR (scribbled out)TH ◁ 23816 STERLINGSide A - Runout etched STERLING stamped
SP 5207 M4 ̶M̶R̶ ◁ 23816 PSide A etched variant 1
SP 5208 M1 ̶M̶R̶ PIT ◁ 23816-X STERLINGSide B etched except STERLING stamped variant 1
SP 5207 M1 PIT ̶M̶R̶∆23816 STERLINGSide A etched except STERLING variant 2
SP 5208 M6X ̶M̶R̶ PIT ∆23816-X ⑤ STERLINGSide B etched except STERLING variant 2
SP 5207 M10 ̷M̷R̷ TLL ◁ 23816 STERLING ASide A etched except STERLING stamped
SP 5208 M ̷M̷R̷ TLL ◁ 23816-X STERLING BSide B etched except STERLING stamped
SP 5207Side A label
SP 5208Side B label
SP-5207-M14 △23816 T.H. STERLING ΛSide A runout
SP-5208-M16 PIT △23816-X STERLINGSide B runout
SP 5207Side A label
SP 5208Side B label
SP 5207 M1 MR ◁ 23816 ⓾ STERLINGSide A, etched (exc. STERLING), variant 1
SP 5208 M2 MR ◁ 23816-X ⓵ STERLINGSide B, etched (exc. STERLING), variant 1
SP 5207 M2 MR ◁ 23816 ⓾ STERLINGSide A, etched (exc. STERLING), variant 2
SP-5208-M17 ◁ 23816-X ⑬ STERLINGSide B, etched (exc. STERLING), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Microfon Argentina S.A. SUP 80043First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Island Records L 36756 / Island Records ILPS 9565First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Austria | Island Records 26 491 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4735First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Central America | Island Records Ltd. ILP 39First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Colombia | Ariola 18(0831)00081 / Island Records 18(0831)00081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Island Records 9123 036First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Island Records 26 491 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Island Records 38 121 0LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1978 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19565First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6030First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Malaysia | Island Records ILPS 9565First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Mexico | Island Records LA-124First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Island Records 26 491 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Taiwan | Union Black Records TD-2098LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Venezuela | Island Records ILPS-10.004LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Island Records 820135-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | BMG Rights Management BMGCAT335LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Europe | Cat-O-Log Records BMGCAT335CLP / BMG BMGCAT335CLPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Europe | Cat-O-Log Records BMGCAT335BOX / BMG BMGCAT335BOXCD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Audio, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited | CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Audio, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Dark Horse Records DH0027 / Cat-O-Log Records 4050538899665LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 201.533LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 201 533LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 26 491 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Turkey | Yankı YP 674LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4735LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
53 vinyl pressings of Back To Earth are listed here, from 31 countries, released between 1978 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Israel, Argentina and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4735, released December 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4735, ILPS 9565, SUP 80043, L 36756) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP 5207 M4 ∆ 23816 and SP 5208 M5 ∆ 23816-X. 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.
